111.30pm visiting on postnatal ward?

[stegasaurus]

My sister-in-law had a baby this afternoon. MIL rang to tell us and ask when we are going to visit. I have a prior arrangement I can't get out of without letting a lot of people down 7-9 this evening, so DH suggested tomorrow or Wednesday. MIL said visisting at the hospital is until 11.30 tonight so we can come after I have finished as it is only about 10mins away. Is this normal? I am 36 weeks pregnant and definitely would not want anyone, even closest family members, visiting at that time of night when I have just given birth. SIL has been in labour since 1am so hasn't slept, so I thought it reasonable to wait until at least tomorrow, but MIL apparently was impressed when DH suggested that. If this is normal for postnatal wards, how can I request that no visitors come to see me at that kind of time?

Thank god all our relatives lived in a different country when dc1 was born! Though MIL did take umbrage when we told her she was not welcome to visit straight away... she took umbrage & did not come at all & waited for us to bring our dc over to her...

I would definitely not tell anyone you are in labour - unless you have an older dc that you need them to look after, they don't need to know. After the birth can get a firm midwife to get rid of them/delay the visits.

Your mother thought your DH should go straight back to work and not stay to bond with his tiny baby? Oh my word. I wish I knew her so I could give her a piece of my mind.

Just don't tell them. We certainly didn't. Once we were on the postnatal ward and settled then we did the ringing round.

With my second ILs had Dd so they did know i'd gone in. We rang once the baby was born and they dropped Dd off at the hospital but didn't come in themselves. Just as I wanted. We then went home and visitors came the next day.