One day old baby in pub

[Frenchie01]

So family member gave birth to first baby yesterday afternoon, she's a very young mum only 17 , normal delivery but episiotomy, baby good weight healthy. Was discharged home today and a couple of hours later was at the local pub not drinking alcohol just showing baby off and eating a meal , but am I right in thinking a day old baby baby is really too young to be in a pub or anywhere really , also worried she should be resting as obviously will be sore. Other family members have said I'm being old fashioned am I.

They do - for a few weeks, which is why we vaccinate at 8 weeks.
The newborn has immunity, so everyone can stop worrying about their ‘immature immune system’. At this stage it’s pretty good.

Not a single person on here has suggested a newborn has to stay in, of course you can go out, but it is sensible to limit exposure, as far as it is possible, to bacteria and viruses for the first three months. That is the standard recommendation. That is why people wash their hands before holding newborns, do not attempt a visit with a cold etc. A newborn can become vey very unwell very quickly.

If pp couldn’t care less about the facts or medical opinion or their baby’s health, and they are happy to run the risk it’s up to them.

A baby that has just been born will feel uniquely vulnerable and sensitive to noise, light and smell. Most parents choose a more gentle and supportive approach by moderating their baby’s exposure to the environment, other people and are careful and mindful certainly at the beginning of life.

The culture and lack of support can make it very hard for new parents of multiple children to get the help and support they need in the very early days.

The difference for a baby between being cuddled and fed at home or being cuddled and fed in a pub on a weekday afternoon are negligible. Both in terms of noise and germ exposure.

People live in pubs, and as such take their babies home to them. I was out and about immediately after giving birth as I'd been so ill and uncomfortable in pregnancy that I immediately felt better after. It's not for you to judge.
if she had got smashed you may have had a point.

Can we have some stats and compare them with the risk of having a car accident, being struck by lightning or lifetime risk of losing a limb for whatever reason please?

I'm kinda sick to death of "but you could die of HippoFlu" without this being put into context of other daily risks and whether we really should just continue to live but be vigilant rather than living in fear and never doing anything.

Newborns mostly sleep anywhere, any time. I didn't even know the colour of ds's eyes for about 2 weeks after he was born 😂 People make the mistake of tip toeing around sleeping babies, but the reality is that they're born thinking it's permanently night time, so noise during the day and quiet at night is a perfectly fine way for them to begin to develop a functioning circadian rhythm. All in the safety of warm, loving arms, as opposed to the womb.

I think it depends on your tolerance to pain. Also, I'd you haven't had pain relief you feel OK pretty much straight away.

I'm one of those people who did the food shop the night I got home from hospital and was up softplay with a friend's toddler at 5 days postpartum BUT I'd had a very short labour and no complications. If you'd been in labour for 3 days and had an emergency c section you'd need a lot more rest.

Totally agree with this.

And if she'd been going to the pub the day before she gave birth then the baby would still have gone to the pub environment with her!!

Ps I had a colicky one as well as one that slept and can confirm that not all newborns sleep anywhere 🙃 the ones that just sleep are a dream!!

I'd have told him to keep his nasty, judgey, misogynistic and utlimately inaccurate views to himself, irrespective of whether the group were young single mothers, or older married women. The fucking cheek of some men thinking they can pass judgement and comments like that. 😡

I'm old obviously but my Mum stopped for a pint of Guinness on the way home from the hospital with me 🤣 said she'd craved it all through her pregnancy but didn't want to drink alcohol-my mum doesn't even like a drink! Drinks 1 or two on special occasions maximum but she was NOT not having that pint!

I also wonder what kind of smells we’re supposed to be protecting a baby from?

Smells, light - I’m learning so much on this thread!

No issue at all if she's breastfeeding as the baby would have her immunity.

I think we just laughed. In horror, mostly.

Honestly I've never known such a time in my life when people felt they could make such unwarranted and ridiculous comments and judgement. Didn't happen so much after DD2 as I was all of 33 and probably looked more tired by then!

Though I remember being with my mum at a playground on holiday one time with both DDs, there was only one other mum there, with (I assumed) her mum or MIL. The older woman said loudly and looking pointedly in my and DDs' direction "Of course some parents just spend all their money on designer clothes for their kids, more money than sense!" The younger woman looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her up.

As they clambered about in their finest Primarni fashions. There might have been a top from Boots involved.

Most parents choose a more gentle and supportive approach by moderating their baby’s exposure to the environment, other people and are careful and mindful certainly at the beginning of life.

Most parents? Have you read the thread? You’re very much in the minority here. Most parents have to crack on with normal life.

I preferred the pubs full of smokers. It stopped people using them as creches.

Sepsis can happen at any age. It’s a rare response to infection.

Untrue, newborn babies are more at risk, read the links.

I do have to agree with you. Pubs used to be so much nicer years ago.

Seems good to me, I took dd shopping the day after she was born and went out for dinner (yes at a pub restaurant) when she was 3 days old. Took her up to central London at 12 days old. Dd2 got taken on the school run at 2 days old

Being able to shield newborns from noise and germs only really works with first babies as well. If you’re bringing baby back to a gross sticky toddler plus a five-year-old, who both go to different settings every day with multiple other children and bring home a new bug/virus/infection every couple of weeks then you don’t have much choice in it. Plus your home is unlikely to be tranquil and peaceful for your newborn to thrive in the silence.

and light sensitivity? I was told to put the newborn in front of the patio door in the sunlight every day as the HV thought he was a bit yellow and it would help.

Dc1 was at her grandads big birthday celebration (in a pub) at 2 days old. I didn't think anything of it at the time but now that I think back I'm shocked that I went. I was still exhausted and probably should have been resting. Everyone was over to look at dd who was asleep in her pram throughout. All good but that was pre covid.
I probably wouldn't have wanted germs on her if she was born post covid 🤣

I’ve never read such rubbish before here, protecting babies from smells, where are you getting this from. You just crack on with life. They are full of the antibodies you the mother passed on and are topping up if breastfeeding too. I suspect they are actually exposed to less now we don’t put newborns into hospital crèches for a week.

In general babies need quiet environments, soft voice, time and space to bond with mum. If the pub is crowded, people shouting, loud music and baby is passed around for people to see that can overwhelm them and make them restless. Also if there lots of people, the risk of catching something is higher and babies do not have the immune system to fight anything nor allowed Calpol until they are 2 months old to fight fever. Unless it’s a quiet place with not too many people there, it might be okay. I appreciate everyone’s opinion is different so it is up to carers to decide 😊xx

I thought ideas about "miasma" (theory that diseases were caused by a noxious form of "bad air" or smells) was a debunked Victorian one.

Silly me. I stand corrected that pubs are sources of dangerous miasma in 2025 still.

Christ Almighty.

Best tell that to post natal wards and petition to ban visitors.