Official 'rules' on visitors for newborn

[namechanger247334]

Posting here for traffic...

Have tried to research this but I'm due my baby very soon, does anyone know of the guidance on visitors for when I come home with baby?
Haven't been out anywhere and would feel really vulnerable with people coming over to visit. Me and babies dad aren't together and him and his family live over an hour away. Him and his family haven't been social distancing at all! (His stepdad has gone to Spain and I've seen photos of them at a heaving beach), also they share custody of children so they've been mixing with everyone, basically none of his family have taken this seriously.
I'm just very anxious about it all and wondered if there was any guidance.

Which part of the country are you in? Roughly?

@LouiseTrees
South of London

Are you looking for something official looking to send to your baby's Dad and family to say they're not coming over to visit? Because it sounds like you just don't want them to. Which is completely fine, there is a pandemic going on but just own it and say that to them rather than trying to hide behind a bit of 'official' guidance that obviously will mean diddly squat to them anyway if they're not following any of the other guidance.

@Frenchpastry
In all honesty I don't think they will bother, however because I don't know what's actually right and wrong, it would be nice/reassuring to know if there was any actual guidance.
Of course however much I want to protect my little one, I know that it is perfectly reasonable if babies dad wants to visit, to 'let' him so to speak, I just don't really want the whole clan and extended family cuddling and kissing my newborn

Official rules re could vid state only one other household in your home at any time. Remain 2 meters apart.

So that means they can't hold the baby.

@Frenchpastry
None of his family have had any contact with me so I'm not overly anxious that they're going to be rushing to come down, and I am more than happy for him and his mum to visit, but he has 7 sibling and lots of extended family (grandparents, great grandparents) and I'm really nervous they're all just going to turn up on the door and I won't have the guts to send them away. I highly doubt they will want to wear face masks (not expecting dad to wear one) or even entertain the idea of washing their hands, as they all think they've already had it and don't believe in such a thing as being a 'carrier'.

The same thing applies to my friend who jokes about waiting outside the hospital when I give birth! I know it's just a joke but she is fully expecting to come round as soon as baby is born

Hi OP, I have a 5 week old and have asked about this at the hospital and at all the appointments I’ve had since DS’s birth with the midwives and health visitor. The answer has always been that they would advise only having visitors to an outside space and to observe social distancing, so no passing the baby around for cuddles. We’ve stuck to this although it has been very hard to not let my parents and sister hold DS, as we’re very close and it’s my first baby. We’re thinking we may be able to be slightly less cautious after he has his jabs but if we decide to allow family to hold DS we will ask them to wash hands thoroughly beforehand and wear a face covering.

It’s your baby and ultimately you must do what you feel is safe.

I am in labour right now! So I’ve thought a great deal about this (people sending well wishing messages claiming they ‘can’t wait for cuddles’) LOL NOPE.

I personally have made it clear for weeks now that my intention is for there to be a socially distanced baby viewing in my garden when the weather is fine, people can come and meet her in her Moses basket/ being held by me but there will be a 2m distance maintained.

She is your baby and you’ll have enough to worry about, set your boundaries out from the offset so you can’t be accused of being mentally unstable (as most new mothers are)
& good luck!! Xxx

If just own the fact you want limited visitors given the pandemic.

Be open to his parents coming to meet the baby but it's reasonable to say no to friends and extended family until you're comfortable.

@YessicaHaircut @GYNisaliarWTF
Thank you for replying, was good to get some firsthand experiences as I have no idea what to expect and don't want to sound harsh as I've been accused of being 'overly anxious' by babies dad in the past (when we were together). I'm just trying to do what's best for baby and all the rules are so confusing.

The government guidelines remain that it should be two households indoors, and no more than 6 people outdoors (from various households).

Op here are the government guidelines

I think it's maybe a good idea to compose a text or email you could send to anyone who asks about visiting, explaining that you're obviously going to be as safe as possible with your newborn, government advice is XYZ and you've been advised by your midwife to stick to it, would love to see you but no unexpected visits please, will be in touch to arrange an appropriate plan etc etc Then you can basically copy and paste it to anyone who asks.