Feeling overwhelmed

[snch]

My baby is two weeks old today and I'm starting to feel really anxious and overwhelmed. Family and friends are wanting to visit and message my constantly. I feel like I'm having to plan my day around people and I'm not able to settle into life with my first baby. My family are talking about when I'll be ready to leave him with them for a few hours and it's all too much too soon. I've told my partner that I'm feeling like this and he's supportive and now I'm starting to feel bad because I know people only mean well but I just want some time with my family and I'm overthinking everything and getting myself stressed out 😭

It's ok to feel overwhelmed. While people may be excited and trying to be helpful, your priority is your baby, not other people. Can you partner act as a gatekeeper between you and others? I really struggled with my phone when I had my baby 8 weeks ago so I had to put it down and ask my husband to deal with anyone outside of the three of us - I found it too exhausting to talk to people.

Congratulations on your new baby! Take this time for yourself, and don’t feel guilty about it. So glad your partner is supportive; no need to have visitors if you are not absolutely up to it. This is an important bonding time for your family, and there will be plenty of time for folks to visit later. Not to mention that it’s probably in your best interest not to see anyone right now due to COVID.

It's ok to say no to people visiting, you don't owe them cuddles with your baby. She's not going anywhere! Like a pp said, ask your partner to reply to people. Spread the visits out a bit, say 2 per week (or whatever you are comfortable with). Limit the time people spend at yours too ie say half an hour/an hour/whatever is all I can manage at the moment. It's exhausting with a small baby, and if you are overwhelmed then it's important you put some boundaries in place

Oh and just say no thanks to offers of relatives having baby for a couple of hours! It's MUCH too soon to be thinking about that! You can revisit this when baby is older.

Congratulations on your new baby OP. Sorry your feeling like this, remember it's not easy this baby malarkey take it a day at a time. Your family should understand that. If it's too tricky for you to tell them maybe a nice phone call/ text or even if your partner speaks to them. They love you I'm sure they will understand. If they don't then it's their issue. You have to do what feels right for you and baby and if that means uninterrupted snuggles then so be it ❤️❤️you got this mama xx