To be annoyed at my SIL??

[Sarah2506]

I had a baby last week, by c section. DH and I have had no visitors apart from the midwife and my mum for an hour while still in hospital. DHs mum wants to visit but is 2.5 hours away by public transport. We said not yet, to give me a chance to recover and also get the hang of feeding her. I don't feel comfortable having her travel all that way as I will feel mean asking her to leave after a short while- we are in a flat so there is little space.

DH received a text from his sister saying that we had upset his mum and she shouldn't have to make an appointment to see her granddaughter. She says we are being unreasonable and life is too short to wait another couple of weeks.

I'm tired, emotional, sore and sensitive and just don't want people I'm not normally comfortable around in my space- we don't get on that well. AIBU in just saying no for a little while longer? SIL knows that my mum has visited and said that evidences my willingness to have visits but that I am just being picky about who. That's kind of true- I'm a lot more comfortable with my own mother and even then she's only been for an hour!

I wasn't feeling particularly low but do now- feel I'm being emotionally blackmailed. AIBU??

[diddl]

Ah well if husband has just about estranged himself, I think that puts quite a different light on it tbh.

I'd be leaving it to him to sort out!

[EldritchCleavage]

You never know, MIL may be looking to the birth of this grandchild as a means to improve her relationship with her son. My MIL certainly did, with limited success.

[IAgreeCompletely]

I think you handled that really well OP. You have hopefully diffused a family drama

Hope everything goes well

[MidniteScribbler]

Good outcome OP. Feel free to use hormones as an excuse to slap your DH upside the head for not sending his mother any pictures.

[Pancakeflipper]

Good one OP. hope the visit goes well. MIL must be so giddy with excitement.

Our families don't live close and MIL has a grandchild who lives with her 2 days a week so it's easy to feel distant. But I email lots of photos which I think helps us all feel a little closer.

[trackies]

Good luck Op. Enjoy your new baby and well done on the compromise, and having a what to your SIL about her text.

Most importantly, take it easy (well as easy as you can with a newborn) and enjoy your new baby

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Good comprimise op.

And I didnt think you did anything wrong.

[MrsMook]

I think it is reasonable to see some visitors and make others wait after a birth that involves a lot of recovery, depending on how you feel and how practical it is.

First time after my emergency CS, DH did a round trip of the 45min journey to pick my Grandma-mum up to see us in hospital. My mother had to wait until about 10 days when I could cope with sitting around on a sofa. I didn't want her to make a 400 mile trip for her to find me napping for most of it. I couldn't have coped with her staying as our relationship is a little sensitive. MiL came over from Ireland at 3wks and stayed over.

This time BiL came over at 2 days when I came home from hospital (it was supposed to be in hospital, but I went home earlier than expected). I didn't see him as I slept through the whole visit! My early guests needed to be hard to offend and local enough for a short visit to be worthwhile. (I was still poor company after my VBAC, infact the 3rd degree tear was more painful, and sitting on the sofa was tortuous!)

Glad it's sorted.

[exoticfruits]

Glad it is all sorted-no wonder she was sad if she didn't even have a photo!

[neunundneunzigluftballons]

Well done Sarah and I am glad you took this AIBU so well I think I would have been in tears reading these responses after I had my first as I was all over the place. My inlaws came to see me every night and often during the day when my first was born and it was completely overwhelming so there is definitely a balance to be struck. That said I absolutely loved how excited they were to meet my baby (and all subsequent babies) you cannot pay a price for those moments. I hope that you and your mil enjoy her first visit. Well done n SIL too i future she might pick up the phone and make the call before she tries any thing lie that again.

[NightmareWalking]

For what it's worth I didn't think YWBU but well done on reaching a compromise! I would have more of a problem with SIL interfering, we had something similar with BIL sending DH an angry text when MIL was coming to meet DD, because MIL had to stop in a hotel (we have one bed). BIL then spent an angry drunken hour ranting at DH on the telephone that MIL should have our bed, and we should sleep on the sofa & floor with our tiny 6 week old* baby. Turns out that BIL has other things going on in his life that explain his behaviour even if they don't excuse it - maybe it's the same for your SIL?

*Yes, MIL didn't meet DD till DD was 6 weeks old, she lives 5 hours away. (FIL didn't meet her until she was 8 months, because their dog was more important - but that's a whole other thread!) My DPs met her at 4 weeks, my DSis at 13 days, My Dbro when DD was 4 days old. You know what? No one died. Everyone gets on fine. DD's relationships with these people will be fine!

[MrsRhysMeyers]

I think you are being very unreasonable.

can she not come and stay and help out for a few days? She might really want to and she might be really useful and helpful

[Wheresthepopcornagain]

It's your choice but if I let one grandparent see baby and not the other, it would look like I am playing favourites. get your DH to explain your situation to his mum. I know that my mum would drive 2.5 hours for 5 minutes with a new grandchild. Perhaps you shouldn't concentrate on the distance, just give her the option. Sil should but out.