Can I Hold The Baby? 5 Helpful Rules For Postpartum Visitors
Welcome home baby! Your newest family member has arrived and you share the exciting news with family members. Shortly after you’ll begin to receive the texts and calls asking to come meet your sweet newborn. If your new mom instincts spring into action, do not be alarmed… it is natural for new parents to feel protective of their little ones especially in regards to sharing them with the world.
Here are 5 helpful rules for handling postpartum visitors!
Establish visiting hours
Once you are feeling willing and ready to welcome visitors into your bubble, make sure to set up visiting hours and share it with your family and friends. Let them know when they’re welcome to come and how long you are expecting to have visitors for. Setting up a time frame on how long visitors can stay will help with ensuring no one overstays their welcome. It’s also important to limit the amount of visitors that can come throughout the day so that you are not bombarded with visitors all at once.
Health and Safety is top priority
Your newborn’s health and safety is of utmost importance, especially since they have not established an immune system yet. Make sure to let potential visitors know that if they are feeling unwell, or have been exposed to anyone that has been sick. Always remind visitors to wash their hands before touching or holding your baby, essentially upon arrival.
You are important, too
It’s true that everyone who comes over is excited to meet and love on your sweet baby but you are also important. You just went through a birth and life-changing adjustments. Don’t be afraid to ask your family and friends for help with things around the house (e.g. preparing lunch, watching baby while you shower, allowing you to sleep). Remind your visitors that it is important for you to have TLC and self-care.
Personal privacy
In this day and age, many people like to capture exciting moments on their phone. Let your visitors know how you feel about photos or videos being taken of your baby. If you are okay with photos or videos, how do you feel about social media posts? Make sure to establish your privacy policies when it comes to sharing your baby online or with others.
”NO” is a complete sentence
One of the most important rules for you to remember is that YOU are in charge of how your postpartum period should be spent. You do not owe it to anyone to have visitors come meet your baby. If you are not feeling up to it just say “no”. Unsolicited advice? No, you do not have to take it. Visitors randomly showing up? No, you do not have to answer them. Do not be afraid to say “no” to whatever you are not comfortable with.
The arrival of a new baby should be a time for you to enjoy. Everyone is different on how they wish to spend their postpartum time and that is okay.
Family and friends should be understanding of your wishes and boundaries as you recover and celebrate your new bundle of joy.
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