And we don't want her to. Ever since I told her we were TTC she has told me that she'll be coming to stay when the baby's born, just like her mum did when I was born. I've tried to subtly tell her that things are different to when I was born (DH will have paternity leave etc) but she's not taking the hint and keeps telling me how wonderful it was that my grandmother came down and did this and that and the other and mum just had to sleep and feed.
DH and I have now discussed this properly and we really don't want her to come. It would be one thing to visit for a day/few hours but she lives hundreds of miles away so would have to stay. And we really do appreciate the offer, and are happy for her to come after DH's leave, but for those first few days we really just want it to be the three of us.
Any advice? Mum and I normally have a really strong relationship, she's very good at stepping back and letting me make my own decisions, but I think she's a bit blinded by the fact this is her first grandchild (FWIW DH's parents, for whom this is also the first, have already been banned from visiting immediately) I KNOW she only wants to help and is excited about being a grandmother, and I don't want to dampen that, but we really feel that a little time just as a family is important. Time to get into our own routine, work out all those little things that make a family tick, without someone else in the picture.