When and where will you have visitors after the birth?

Nickiechan

SomersIsles said:

I'm wondering if anybody plans to, or maybe already did with a past birth, NOT tell/call anyone until after the baby is born. How'd that go??

We did this... and I'm glad we did. I was able to focus and not worry about other people. I think if we would have told people would have been wanting updates and such. We will be doing it with this one as well.

clo1982

To start out I didn't intend to have a c/s. My water broke in the middle of the night so we called my parents and DH texted his and just said 'heading to the hospital, we will keep you updated.' I didn't want people in the waiting room because 1. I had no idea how long it would take, and 2. I didn't know how I'd feel afterward (again no intention of having a c/s and meeting the baby like 2 hours after my water broke!). Neither set of parents is overbearing in the least so honestly they probably wouldn't have cared at all if they sat there for hours in the hospital then got sent home without meeting the baby since I was in no shape to have visitors for 24 hours. But I would have felt guilty for not letting them visit. I tell all my FTM friends that if their family is close by (and they don't want them in the delivery room) to have them wait at home. You honestly have no clue how you will feel and it would be stressful to 'have' to let people come visit because they have been sitting and waiting for hours. It's just one less thing to worry about!

 

Also, my mom and MIL agree, whether they see the baby on hour 1 of his/her life, or on Day 2, it is still the first time and is still just as special.

troublejessy

We plan on letting our immediate family visit at the hospital (our parents and my little brothers).  However, everyone else is going to have to wait until we're settled in at home.  We both have huge families and I want us to have a chance to bond with the baby before we have to entertain people.  I'm debating waiting to tell anyone we're at the hospital until baby is already here as well... my cousin's wife just gave birth and we literally got a play by play in emails all day.  Something I'd rather avoid...

YankeePeach08

With DS my mom and DH were there when he was born. When mom found out I was being induced she drove 16 hours (which was the plan) then waited through my 18 hour labor. He was born at 1am so mom left maybe an hour afterwards. She came to the hospital the next day around 3 or 4pm so we had plenty of time to relax, shower and bond.

DH even went for a run that morning!!!!

Nobody visited a the hospital, we don't have family in the area and I think friends just weren't sure if it would be OK. On one hand I was glad b/c I felt like a literal bloody mess. I had seen pics of friends and family where they would be in their PJs or comfy clothes and sitting in a recliner at the hospital and there was NO WAY I was putting on my clothes or moving from the bed...especially in front of others, it wasn't pretty.

DS was born on Friday and my dad flew down on Wednesday, then drove home with mom on Saturday.

ILs came when DS was 3 weeks old.

I don't remember when we had our first visitors at the house.

I took DS to meet everyone at work when he was 5 days old...we were picking dad up from airport and it was on the way.

This time around...who the hell knows!!!!

I'd like mom to be here for the birth and stay (or leave and return if they are in NICU for several weeks) with us for 2 weeks after we are home.  Dad has Feb break (he's a teacher) and already booked plane tickets. That is for my 37th week so if babies haven't been born he will be here for birth or if they have been born he will be here for homecoming.

After mom leaves I'd like around 2 weeks for us to try it out by ourselves which would mean ILs would come between 4-6 weeks. Of course this may change based on when they are born and if I need a C/S...we may be ready for them earlier or later.

Oh and don't forget, MIL will see the babies as they slip out via skype...she will probably see them before the doctor...or so she thinks hahahahahha

)

linsmarie31

Dh and I will be the only ones in the delivery room.  My family is 3-4 hours away and his is 7, so I think we'll wait to notify until I'm pushing.  This will hopefully get the baby delivered and bonding time started before anyone gets to the hospital (the time of day will also factor in).  I would prefer to get s2s, nursing and at least a little cleaning up done (if not a full shower) before anyone comes in.  But I am ok with family coming to the hospital, and maybe a couple select friends. 

farmrose

This whole topic already stresses me out. Unlike some of you lucky ones neither my mom or MIL know the meaning of boundaries or appropriate-ness if that's even a word. Like when to leave us alone... If we let them know we were heading to the hospital they'd meet us there even if we asked them not to. Both are about an hour away. Our plan is to let everyone know that baby has arrived once we are ready for visitors. Depending on what time baby is born it'll probably be the following day. I want plenty of time with baby and as a family of three before the baby snatchers descend. I know I'm not going to make many friends this way but it's the only way to have alone time and that's what's important to me. Which makes me feel like a selfish witch but oh well.