‘I’m pregnant and everyone feels entitled to meet my baby – it’s so overwhelming’

A mum-to-be has expressed her discomfort as her due date looms – as she’s said members of her family all think they ‘have a right’ to see her newborn immediately

Welcoming a child into the world is a different experience for every parent, and while some will love the idea of getting all their family and friends around to meet the little one as soon as they come home from the hospital, others would much rather be left alone for at least the first few weeks.

And one mum-to-be has admitted she is beginning to feel “overwhelmed” as her due date inches closer, as she said her family is acting as though they “have a right” to see the newborn as soon as possible, without giving any thought as to how the mum might feel.

The woman said she isn’t particularly close with her family or her partner’s family, but they’ve all taken a sudden interest now that her baby is almost here, which has “filled her with dread”.

In a post on Mumsnet, she explained: “My baby is coming next week via induction for medical reasons. It’s my first baby and I’m c****ing myself. I’m excited too but I’m an introvert and I’m finding everyone around me very overwhelming. It’s also the first grandchild, and the first [baby] in my friend group.

“I’m sure lots of you will feel I should be more grateful for the support, but to be clear, I do not have a close relationship with my family or my partner’s – they are all interested in the baby and baby only.

“My mother-in-law is already attempting to plan when our baby will meet her siblings and friends and has also been sharing all of my medical info with her friends. She’s a doctor herself so should know better. She did this in front of me over Christmas as though I’m just a body carrying her grandchild.

“My dad and stepmum want to be here as soon as she’s born, but I have told them this isn’t going to happen and I need her safe in my arms before I plan anything.

“An old friend booked flights to see us when the baby is three weeks old without asking me.

“Mum (who I have a particularly strained relationship with) wants to be here ASAP as well and I have made it clear she will have to wait until I’m ready.”

The new mum also said she’s had countless calls and text messages from people asking when the baby is due, and she’s now worried about the idea of having people over at her “tiny flat” when she’s not ready for visitors.

She added: “I am a homebody, we typically don’t have many guests, and the thought of having people coming and going from my tiny flat over the next few weeks fills me with dread.

“That’s my rant really. Does everyone feel like this when they have a baby? I just feel like everyone – including people I have little to do with in my everyday life – thinks they have some right to my baby before she’s even here, and honestly, I don’t want to share her before I’m ready.”

The woman closed her post by asking people if she was “supposed to suck it up” and deal with it, but commenters were quick to offer their support by insisting she should be the one to set boundaries as a parent.

One person said: “No, you don’t have to suck it up, you put very clear boundaries in place and if people don’t like it it’s their problem.”

While another added: “Take it one day at a time and see how you feel about visitors. Apart from my parents and my ex’s parents, I took my children to visit people at their houses when I felt up to it. I could control when I left then and I didn’t want people in my house.”

And a third wrote: “This is family excitement, in a few months it will calm down. I personally loved all the attention and gifts. It’s your first baby, it’s not the first baby ever, in a few months you will be glad for someone to visit so you can have a hot bath while someone holds the baby for you.”

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at [email protected] .