AITAH for telling my mother-in-law she’s not allowed in the delivery room

November 29, 2025

AITA for setting strict boundaries with my MIL about my pregnancy and delivery plans?

I recently found out I’m pregnant, and while my husband’s family is excited, they haven’t respected my privacy or boundaries. Tensions came to a head when I told my MIL she couldn’t be in the delivery room or move in with us afterward.

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I’m a first-time mom-to-be navigating a large, close-knit husband’s family with little respect for privacy. When I told my MIL she wouldn’t be in the delivery room or move in with us post-birth, things got tense fast.

I (27F) recently married my husband (27M), and we’re thrilled about becoming parents. His family is large and very involved, but their lack of boundaries has been challenging—especially compared to my own siblings who respect privacy about their children.

Soon after finding out I was pregnant, my husband told his family, who flooded us with congratulations despite me being very early and unsure of the pregnancy’s viability. I was upset that I hadn’t even shared the news with my own parents yet.

"I told my husband I’m very early and not out of the woods yet of possibly having a miscarriage."

At a recent dinner at my in-laws, my MIL dominated the conversation about my birth plan, insisting on being in the delivery room and moving in after the baby arrives. I had to firmly tell her it would only be me and my husband in the delivery room, and that we wanted a week to ourselves once home.

"Finally I cut her off and told her it’s just me and my husband that’ll be in the room only."

She was offended and tried to push for a room at our house to help with the baby, claiming her son would want her there. My husband backed me up, agreeing it should only be us in the room. My FIL made an attempt to calm things, reminding everyone times are different now.

🏠 The Aftermath

Since setting these boundaries, I've been emotionally drained and more distant with my husband. My MIL seemed hurt while others in his family have privately called me the AH for "robbing" her of the delivery room experience.

Despite the pushback, my husband supports me firmly, and I’m hoping to maintain these limits for our growing family’s wellbeing.

The situation has exposed long-standing issues around respect and boundaries in his family, obliging us to navigate carefully as we prepare for parenthood.