I'm due September 29th. This is my second pregnancy from a second marriage. My first time around was 13 years ago. I allowed visitors and I felt over whelmed and anxious with all the people in and out. Not to mention some were kinda not really wanted to begin with. This time around I have tried to convince my husband that I do not want visitors with the exception of my parents and his parents and my 13 year old daughter. We have two very large families (had 450 people at our wedding!) And I can see this getting out of hand and me feeling frustrated while i should be bonding with our new child. My husband feels that we should allow anyone to visit. Does anyone else feel this way? Or am I alone? How would you approach this situation in letting everyone know your wishes?
Re: visitors at the hospital???
I think FI was upset at first but when he heard the expirience I had the first time he got over it an agreed that we need time to spend with her and to bond with her before she gets passed from person to person. I get it...a new life is certainly exciting and everyone wants to see and hold them but in the first 24 hours i feel it's important for mom and dad to spend that time bonding instead of endless family members who in the end won't be caring for the infant.
My suggestion is to really sit your husband down and discuss your concerns with him. Come up with a plan that satisfies both of your needs. Perhaps he wants people to come see the new baby so tell him since you'll be the one doing all the work to please let you have some time to get to feeling a little better, maybe let you shower and eat something and take a nap before visitors arrive and then cap the visitors at a certain number. Also ask that he have visitors ask before just arriving to the hospital so you know who's coming and not just caught by surprise.
I completely agree with you.
And as someone else said, this is one time you get to be selfish. You're the one squeezing a watermelon through a donut hole.
But to please your husband and family, maybe plan a meet and greet for family and friends later. Maybe several days so that you're not overwhelmed by everyone at home either. And make sure you have someone else (husband and sister/SIL/CIL for example) doing the prep work (cleaning and hosting and such).
Frankly, I think after seeing the labor and delivery DH understood why I didn't want the whole family having a party in the room.
Married Bio * BFP Charts
Or maybe tell all visitors to come by the house after your home?
Or a planned sip and see type thing?
I've considered both of these bc I feel the same way you do.