I have a 4 week old baby and am getting increasingly annoyed with people wanting to visit. Baby only sleeps for 2 hours at night and has 20 min naps during the day and seems to feed constantly (I am breastfeeding). My mum has taken it upon herself to drop by unnanounced with others and stays for hours, not taking hints that it is time for her to leave. The last time she virtually demanded to take baby out in the pram despite the fact she was crying and needed feeding. Mother in law dropped by with brother in law at 9pm the other night. I know that they are family but I don't get any time for myself (partner works very long hours) and feel resentful at having to spend the one hour in the evening when baby is settled entertaining guests. It is also exhausting having a house load of people when you are seriously sleep deprived! And I don't feel comfortable breastfeeding in front of people. Plus when the baby is actually settled I like to take her out for a walk to get some peace (and mt parents are not up for walking for an hour so its not like I could invite them). It is also important that me and my partner get some time already alone with our baby at weekends.
What is worse us that they drop by unannounced. I have told my mum to phone if she wants to come but now I just have messages every day asking if she can come round and sometimes she ignores the replies if they say no we are busy. I know they want to see their grandchild but again I feel resentful that they don't respect our privacy or recognise that I need space and time alone with my partner and baby. It is like we are public property. I know a lot of people say get them to help around the house to give you a break but they do not do this - just sit and pass the baby round because they all want to 'have a hold'. My partner asked my dad to come and look after us after I was out of hospital and he had to work. We asked if he could hoover but that did not happen. Instead he was up and down thw stairs at the slightest movement asking if we were ok. It sounds awful but I just want them all to go away and leave us alone! We had visitors every day for the first week and a half and it is all too much.
What I want is some advice on how to tell family this. I don't want to be rude but my family do not take hints!
Thanks