Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

I am having a bit of difficulty with deciding on when to have my parents to come for the baby. They live in a different country and I am due in mid June. My mom is going to come and help for at least a month and my dad probably just to visit for a shorter time.
So as they live in a different country I want to make sure we can maximize the time my mom staying with us after the baby comes. As this is our first and we are beyond clueless we want to have the most help not to mention that my parents wont be seeing the baby on regular basis. Also, both of parents work so its not like they can come indefinitely.
When do we have them come? Do we plan on their arrival a few days before my EDD? What if I go later than that? What the hell am I gonna do with them? They are probably going to drive me up the wall LOL. Do I have them come like a week after my EDD? What if it falls on when I am delivering? Who will pick them up and get them to us (I guess we can ask their cousins who all live here). But then what if I go early, and who will help me the first couple of days? Do we wing it and have them buy the tkts as I go into labor (the price will be realllllly high for tkts in that case).
UGH! What to do? Any ideas?

Re: Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

Personally, i would have them arrive 2-3 weeks after your due date. Typically the longest doctors will let you wait before inducing is 2 weeks. if you are late and end up with a c-section you are in the hospital a few extra days.

my experience coming home with dd, was having a ton of visitors right away (the first week or two) then it slowed down. its up to you, but it may be nice to have visitors or even just alone time with you, DH and the baby before your parents are living with you for a month.

dd came 8 days late on her own (scheduled to be induced at 11 days past my edd) so if i have family there a week before my dd i would have had 2 weeks to entertain them, plus they would have only had 2 weeks with the baby.

Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

My parents do not live local and I was planning on calling them when I was in labor and then they would get in the car and drive. Its a 2 day drive so I knew they would not be there for the birth and I was ok with it.

The only hiccup was when my DS decided to make an appearance 3 weeks early. They ended up driven a few days after the birth.

I think you have to decide if you are ok with them not being around for the actual birth and then shoot for a week or 2 after your due date. If you want to try and have them there then have them come before the due date but either way you just have to accept that it might not work out as planned.

Re: Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

I would have them come about a week after your due date. Most people don't go 2 weeks late, although that is the latest the doctors will let you go.

If you go earlier, you don't NEED someone there the first few days. It's nice to have some help, but you and your husband are 100% capable of handling things on your own, and you can have some family bonding time.

Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

are u guys sure we will be able to handle the baby just the 2 of us once we take home? We never even changed a diaper; of course we for sure going to take a taking care of baby class, but still... I am terrified. Also I would love to have my mom there for the delivery breaks my heart that she probably won't, but on the other hand she will probably annoy me (that is what she does best LOL).
Looks like everyone thinks a week after EDD is the best way to go, so if my EDD is June 18th my mom and dad should aim to get here on/around the 25th?

Re: Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

Re: Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

i think 1-2 weeks post EDD is fine! ds was 10 days late, which isn't uncommon with first pregnancies. i was completely on my own when we got home from the hospital (dh couldn't take time off) and it wasn't a big deal at all. all newborns do are nurse, poop and sleep.

Re: Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

Re: Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

Re: Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

I agree with the other posters here and would have them come about a week after your EDD because you will be in the hospital for some time (2 days for a regular birth and 4 for a c/s). If you go super early I would look for refundable tickets and see if they can change the dates of travel.

Anyone have experience/advice - timing for my parents to come

I would def plan a week after your due date. There is such a stream of visitors in the beginning it would be nice to have some down time to bond just the three of you. Also, by the time you leave the hospital you will feel more comfortable. I promise. You will have nurses there 24 hours a day to help you and you will be more comfortable when you get home.

Message edited 12/23/2013 4:55:00 PM.