Protection for newborn

[Apple35]

I am just wondering at the hospital once baby is born how much contact you allow others?
I hear kissing is a big no no but worry about bscteria from hands, clothing etc..
I also would hate for anyone to walk around holding her. Tbh i'd rather just not have others apart from hubby hold her to start with due to baby's low immune system.
Plus, what if someone has cold symptoms. I've also heard about herpes being passed on etc...
Worried.com 😂

Dont tell anyone you have had the baby until she is, what? 4? That would probably work.

It's entirely your choice. I don't want visitors at the hospital unless we have to stay in for more than a few days, I'm not comfortable with people kissing the baby on the lips because of cold sores and if anyone is under the weather I'm not allowing them to visit until they're better, perfectly reasonable requests I think! It's your choice, don't feel pressure to allow people to visit, they have all the time in the world

@CalleighDoodle Have u got nothing better to do than troll around this site?

It's completely your choice op. You're probably going to get a full spectrum of answers and opinions on this thread but you just have to do what works for you.

FWIW we had no visitors until a week and a half. No-one kissed the baby (to be fair no-one even tried so it didn't even enter my mind! I only learnt this was 'a thing' through mumsnet!) and we didn't bother with hand-washing.

Do as you please though and don't care what others think.

We allowed kissing, holding, touching and all the loving when our DD's were born. They are now strapping 20 somethings. Don't sweat it. they soon build immunity.

It’s really important that a healthy baby is exposed to normal environments as soon as possible. That’s how they develop an immune system.

The best way that you can protect her is to breastfeed if you are able to.

• It’s really important that a healthy baby is exposed to normal environments as soon as possible. That’s how they develop an immune system.

The best way that you can protect her is to breastfeed if you are able to*

I agree with this. If you don’t want visitors, you don’t have to have them, but it is normal for babies to be visited by extended family in the first few days. I think normal people would respect that you shouldn’t be visiting a new baby if you are poorly.

I think asking people not to walk around carrying your baby is a bit bonkers though. I wouldn’t want my frail grandmother walking round with a new born, or young dc, but my able bodied mum or brother for example would be quite capable of doing this and actually you might be really grateful for a break from rocking/swaying the baby if you have got a screamer! (Some days with ds, I think I’d have let anyone have a try to get him to sleep or even just to let me have a break, he cried so much).

Honestly, some of my loveliest memories of those difficult first few days are of my parents and PIL being so, so happy to have a cuddle with DD. If the baby has no health concerns, just let the family meet him or her.

I don't like people kissing my children as newborns, maybe family can but not on lips.

I avoided crowded places and similar as much as I could, at least until first immunisation.

I heard that you could safely expose a newborn to extended family, but it's not the best to others as they need the good bacteria that runs in your family.

My last DD was small and born early, she struggled to gain weight in the first month. Whenever someone visited and wanted to hold her I will show them the sink with antibacterial soap so they can wash well.

Do what feels right for you.

trolling around the site? This isnt trolling.

However, your anxiety needs dealing with. Can you speak to your mw about it before it gets out of control? It really seems to be taking over atm reading all your recent posts. That can’t be good for you and must be taking the enjoyment out of the pregnancy.

Practically, anyone coming to visit washed their hands in your home as soon as they arrive. No smokers. In hospital limit to close family and insist on hand washing and use of hand sanitisers. Put off guests in early days telling them youre establishing breast feeding etc. Most people wont want to visit if they think there will be boobs out all the time. I say that as someone who breastfed for over four years consecutively. Use it to your advantage.

"I also would hate for anyone to walk around holding her"

Blimey OP .. I pray you have a baby that doesn't like movement.

I said no kissing of any sort and everyone had to wash their hands before holding her until she was older than three months. No one had an issue with any of that. I also didn't let dogs or cats lick her (family thought I was being very precious). I didn't ban visitors but also didn't offer to let many people hold her and most people didn't ask. To be fair DH was more protective than I was.

I have generalised anxiety so don't need to see my midwife. Plus, if ur genuinely concerned try being a bit more empathetic and perhaps pm rather than take the piss.

It didn't bother me . I was home from hospital 6hrs after having Dd2 to a full house all 5 of my siblings and their families.
We took dd2 to see my mum in the care home when she was 5 days old. All the residents wanted to hold the baby and it made them happy.
Dd2 slept all the time we were there.