Am I wrong for kicking my brother out of the hospital room and almost making him miss his daughter’s birth?

A frantic morning call pulls a woman into a hospital delivery room, where her sister-in-law labors in distress, abandoned by an unsupportive husband and a frazzled nurse. Stepping into the chaos, she finds herself not just comforting her sister-in-law but confronting her own brother’s hostility, a choice that risks family fallout but prioritizes a mother’s peace. What started as a reluctant favor becomes a battle for advocacy and empathy.

This Reddit saga captures the raw intensity of childbirth and the courage to stand up for someone in need. It’s a story that resonates with anyone who’s faced family drama under pressure or fought to be heard in a crisis. As tensions flare and a baby’s arrival looms, it asks: how far would you go to protect someone’s dignity? Let’s dive into this heartfelt drama.

‘Am I wrong for kicking my brother out of the hospital room and almost making him miss his daughter’s birth?’

My mother called me this morning and asked me if I could please go to the hospital because my SIL was in labor and had had her kicked out of the room. I was confused and asked if my brother wasn't there with her. Mom said that he had been but SIL had just called in a panic because brother had had a seizure and they had taken him down to the ER and she didnt want to labor alone.

Mom had gone to work after being kicked out and didnt want to leave so had called me. I, reluctantly, agreed to go, dreading family drama but honestly was more concerned with SIL, I understand not wanting to labor alone having nearly had to do so myself during COVID. I got to the hospital and into the room righr as they werw trying to put an IV in SIL.

I saw the nurse stick SIL, miss and then start to fish and SIL started screaming. Immediatwlly I snapped at the nurse

If you don't let me get it into your arm I'm gonna have to go between your toes.

I then said

The nurse said she would mention it to who she got and then went out. When she was gone SIL wiped her face and said

The nurse returned with the nurse supervisor who did what I had asked about and she got the IV in one take and with much less pain. SIL then asked for some water and I gave her some which she promptly started to chug and I snatched it away advising her to take sips or she'd make herself sick. She apologized and said she knew but she hadnt drank anything all night from pain. 

Brother chimed in and said

Again I responded.

Then a contraction hit and SIL started moaning and chanting that she wanted an Epidural and brother turned on her and said.

SIL yelled back

Brother continues.

She is flooded with hornones and pain. You KNOW that.

Either go back down to the ER and tell them that your mood has completely changed since you hit your head during your seizure this morning and get yourself checked out and come back with an attitude adjustment or go home and don't come back and miss the birth of your child completely.

I held up my cell phone.

She said yes so I helped her up and I put on some hip hop music on my phone and she and I gently danced until contractions started getting closer. Then they brought her a ball to bounce and rock on for a while and finally I got her onto the bed on her hands and knees in an elevated position that allowed gravity to help her and massaged her lower back every time a contraction hit.

I called brother then cause she was 6cm and from personal experience this position moves those last 3cm REAL QUICK. I got her from 2cm to ready to push in 2 hours where my brother had had her stalled at 2cm from midnight the night before when her water broke until 9am when i told him to get out and go back to the ER.

He got into the room to see her fully relaxed and me rubbing her back and me telling SIL that she needed to be ready cause her contractions had stopped for about 5 minutes meaning it was her body giving her a very brief rest to gather strength. She asked what I meant and then started screaming something wasn't right.

I asked what she meant and she said she could feel a ton of pressure

My brother started running for the door and I said

SIL whispered that she was scared. I rubbed my hand on her back and told her it was okay to be scared because she's never done this naturally before but they were here, she was in good hands and they were setting up the delivery table. Brother chose that moment to say.

I just glared at him but didnt answer because the doctor entered and said

Then I turned back to SIL and said in my calm and soothing voice I'd had with SIL the whole time . Do you want to stay how you are where it's comfortable or get on your back so it's easier for the doctor?

I said yes and helped her roll onto her back and then asked her if she wanted me to switch out with my brother since he was back. She hesitated a second, looking back and forth between us and then said yes. I said okay, told my brother to switch me places and while i stepped away he said to go aheaf and start calling family members.

