Who was with you when baby was born?

Hay there! Well I had an emergency c-sec and was totally unprepaired - long story short my ML had to go to our house while I was in hospital with DH getting ready for surgery. (she had to go collect the bags and things ) My hubby was the first to hold Riley and then me - well in a fashion - when i came out of recovery he was in the nursery and then they brought him to me - I held him - my mother and father in law were both in the waiting room during the birth etc. they did not however hold him until the next day or thereafter I think - you need time to settle and get used to your baby - she didnt interfere there and also you are either busy BF or your little one is asleep and no one wants to disturb. I suppose it all depends but I really just went with the flow. you will see what i mean - I totally get that you dont want 20 people handling a newborn - they are very sensitive....if this is your wish then you must make that clear to her and hubby you dont want to be getting upset after all that...

Marijke - that is sooooo funny

I really can't imagine that. By the time everyone comes to visit and sees me, I want to be all comfortable and looking like a normal person, not being wheeled out of recovery in a hospital gown

Especially MIL, since she never has a dot of make-up out of place (even if you see her at 6AM in the morning)!!!

Thanks Ilse - it is reassuring to see that there are other people who also feel this way. I was starting to think that I was being unreasonable.

Thanks Reluctant Mom. I think I will tell DH tonight that my initial plan still sticks and that I do not want anyone there until I am ready. I will also tell him not to say anything to his mom just yet, since she never had the decency to even ask me if she could be there - she just sort of announced it at dinner to everyone including people I had met for the first time last night that she was going to be at the hospital, etc.etc. So, since she never asked me, I don't think I need to answer just yet I'll just tell her shortly before the time that she is not allowed, as you suggest.

Thanks

I haven't given birth, so suppose can't really comment. But there is NO WAY, and I mean none, whether it is c-section or vaginal, that anyone else except my husband will be present for the first 24 - 48 hours.

So stand firm, this is between a husband and wife and your new family member that comes into the world.

charneney, you'll be happy to hear that I bit my MIL lip when she was kissing me! Second time that happened but she always kisses me when I'm talking, so for the second time in my life I actually bit her lip!!!

I think this is one of those times where you leave it and just nod - but make it clear to your partner that you really do not want her there.

About three days before you go to the hospital tell your partner to tell his mom that unfortunately she is not permitted at the hospital on birth day, but gets to visit first the day after - explain that those are the hospital rules.

If you tell her too early, and she is that resourceful, she might pester the hospital to get her in.

But seriously the sisters at the hospital are sensitive to this sort of thing, and you just insist NO VISITORS and that is that.

You really do need that first day to be with your baby, your partner, your medication and your hot cup of tea.

There will be a 1 000+ days afterwards where MIL and others can be with you, insist on that one day by yourself.