COVID surges - Newborn baby and visitors?

[Newmummyinlockdown]

AIBU?

I am 38 weeks with my second baby. My first was born the week of the first lockdown. I suffered terribly with PND made worse due to the lockdown, fear of my baby getting ill and general terror of COVID (as I lost three family friends to it).

With the increase in surges, I am getting more worried about visitors with my next baby. I keep getting messages such as ‘at least we can have baby cuddles this time!’ I can’t understand why they would expect it, with the increase in COVID again! I know family missed out on seeing my first baby due to the lockdown, but we still need to be careful surely once the regulations are lifted?

I thought about getting visitors to do a test beforehand and then they could at least see the baby?

My mum thinks I’m being silly and should let everyone have cuddles and kisses, but I think I’m being sensible in limiting visitors (albeit I do understand we need to learn to live with COVID, but a newborn baby is an exception to the general well population).

What do you think is the right thing to do? AIBU or dramatic?

@Newmummyinlockdown Hi, congratulations!

My advice as a new Mummy would be take each day at a time and go at your own pace. Our daughter is 5 months and when she was born, it was strictly my parents and in laws who could see her.

Like you, I was very nervous about my daughter getting ill etc. It was only when she was 2 months old I eased off slightly and let her have cuddles etc.

People completely understood. You need to look after you and your baby so do what is best for you both. You won't be wrong either way as you did what you thought is best

Honestly I’m quite relaxed about Covid, but I would say you’re doing the right thing limiting numbers of people who visit, newborns have no immunity to anything. My second child is 3 months and there’s lots of people she still hasn’t met yet, I’m just spreading out the visitors a bit.

I’m not due until December, but I’ll be limiting visits if it’s as bad as I’m expecting it to be. We’re trying to prepare people for this now… I don’t think it’ll be a popular move, but it feels right for the baby.

I’m hoping we can have the in-laws visit at the hospital, and then we’ll settle in at home for a bit, and take things a day at a time after a week or two.

Do what feels right.

Hi @Newmummyinlockdown! I had my 2nd child 2 weeks ago ... so far she's only seen my parents & my best friend - everyone took LF tests

Other people have been asking to come round and visit but I haven't felt comfortable. My best friend also had a lockdown baby so she has been pretty much in her house lol 😂

Do what you feel comfortable with - I haven't let anyone kiss my baby; but I wouldn't let them do that regardless of covid.

If you're that worried then just limit the visitors to close family? At what point will you not be worried?

Limit visitors, ask them to wash their hands when they get there (good practice with newborns anyway) and maybe wear a mask if you’re overly cautious. I don’t blame you, my youngest was born almost a year ago and we didn’t have any visitors. He’s honestly only been held by DH and I still to this day.

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and, although I'm not massively wary of Covid, I will advocate for myself much more strongly than I did with baby number 1 with regards to visitors.

Do what feels right for you and sod what anyone else thinks or feels.

Do what feels right for you. Maybe ask them to stop making comments like that as it upsets you?

I'd be limiting visitors and asking for LFTs. Just because restrictions are going and adults have been vaccinated, doesnt mean the risk to the baby is any less. And I'd be wary if anyone that said this was silly as they probably won't be taking any precautions against covid before visiting g

I’d keep it to close family only but I think stopping anyone from touching the baby is a bit overdramatic. Covid is airborne so just being in an unventilated room gives a risk, whether or not there is physical contact. I would keep windows open or be outside if warm enough.

I’m due next week, apart from parents I’m tempted to tell everyone else we have to self isolate to give us at least two weeks breathing space