Sometimes a few days at home without many visitors can help get things off to a better start. Again, it's all about individual preferences and what feels best to you. The following list of hints may be something you want to share with your family and friends to help make visits more meaningful. Hints and Suggestions for Visitors to New Families Hospital stays today are usually only 2 or 3 days . With such short hospital stays, the new mother is kept very busy with care, instructions, paperwork, and discharge preparations.
Newborns spend little, if any time in the general nursery.
Mothers keep them with them in their rooms to learn about their babies care and feeding cues. For these reasons, some new families choose to limit visits in the hospital or the first few days home. You want your visit to be pleasurable, not exhausting. While visiting, stay alert for signs that the new mother is tired, physically uncomfortable, or needs some privacy for personal care or nursing her newborn. Remember, just because you may be comfortable being present while she nurses, she may not yet be confident enough to breastfeed in the presence of others and she may have difficulty in telling you this.