People are asking if they can visit us at the hospital. My inclination is yes, that as long as no one stays very long, I would love to have visitors while I'm recovering. I'm a little concerned though if I'll be up to having visitors at the hospital or not. My parents and DH parents will totally come and I have no issue w/ them being there from day one - but what about others?
If you had a c-section, did you feel up for visitors after the first day or two?
Re: visitors and c-section. .. .
my parents flew in the same day and were here for a week. i LOVED having them here, and i don't know what i would have done without them. they were insanely helpful.
we didn't have any other visitors right away, as we don't know many people in this area besides coworkers.
I had visitors constantly. To the point that I had DH run people out of my room so I could BF or nap. I had a constant stream of friends and family, and honestly, it continued for the first week at home too. I felt pretty good, and my pain was tolerable, but I was very much exhausted. I did 15 hours of labor before the section, so that might make a difference.
My suggestion is to talk to your DH ahead of time. Make a "code" word or something to alert him that you have had enough. That way you won't have the extra burden of telling well meaning visitors to leave. It's his job as the new daddy to run interference on the visiting.
The first day I just wanted to sleep. I was still out of it from the drugs and lack of sleep. It was nice to have maybe just DH or my mom come and help with the baby, but I wasn't much for conversation until the second day.
But, that being said, I had quite a few visitors every day I was there and I was okay.
Like the pp, I had gone through a long labor before and had gone 36 hours with no sleep, so I was not up for visitors at all during the first day or two. But I was in the hospital for so long that by the end it was better to have visitors.
You'll find that the hospital staff bugs you so much that you can hardly get any sleep or a minute alone, so you might not want anyone else adding to that. It all really depends on you.
I had my c/s in the morning, and had a few visitors by early afternoon. I was on pain meds so I wasn't in pain or anything. The next day we were all pretty tired just from being up that first night with the baby. I'd have visitors if you want, just ask them to wait for your DH to call and say it's okay so you can be certain you're up for it first, and only give them certain hours to come by.
I thought that I didn't want visitors, but it was SO boring w/o them. The first two days were fine and then I had a hard time on the 2nd night/3rd day w/ labor pains and didn't want anyone but DH and my mom in the room.
I was excited to get all of the visiting out of the way by the time we went home. Then I didn't have to entertain at my house, everyone had already seen DD.
Be sure to take a robe with you. I forgot mine and wish that I had brought it for when visitors were in the room and I had to get up and walk around. Good Luck!!!
I had visitors from day one...I really appreciated the support. The only day where I needed peace was the second day after all the drugs started wearing off and the exhaustion hit me. I was lucky and no one really overstayed their welcome. If you have someone who you think may be a problem, let the nurses know and they will kick them out for you.
Yes, I had visitors, but only family/very close friends. I told them to hold off the masses because I was so exhausted/out of it due to the drugs. I had a catheter bag and felt like I had been run over, so I was really trying to keep it nice and chill.
But having my mom, DH's ILs and my best friends really helped to perk me up. Also, DH didn't want to leave me/the baby, so they were great errand runners!
OH one good tip. Pack your own nightgown. I packed my regular pajamas (pants and a cami) and they SO didn't work (too painful to try and put on.) I had to have my mom run to Target and get me a gown so I wasn't rockin' the ugly hospital one, LOL.