Winnipeg Pregnancy Guide: Welcome Baby! A Visiting Guide | Winnipeg Doula
Adding a Winnipeg baby to your house? Overwhelmed about keeping up with visitors and expectations? It can seem like a daunting task to settle in with your precious newborn without having to add the worries about entertaining guests, or trying to navigate new feeding and sleep routines while someone else looks on.Leading up to our first child's birth, our own new Winnipeg baby, my husband and I were dead set that we didn't want visitors-- we were really craving that time to settle in as a new family of three, uninterrupted. We were worried that having a revolving door of visitors would make us more stressed out, and were also a bit concerned about dealing with all the (sometimes not so) helpful advice that new parents get. So we encouraged family and friends to wait a few weeks before stopping by.As it turns out, we were pretty overwhelmed anyways, and probably could have used some helping hands! In hindsight, I wish we'd felt confident enough to encourage visitors-- on our terms. I've learned a lot over the past six years, and we were incredibly grateful to have wonderful family and friend support after our next two births. Our visitors were amazing at coming at convenient times, never staying too long, and making sure to be helpful while they were here.I've jotted down a quick list of ways to be helpful while visiting a new Winnipeg baby. Share it with your family and friends, Post it to Facebook, or use it for yourself if YOU are the new visitor. You want to be invited back after all!
Come at a convenient time
Dropping by unannounced is never a good idea in a house that has a newborn. Communicate with the family and ask what time is best for them. And be flexible-- Sometimes what seems like it will be the perfect time ends up being 12 minutes after nap time has started and all those sleepy new parents want is to go to bed with baby. No one needs guilt on top of exhaustion.
Keep your visit short
Unless Requested otherwise! In those early days and even weeks, short visits are usually key. Give them a bit of adult interaction, swoon over the gorgeous new baby, and then get the heck out of dodge and let that family rest. However-- some parents really find themselves craving this companionship, and may encourage you to stay. Read their cues! If they're settled in and keeping the conversation flowing, it's ok to keep chatting. But watch for signs of tiredness, hunger or anxiousness- sometimes it can feel awkward to deal with those new baby tasks when you're worried about your guest. Which brings me to the next point...
When In Rome... Let the baby eat
For a parent who is new to breastfeeding, it can be an overwhelming task. There is no covering up or being discrete when you're still not sure exactly how to latch baby on properly. And the last thing they need to worry about is making someone else feel awkward. Take your cues from the parents- if they request privacy, this is a perfect opportunity to make yourself useful! Tidy the living room. Wipe down the table. Offer to make tea or a snack. If however, the parents don't make a big deal out of it-- don't make it into one. Continue talking, make eye contact, and reaffirm that a baby eating is a totally normal and acceptable thing!
Make yourself useful
It's important to acknowledge that everything with a new baby takes twice as long- if not more. Help out a little while you're there. Help an older child put away their toys, offer to make the parents a cup of tea or grab a quick snack. Walk the dog or swipe a cloth over the counter quickly. If you're close with the family or have permission, offer to empty their garbages or throw a load of laundry into the washer. It doesn't have to be much, but these small gestures are so appreciated! Time spent visiting is often time when the parents aren't able to get other tasks done- a visitor lending a hand quickly on their way out makes the visit less stressful.
Visit with the big siblings
One of the biggest sources of guilt for parents is often trying to spread the attention between a new baby and older siblings-- be they human or of the furry variety! If you have time, try to acknowledge these forgotten members- take a pup for a walk or give them a good long back scratch. For human siblings, take a moment to talk to them about this new development, and make them feel special by reading them a book or playing a quick game. They will appreciate it, and so will the parents. Any other tips you would add? What worked best in your household in those early newborn hazy days?Embrace Birth Services has created this handy printable for those first weeks with your Winnipeg baby. Post it on Facebook, send it out with a birth announcement, tape it to your door. 