to be shocked at a 4 day old baby out shopping...

[mrschop]

with his mother of course. But - four days after giving birth you should be resting, recovering, letting all your innards get back to where they should be. Surely not marching around a shopping centre?

And even if the mother is OK to be out and about, shouldn't newborns be given bit of time at home to adjust to being born? Mine didn't leave the house for a week, and then only a short walk up the road.

Am I really old fashioned in thinking that a week or two of rest, peace and quiet (and no germs from random strangers) is the normal thing to do with a new baby?

I took 2 day old dd to tesco at 2am, she just wouldn't stop screaming and I had to get out of the house so strapped her into the buggy and off we went. Did nearly faint when we got there though.

If the baby's mother was feeling up to going out, why not? Good on her. We took our second out shopping barely a week after her birth, and my innards did not drop out, nor did she go down with any nasty illness.

tootired- my friend did all her xmas shopping at night in the Trafford centre because her DS would not settle. She found it much better than staying home and getting stressed out.

Babies have to develope their immune system gradually. Shouldnt expose them to too much too soon. My friends sister went to a zoo park the day after giving birth (at home)along with her other 2 kids. She rang everyone that evening to say she'd been there, and relished in their gasps of 'youv'e done what already!' But thats her all over- attention seeking, and likes to pretend she's supermum. I guess the trip to tesco's was essential- after all its hardly someones choice for a nice afternoon out is it!!

Each to their own I'd say - I can certainly understand why you'd want to get out of the house. I think we took ds into town for a wander when he was about 8 days old.

Mum07, it's my mother who ranted about shops being full of germs, not me! She told everyone I didn't have a clue about how to look after a baby because I wanted to go to the corner shop AND didn't have a Proper Baby Bath on a stand in front of the fire (the fact we didn't actually have an open fire didn't seem to matter - or perhaps it was further proof of my inadequacy as a parent, who knows).

Sorry if someone else has already answered this (haven't read whole thread) but in response to the queries over whether it is a criminal offence to attend work in the two weeks after birth, it is - if reported, the employer (rather than employee) will be fined and there's no defence for it as it's a summary offence - www.compactlaw.co.uk/monster/empf39.html. I think it's a longer period for some jobs that perceived as dangerous. Hope that clears that up!

Jackdeggerette, that is legally true, but a woman can demand the right to go back to work before 2 weeks. There was a case where the employer refused a woman to go back to work immeditley after giving birth (yes stupid I know who would want to) but the courts ruled in her favour. EVen though that is registered as the law, it can be easily challenged as a womans right.

In the US where I'm from you're expected to be back at work within a fortnight in some places.

Thank fuck I never have to live there again.

Think YABU.

When dd was 5 days old I walked a mile into town with her in buggy and then back. On my own and I'd had a section. It was nice to have some fresh air and exercise.

Just a bit at the thought of recommending a week in bed. Do you also recommend clexane to combat the increased risk of DVT?

I went out with DS at about 5 days, down steep hill into town with a friend. Had a funny turn and had to phone DH to come and get us! DS survived all passing germs and, 12 years on, is disgustingly healthy.
Subsequently sent DH out to get me some sanitary towels. He came back with incontinence pads (moaning that he didn't want to hang around that aisle too long, so picked up the 1st thing he saw!) Marvellous things. Did the trick superbly.

Doesn't seem strange at all. Four days is the point at which the average first time mother will have run out of sanitary towels. Well, that's why I went shopping anyway. With subsequent children most mothers seem to be lucky if they get let of the next day's school/nursery run.

ooh.. spooky crossed post that proves my point m'thinks.

Most of the replies have focussed on the mother, how she feels, and 'cabin fever', which I can understand. But I do think very young babies are vulnerable. And a walk around the park is one thing, but I think a shopping centre full of school children and people cooing over the pram is different - both in terms of the health risk and the noise/lights etc, which must be quite stressful for a newborn.

I know from responses above that my view on 'lying in' is not shared by the vast majority, but my concern about how robust newborns are is coloured by the fact that I had a baby brother who died at 4 weeks old: he picked up a cold and never recovered. And I know that is an awful thing to think about, but maybe this explains why I was, genuinely, surprised to see such a young baby being passed around and shown off to strangers, while the rest of mumsnet clearly think my view on keeping babies in for a few days is somewhat peculiar!

Thanks also for clarifying the legal point about working in the 2 weeks after the birth. I didn't think I'd just imagined it.

There's nowt more crap than trying to bf a newborn baby who can't breath through their nose because they've managed to contract a cold at 5 days old, after being poked and prodded by small children. For me this is one very good reason to try to keep them from being coughed and spluttered over by strangers for a few weeks at least.

Had DD on the Wed by section. Out of hospital on the Sun, straight to parents for dinner. Inlaws up on the Mon at our house, more rellies around on the Tues, on the Wed DH&I took DD to my work place, was fab. I just sat on a chair and showed off my bundle of joy.

There are people at my work place who have had their babies, come out of hospital and into the work the following day - its a bit of a tradition now, and starts off a new wave of pregnanies

babies or showpieces???? there's being proud but please....

I'm from a large family and married into a large family too, between us we have 11 siblings (some step), seven grandparents, six parents, seventeen aunts and uncles, I dont even want to count cousins and such... there were a lot of people who wanted to see DD when she was born

As for work, there were quite a few of us pregnant at the same time, so we'd pop in, share scary stories about birth, and coo over the babies.

Sure thing, but the next day!

I guess we're a close knit office and good friends, so its no different to seeing friends at their home, just work is a one-stop place to get a few friends out the way!

We popped to Tesco at 1 day old. Wanted to show him off.