What are your "rules" on phone calls/visits once at home?

CanadianJulyBri

Just wondering what you and your spouses have agreed on...or are arguing about!

I want to have a set number of days where we don't answer phone calls/accept visits...Obviously we will need to text message/call or email immediate family (not all live here) but other than that...no one.

thetwistedwillow

Honestly it is hard to plan things like this because you just won't know how you'll feel. When you don't feel like answering the phone, turn the ringers off. If you're feeling talkative and want to brag (and show off) your brand new and gorgeous baby then leave the ringer on and have visitors.

Just play it by ear!

mandy417

DH is only able to take off work for 1 week, so I'm hoping everyone gives us that week together without any interruptions. I'm notorious for not answering the door anyway if I don't know someone is stopping by, and I don't think that is going to change after the baby arrives. So if I have to turn the ringers off on the phones and not answer the door, so be it

proud-mommy-to-be

I don't really care either way. Obviously I will turn the phones off when we are napping or resting, but people coming by or calling doesn't bother me. I only have immediate family living close that could stop by. My close friends will mostly text and email me.

happy2bTTC

Oooh, I'm dying for ladies to respond to this.  I read this aloud to my husband in hopes that it may spark up a conversation regarding this topic.  No dice!  Maybe once there are other replies that I can read to him, it'll open up some options for us to consider.

jdreams76

The company is great to have! When you want it for sure. I know my MIL and mom will be here daily. But they come over and clean for me too! They did with DD and my said to show her where I keep all my cleaning stuff the other day so she knows when the baby is here. Besides my husbands side of the family always drops off meals the first week you are home. They come on there own specified days. I'm sure they will be working that out @ the shower like they always do. And they even make what you want! So we will be discussing that at the shower as well. Sure we will have time to ourselves throughout the day and when we shut off the ringers ect. But it's nice to have people that care and want to know your baby around too.

mayowife

We never even thought to discuss this.

DH's time off depends on LO's arrival date. He's off Dec 24th - Jan 3. EDD is Dec 30th. If he's home I'd like a lot of time for us alone with baby and I might tell people it would be so wonderful to have you stop by after DH returns to work. Maybe this will make them feel useful and give us time to adjust.

I must admit there are some people I anticipate wanting here, yet other people I could do without no matter how much time passes.

If current bed rest is any indication of how smothered we will be, then we will be fine. No one has come over uninvited and only my stepmom and sister have even done that.

mayowife

jdreams76:

The company is great to have! When you want it for sure. I know my MIL and mom will be here daily. But they come over and clean for me too! They did with DD and my said to show her where I keep all my cleaning stuff the other day so she knows when the baby is here. Besides my husbands side of the family always drops off meals the first week you are home. They come on there own specified days. I'm sure they will be working that out @ the shower like they always do. And they even make what you want! So we will be discussing that at the shower as well. Sure we will have time to ourselves throughout the day and when we shut off the ringers ect. But it's nice to have people that care and want to know your baby around too.

Wow, this is great. Lucky you! I can't wait to have most people over as much as they can. This post just made me think about how to handle those I could do without.

SymphonyGirl

We didn't have any "rules" about this with DS nor do we plan to with DD.  I would hate to announce to close family about the birth via text or email, so I think I must have a different sensibility about these things that the OP.   When I'm not up for phone calls, DH answered/will answer the phone.  My parents will be with us for the birth (planned c-section--they're coming in from out of town) and they will probably call most of my side of the family to share the good news.  DH will call everyone else that needs calling.  We're not restricting visitors, obviously, since I'm planning to have my parents with us at the hospital and they'll be staying for about a week.  As soon as they leave, DH's mom and siblings will be coming to stay with us for a week. We'll have a week on our own, then my bf is coming in from out of town to stay with me for a week while DH has to travel for business.  I'm happy to have all the help we can get during those early weeks.  It's hard to do on your own. 

jdlocke

We haven't talked about this too much, but I already have my idea. I don't want people calling until later in the morning or after noon, and I am not allowing anyone in my house that is sick. They will just have to wait till they are better, or put on a mask and gloves. I am hoping that people will give us our space is those first few days, but I doubt it because they don't really think before doing anything.

prlmrg08

Honestly it depends on where we are living. If we sell our house (which we got an offer, and have countered and are waiting to hear back) then we will be in an apartment.... so I feel like not as many people will stop by because of the space. So I guess we will see!

jwpbride

::busted lurking on 3rd tri::

FWIW, everyone visited us in the hospital and no one came by once we got home- we were bored and wanted visitors! haha You never know how you'll feel!