Apparently my brother had called my parents from the ER cause they both said it was wrong of me to make him leave the delivery room and go back to the ER because

Neither were the hospital's fault, the pregnancies themselves were difficult and as stated above I clearly have health problems but I didnt have anyone to advocate for me. My husband is non confrontational and I was scared myself, so I KNOW all too well how helpless it can feel to not have your voice heard while in labor. So, Am I wrong?

Childbirth is a vulnerable time, and this story shows how quickly support can turn to stress without empathy. The woman’s intervention—advocating for her sister-in-law (SIL) and ejecting her hostile brother—highlights the critical role of a calm, supportive presence during labor, especially when primary support falters.

The brother’s behavior, exacerbated by a seizure and untreated head injury, created a toxic environment. His dismissal of SIL’s pain and aggressive outbursts violated the trust needed in a delivery room. The woman’s decision to remove him prioritized SIL’s emotional and physical safety, aligning with best practices for labor support. Meanwhile, her advocacy with the nurse—suggesting hydration and alternative IV placement—demonstrated informed care, easing SIL’s distress.

Dr. Rebecca Dekker, founder of Evidence Based Birth, emphasizes, “A supportive birth environment reduces stress and complications. Advocates, whether family or professionals, are vital for empowering laboring women” (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-on-doulas/). The woman’s role mirrored a doula’s, calming SIL and facilitating progress from 2cm to delivery. Her brother’s accusation of nearly causing him to miss the birth deflects his own accountability, a common tactic in high-stress family dynamics.

For solutions, SIL could seek postpartum support, possibly through a doula or counselor, to navigate her husband’s behavior. The woman might share her advocacy tips with family, fostering empathy. Documenting the incident could help if family tensions escalate. Creating a supportive birth environment starts with listening, a lesson this story underscores for all involved.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Reddit’s reactions to this delivery room drama are a mix of applause and skepticism, with users weighing in on advocacy, family ties, and believability. Here’s what they had to say:

BulkyCaterpillar4240 − Your brother is a huge AH. Kuddos for helping your SIL through a painful labor experience. Your SIL has a big husband problem

JustbyLlama − You sound like you would make an amazing doula and if I ever had to go through labor, you’re exactly the person I would want beside me. Not wrong at all.

KountryKitty − As a nurse, I can definitively say that you were not in the wrong.. Personally, I want to hug you!Well done, my dear, very well done.

Middle--Earth − And then you became personally responsible for dilating her cervix, and everyone applauded.. r/thathappened

basslkdweller − And then everybody clapped.

MNConcerto − Not wrong at all.. Your brother and mother are assholes.. And the nurse who stuck her 6 times. Oh hell no!. I'm so glad you were there for your sister in law.. Husbands who bitched about what they go through when their wives are in labor are manchildren..

Your poor sister in law. Hope you can also help her post partum because I'm guessing your brother and mother are going to make her pay for kicking them out of the room.. Tell them the internet thinks they are inconsiderate jerks.

ProfessionSea7908 − And everybody hugged OP for being so perfect and reasonable and they all lived happily ever after.

[Reddit User] − Yta. Purely because this reads like b**lshit.

[Reddit User] − Is it just me or is 90 percent of this post  a look at me and how awesome I am?

TheReelMcCoi − This reads more like a script

These takes range from heartfelt praise to eyebrow-raising doubts, but do they capture the full weight of the moment? Reddit’s blend of support and snark prompts a question: where’s the line between advocacy and overstepping?

This gripping tale of a hospital room showdown reveals the power of standing up for someone in their most vulnerable moment. The woman’s fierce advocacy transformed her sister-in-law’s labor from chaos to calm, even at the cost of family friction. It’s a reminder that empathy and action can shift the tide in a crisis, especially when others falter. Have you ever had to step into a tense family situation to protect someone? Share your stories or thoughts below—what would you do in this high-stakes delivery room drama?

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