'I gave birth via emergency c-section. A comment from my mother-in-law afterwards infuriated me.'

As told to Bek Day.

I've never been particularly close to my husband's brother and his wife.

There has never been any bad blood between us, but with two kids, weekend sports and a house an hour out of the city, opportunities to socialise with the child-free couple who live in the inner city and spend their weekends cruising trendy bars and farmers markets have been limited.

When they told us last year that they were expecting their first baby, I was thrilled for them.

Our kids, desperate for a baby cousin to play with as my own family lives back in the UK, counted down the days and then months of Aunty Sally's* pregnancy, until one morning, news arrived that Sally had given birth to a baby girl, Mia*.

The bearer of this news is my beaming mother-in-law, who wastes no time smuggling several barbs aimed at me into her announcement.

"Oh, the labour was over before it began!" she gushes over Facetime, "no epidural, four hours start to finish! She's not one to fuss."

"Wow," my husband responds, "what a machine" - then, noting my raised eyebrows, hastily adds "Every woman who goes through birth is incredible."

"It's a pity Shelly* didn't get to experience the natural high that comes after a drug-free birth though," she says into the camera, "but I suppose Beth* had other ideas."

Watch: The Mamamia team secretly confessed the things they'd like to say to their mums-in-law. Post continues after video.

Beth, our youngest, had been in a 36-hour labour that ended in an emergency c-section, something my mother-in-law has always been quick to frame as a failing. In fact, one of the first things she said to me when she came to visit in hospital was "I'm sorry it didn't end how you wanted it to," in spite of the fact that I had never mentioned a preference for any other type of birth than one resulting in a healthy baby.

Rolling my eyes before ducking my head in front of the phone's screen, I plaster a strained smile on my face. 

"Congratulations on becoming a grandma again, Mary*," I say, "We can't wait to meet Mia!"

A week later, once Sally and Rick*, my brother-in-law are settled at home with the baby, my husband and I leave the kids with a babysitter and head over to meet our new niece.

Snuggled against my sister-in-law's chest, her red little velvety face sleeping peacefully, I can't help the twinge of envy that courses through me seeing that, following a relatively straightforward birth, little Mia has seemingly lived up to her reputation as the world's best baby.

Washing my hands at the sink I look over the beautiful child's head at her mum, who seems tired, blissful and terrified all at the same time.

"She's gorgeous," I say, and mean it. "How has it been?"

Just then a familiar shrill voice sounds from the next room. My mother-in-law is here. 

"Oh, she's taken to it like a duck to water," she says, squeezing Shelly's shoulders affectionately.

"Overwhelming," Shelly answers, looking up at me, "I have no idea how you did this twice!"

"Oh, well she had Michael* to help, he drove her absolutely everywhere for a month after both girls," Mary butts in, then directs the next words to Shelly, while looking at me: "Although I think you'll be just fine when Rick goes back to work next week, you're such a stoic one!"

I don't bother to add that the reason I had my husband around for so long after the birth is because I wasn't allowed to drive after my c-section, and that we'd also decided to simply enjoy those precious weeks together as a little family unit after my daughter's birth. I know Mary has never forgiven me for requesting a few weeks of "just us" when Beth was born.

Reaching down and plucking the sleeping baby out of her mother's arms, my mother-in-law begins vigorously patting the baby's back, rousing her from her sleep and drawing a cry from the newborn.

"Ah good, she was due for a feed anyway," she says, ignoring the look of annoyance and shock on Shelly's face as she hands her back immediately.

"Breastfeeding still going well?"

"We're muddling through," Shelly replies, looking awkwardly around as she tries to position herself to feed.

"When are you headed back to the farm?" I ask my mother-in-law, drawing her beady eyes away from her feeding granddaughter.

Mary lives three hours away on the property my husband and his brother grew up on. His father has remained behind to hold down the fort. 

"It's up in the air," she says, and I can't help but notice Shelly's grimace.

"I'll stick around as long as I'm welcome," she continues, "these moments are so precious."

"Actually Mary," gulps Shelly, "we were thinking it might be best if you head home this weekend. We're grateful for the help, but we just want a few days..."

My mother-in-law's eyes turn steely.

"I see," she huffs, "as long as you're sure you can cope without the help. I know some women completely fall apart in those first few weeks."

Listen to this episode of No Filter where Mia speak to best-selling author Sally Hepworth on why mother-in-law relationships can be high-drama. Post continues after podcast.

This last part, I know, is a dig at me. The birth of my second daughter brought with it crippling postpartum anxiety, and it took a few dark months and a lot of therapy for me to come through the other side. 

"I'll be fine," says my sister-in-law, looking at me, her voice stronger this time.

"I've got one of the best mums I know as a role model."

My eyes meet hers and a bolt of understanding passes between us. Not only do we share a common enemy, but for the first time, I can see my sister-in-law knows just what I've been up against, now that she is a new mum herself.

I grin and share a coded message, just for her, knowing that the absolute worst outcome for my mother-in-law is playing out in front of her. The two of us have formed a united front, rather than being pitted against each other as she'd hoped.

"I'll be right here for whatever you need," I respond. "But my best advice is this: block out all the irritating noise from people who over-step."

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Feature image: Getty.