Postpartum Boundaries 🫐
🫐 Only Hubby in the Labor and Delivery Room:
- I’ve been told it can get crowded with the hospital staff alone. Because I will be in a vulnerable state and anything can happen, I feel most comfortable only having my husband with me for support.
🫐 Media Free Baby:
- My husband and I are firm believers that the internet, although fun, is not safe. I’ve read and heard terrible things about children’s images and innocent videos being abused by twisted predators, or exploited by advertisement agencies. We also understand that not everyone we personally know shares our concerns or beliefs. That being said, we’d rather be proactive - we have a select number of friends and family we chose to share our child’s pictures with.
🫐 Scheduled Visits - No Surprises Guests:
- Let’s be real, time becomes a blur with a newborn. We’re heaving on the text or call and wait for a definite confirmation. We’re asking our guests to not wear any strong scents or smell like cigarettes of any kind.
🫐 Brevity is Key:
- Long visits can be exhausting; short cozy and short visits are preferred. As parents we’ll still be adjusting to our new baby.
🫐 No Sanitize/ Hand Washing = No Cuddles: - Thoroughly washing your hands or using hand sanitizer is not optional. Friends and family will be told not to kiss the baby - it only takes a a few germs to put a baby in the ER. We’ll let loose on this expectation once baby boy is a 3 months old or we’re told by his doctor that it’s not a concern.
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You are fully known
and deeply loved
by the Most High!!!
💙💙💙
Jesus Loves You.
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Setting postpartum boundaries is essential for protecting your physical and emotional well-being and ensuring a safe environment for your newborn. From personal experience, I’ve found that clearly communicating your needs with family and friends reduces stress and promotes healing. For example, allowing only your partner in the labor room minimizes distractions and creates a supportive atmosphere. Choosing a media-free approach for your baby is a proactive step to safeguard your child’s digital footprint. I decided early on to share photos and videos only with trusted friends and family to avoid any unintended exposure online. This also respects my baby’s privacy as they grow. Scheduling visits and requiring guests to confirm beforehand helps maintain a calm and manageable environment. Newborns require a lot of care and rest, and surprise visits can be overwhelming. I also appreciated asking guests to avoid strong scents and smoking before visits, which protected my baby from irritants and potential allergens. Short visits have been much more enjoyable and manageable than prolonged ones. It gave me space to rest while still feeling connected. One important rule we enforced was hand hygiene and no kissing the baby to prevent infections. This was especially crucial in the first three months when the baby’s immune system is still developing. Overall, defining boundaries around labor and delivery, social media, guest visits, and hygiene has improved my postpartum experience. It helped me focus on recovery and bonding with my baby, while keeping our family healthy and secure. Each family’s boundaries will differ, but it’s important to honor and communicate your limits for your well-being and your baby’s safety.
💙 Baby boy isn’t here yet, but it’s best to be proactive rather than reactive? I’d love to hear your Do’s and Don’t, and how your family and friends responded.