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Houseguests and Newborns

Getting Help without the Hassle

By Katherine Bontrager

You've just returned from the hospital with your new little bundle of joy in tow. You're a bit sore, a lot exhausted and thrilled to be back in the comforts of your own home.

For many, homecoming is marked by the presence of parents, in-laws or other out-of-town guests who've taken up residence in your house. Sometimes this is a welcome visit, while other times the exhausted couple struggle with the additional stress of playing host and new parents. Whether they are invited or not, handling houseguests when you have a newborn can be a challenge.

"My mother came a couple of weeks before the delivery, since she was coming from out of the country and needed time to get over her own jetlag before helping me," Pandya says. "I found that it was really a great bonding time for the two of us. I'm the eldest of a large family, so during my childhood I never had my mother's 'total' attention. I enjoyed being babied by my mother!"

Pandya discovered she had many questions for her mother that she'd never asked before. How was I as a child? Did you ever experience postnatal depression? Did you worry about labor pain? "There were so many things on my mind, and I don't think I would have asked her any other time," she says.

After Pandya's oldest was born, she found her mother to be a blessing – both physically and emotionally. The aid was so beneficial that when Pandya's second child was born, her sister stepped in to help, enabling the two to spend quality time together.

"I find that although young babies can be demanding, during the first few weeks they sleep a lot, so you have long hours when you're really 'home' physically and mentally," she says. "For many of us, it's the first time in our life. Having my mother and sister around also helped me take care of my baby, since they were able to take over household chores and entertain other guests. I felt free."

Want to see more?

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• Talk about it!