With DD1 people knew straight away pretty much as I had been in labour ward for 1day before she was born so there was no hiding what was going on. With DD2 my family didnt know until she was about 10mins old (11am) but DH family knew as he told them my waters broke and as they were 300kms away and it was a friday they decided to take the day of and come down to visit as it was there first grandchild. I didn't know until 5mins after DD2 was born that they were actually at the hospital in the foyer waiting and wanted to come in straight away. Unfortunately I hardly knew them and was pretty young and not very confident and when DH let them come in they didn't have the sense to leave despite the fact I was starkers under a blood covered sheet. I expected them just to poke there head in the door and leave straight away but they didn't. So with DD3 we didn't tell anyone that we were having the baby and it was so lovely to have her all to ourselves and really meet her and enjoy her without other people around. I'll definately be doing that next time. My parents had my other 2kids and as I had PROM they knew I was been admited for antibiotics and been induced the next day. Once we arrived I was febrile and DD heart rate was really high so they spead it along straight away so it was only a few hours later that she was born. It worked out really well and next time I have a baby DD1 is probably old enough to care for her younger siblings for several hours if needed so hopefully no need to tell people until after the baby is born.