Hospital visitation?

Is there anyone that had a hospital birth and waited to have many visitors until after you returned home? My husband and I have been thinking that we want the birth and recovery to be a more private matter than most people we know have. So my question is this I guess -- did anyone else feel the same way and have a limited (i.e. very close family members only) amount of guests come to the hospital and then maybe arrange to have visitors stop by your home later? How did you tell the other people so as not to offend them? It’s kind of a tradition around here to just assume to go see the baby and new parents as soon as possible, but I always feel like I’m imposing and I don’t want to feel imposed upon or pass my baby around right after it’s born.

Quoting jenny_:“ Is there anyone that had a hospital birth and waited to have many visitors until after you returned home? ... [snip!] ... but I always feel like I’m imposing and I don’t want to feel imposed upon or pass my baby around right after it’s born.”

I had limited at the hospital, I had family and very close friends only, I also had a c-section and was there for 4-5 days. I always think that you should be able to sleep and rest rather then trying to talk and socialize with people constantly coming to visit.

i let anyone come, but thats me, i dont like to be alone perse. i love unexpected company and such. but if you dont want people there dont let them. just when you call and tell them you had the baby just say we should be home on such and such a day, you can call after then if you would like to come out to the house.

Quoting Jary79:“ I had limited at the hospital, I had family and very close friends only, I also had a c-section and ... [snip!] ... that you should be able to sleep and rest rather then trying to talk and socialize with people constantly coming to visit.”

Yeah, me too. I think it interferes with the bonding between you and baby, as well. Were you put in a position where you had to tell people, "please don't come?" how did that work out for you? That is what I'm afraid of -- my hubby has a pretty big family and I don't really want that full house scrutinizingthe babein those times I'd rather just be alone with him/her and my hus and take it all in.

You can just let your nurses know and they can put a sign on the door that says "patient resting: do not disturb" or if you want to insure your privacy don't tell anyone until after you get home.

To be honest I preferred people visiting me at the hospital as opposed to home.  You can get all the visits out of the way and not have to worry about "entertaining" or the condition of your house.

We only had close family come and one close family friend. We didn't plan it like that though.I just think our friends felt it would be best to wait until we got home anyways just incase I didn't want visitors or something. I wish more people would have visited at the hospital though.

There was a HUGE snowstorm the day after she was born and so very few people came out...it was great and I would highly recommend having as much alone time to yourself. You're due in Feb...pray for snow ;)

More practical, just be honest and let people know your wishes. I'm sure they will understand and if they don't then let the hospital know you don't want many visitors. I think at most places people have to be rung in to the maternity ward. If you don't want visitors, the nurses just won't let people in to see you.

Quoting Sweetsaramae:“ There was a HUGE snowstorm the day after she was born and so very few people came out...it was great ... [snip!] ... people have to be rung in to the maternity ward. If you don't want visitors, the nurses just won't let people in to see you.”

Haha, nice. Yeah -- I'll pray for snow the day AFTER. With my luck, it will be the night I go into labor and we'll have to drive 2mph to the hospital, which is about 20 miles away!