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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I controlling for asking for these boundaries after birth

209 replies

Anonforthisone1 · 14/06/2025 17:48

Genuinely wondering if I am letting my emotions get to me with this. Have spoken briefly to dp about it but am worried I am
going to come across very precious and controlling. I have never really set boundaries before when it comes to birth.

i will be having a high risk csection under general (due to bleeding disorder) in the next few weeks. I am at a much greater risk of having a pph and also needing a transfusion or a hysterectomy so my recovery is up in the air.

i want to make it clear before I go in some boundaries or expectations due to the fact I have no idea what to expect

i would prefer for no pictures to be sent of ds until i am fully awake and have met him. I understand that this could be as little as 1 hour or could be a lot more if I have complications but the thought of everyone seeing him before me makes me really sad.
i dont want any visitors at all in hospital as from past experience i have had people not be considerate after pph etc.
i don’t know when I will be up for visitors so will tell people when I am ready (this could be a few days but it could be weeks) but they have to come to us. I don’t want to be travelling everywhere.

does this sound ok or am I being controlling as I really don’t want to be.

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 14/06/2025 17:54

All totally reasonable.

PonyPatter44 · 14/06/2025 17:54

I thought this was going to be the usual 'i don't want anyone looking at my baby for three months!' rubbish that we get sometimes, but actually, given your circumstances, I think you're sound. Of course you should get to see your baby before friends and family do. No visitors at the hospital is a bit unusual, but its about you recovering, so it's what works for you. How long do they keep you in after a CS these days?

PerryFerryQue · 14/06/2025 17:53

I was anticipating voting YABU, as so many poster set ridiculous boundaries around childbirth - as though their child is the second coming - but given the circumstances you're not being unreasonable at all. Good luck for your cSection

Anonforthisone1 · 14/06/2025 17:53

mygrandchildrenrock · 14/06/2025 17:51

It’s your baby and your body and it sounds like normal behaviour according to the things I read on Mumsnet. However, I don’t know anyone in real life who had ‘boundaries’ like this after giving birth.
Family member usually just want to congratulate parents and show some love to the new born baby, that’s not something to be wary of.

It’s more the fact that I don’t want to be asked straight away about seeing the baby if I am not well. If everything goes fine then I really don’t care.

OP posts:
RatOfTheHighway · 14/06/2025 17:52

Ok, so I’m usually that person on threads like these fully thinking wow that’s crazy behaviour…
but I see absolutely nothing wrong at all with any of the boundaries that you want, they are all perfectly reasonable, not over the top/high-maintenance at all and they all make perfect sense to me!

BusyMum47 · 14/06/2025 17:51

Sounds 100% reasonable! You call the shots when you've had a baby - especially in these circumstances.

People are so bloody entitled & insensitive sometimes, when there's a newborn on the scene - they don't always consider the mum!!

GRex · 14/06/2025 17:51

You may well be over- thinking things. It's a caesarean, you'll spend time in recovery with the baby and your DH. Rather than keep people away indefinitely, if they are decent humans it's better to talk to them about things you found helpful and unhelpful last time, then give them a chance, supervised by DH stepping in as needed. And if they aren't decent then why are you having them over at all?

mygrandchildrenrock · 14/06/2025 17:51

It’s your baby and your body and it sounds like normal behaviour according to the things I read on Mumsnet. However, I don’t know anyone in real life who had ‘boundaries’ like this after giving birth.
Family member usually just want to congratulate parents and show some love to the new born baby, that’s not something to be wary of.

CommissarySushi · 14/06/2025 17:49

Your boundaries are fine. Particularly the first one. I would be sad, if I was not the first to see my baby too.