to be shocked at a 4 day old baby out shopping...

[mrschop]

with his mother of course. But - four days after giving birth you should be resting, recovering, letting all your innards get back to where they should be. Surely not marching around a shopping centre?

And even if the mother is OK to be out and about, shouldn't newborns be given bit of time at home to adjust to being born? Mine didn't leave the house for a week, and then only a short walk up the road.

Am I really old fashioned in thinking that a week or two of rest, peace and quiet (and no germs from random strangers) is the normal thing to do with a new baby?

[nappyaddict]

YABU - i went shopping with ds the day after he was born.

[MarsLady]

I always recommend a week in bed for my clients (or at the very least vegging at home).

Each to their own (but I get a fair few distress calls at 6wks post birth).

[nickytwotimes]

It won't do the baby any harm.
I wanted peace and quiet, personally, but some people are just so proud of their lo they can't wait!

[theSuburbanDryad]

Um.

We took ds to Toys R Us when he was 2 days old.

I would have gone nuts if i'd had to stay at home for 2 weeks!! So long as the mother is happy to be "marching around in a shopping centre" i don't see a problem with it! She probably wanted to show off her brand new baby and a posh pram!

[pucca]

I did too NA, the day after having dd i was in tesco doing a food shop lol, felt fine.

After ds i wasn't so quickly out and about as i had a section.

[2point4kids]

YABU maybe she had things she had to do!
I took DS2 to a soft play centre at 3 days old - DS1 was getting bored!

[youcannotbeserious]

yabu... DS was out for lunch at a week and he was out with me walking the dog the day he came home from hospital...

As a mother on my own all week, where I go, DS goes...

Not all women hve the option to not leave the house for a week or two

[FruitynNutty]

I went to Sainsburys local the day after I got out of hospital! DS was 3 days old and I'd had a c-section, midwife wasn't happy but I was desperate to get out and show off my beautiful baby

[Janos]

Maybe she was desperate to get out of the house, Or even just felt like it? Everyone's different.

Also how do you KNOW a baby is just 4 days old - unless you ask? Bit puzzled by that one.

[Springflower]

I was out and about during the first week - hairdressers, shopping, walks etc. Why not if you're fine and the babies fine? YABU!

[thequietone]

I went to Wagamama 3 days after DS1 was born. Best thing I did, as I was there 5 days previously when the contractions started. They remembered me and we got whatever we wanted for free, as a congratulations on the birth!! We didn't take the piss and ordered nothing extra but what a wonderful surprise!

[TheArmadillo]

maybe it was stuff she needed to get and felt she had no choice.

I know lots who were doing the weekly food shop the day after giving birth (none with first though).

If you have other children, life doesn't stop because you've had another - I presume most have to take older kids to school, get food etc etc if they have no one else on hand to do it.

[meglet]

I think if the mum feels like she needs to get out then it's fine. Especially as the weather is so nice. I went mad being cooped up at home. I had a cs and hated being slowed down for a few weeks.

[Amethyst86]

I took ds out shopping to Asda after 2 weeks and overheard a couple commenting on him being far too young to be out. They were with 4 older kids and were obviously the experts on child rearing. I was really gutted actually and went home in tears feeling like a terrible Mother. Go out when you feel ready I say. YABU.

[TheMadHouse]

I was in waitrose 2 days post c-section. We had to didnt have anything in at all, was medicated and not breast feeding. Didnt have bottles or anything

Did get a cup of tea from the nice ladies though

[DanJARMouse]

The biggest mistake I ever made - doing stuff after birth.

With both girls I was high as a kite, couldnt stop me. Had them out at 24hrs old.

DS born last november, hardly saw anyone for weeks.

Needed the rest.

[DoubleBluff]

YABU.

[thelittlestbadger]

Why is it any of your business if the parents are happy with it? I had a normal and easy delivery so took DD out for walks round the local park in the sling from about 2 days old. I felt fine, she slept, it got us out of our rather cramped and hot flat, why should we have stayed in to suit someone else's notions of what is appropriate?

[hellsbells76]

YABU - it's none of your business and what was right for you isn't necessarily right for everyone. i was up and about the day after dd was born (had to go to the shops to replace all the tea the midwives had drunk and take ds to preschool) and i felt great, didn't want to be cooped up in the house any longer than a day. dd was quite happy in her sling and didn't seem to mind at all. each to their own etc.

[southeastastra]

i went to tesco about 4 days after a csection too, mw was angry in case i'd bump into someone. left the baby at home though

[beansprout]

What a strange thing to judge someone about? Perhaps she needed something?

Good on her for feeling well enough to go out I say.

[edam]

OP sounds like my Mum. Who acted as if my announcement 'I think I'll just pop to the corner shop' was a declaration of war on my vulnerable, precious newborn! Apparently shops are full of EVIL people with GERMs who are just waiting for the opportunity to pounce on babies...

[southeastastra]

i would be shocked at a four day old baby shopping alone though

[ib]

I took ds to the (outdoor) market at 4 days old - and it was December.

BUT he was very snug in a sling. I was going stir crazy and we needed food!