Newborn help from MIL

Just curious....the posts that I've read so far show that most of the new mom's had some sort of help when they first came home with baby. (Mom or MIL, etc).

My Mom passed away when I was 13 and my inlaws live upstate. They will come down and stay in a hotel for a few days when baby is born. MIL offered to sleep over and help out as much as she can. Do I take her up on this or just have them over during the day? I plan on breastfeeding so I'm not sure what help she can offer during the night. And does it get crazy with all the visitors???

P.S. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. So not much space to speak of.

TIA

Re: Newborn help from MIL

Will your DH be available to help you? I would think if you are BF - what can she really do for you at night. At least in the day if you are tired she can watch the baby while you take a nap.

I know I didn't have anyone stay with us or help us out at all and was fine. The first few weeks the baby sleeps so much that it was pretty easy esp since DH took 2 weeks off. It got harder in the weeks following that when the baby was more colic and not sleeping well. I only had my mom stay over one night in like the 2nd month and she woke up to feed the baby at night for us (I am a formula mom) so I can get one full night sleep.

Re: Newborn help from MIL

When I had my son - my mom actually did sleep over for the first few days to help me out. But in my case, the babies father was NO help, plus my mom was a good hour away.
If your in laws are in a nearby hotel I think that would be fine, they would be with you during the day and Dh is there at night right?
It might be easier for you to play it by ear, if you need her, have her stay, otherwise the hotel might be better for everyone. I had a lot of visitors the first week, it gets exhausting!

Message edited 6/21/2005 8:22:54 AM.

Re: Newborn help from MIL

Well since I am A formula mom it was easier that my mom stayed with me for a few days she helped me out alot since the first two nites the baby was hoome marissa wouldn't sleep. She was very gassy and since it was my first I was getting nervous and thought something was wrong I am happy my mom was there to calm me down and help out and all.

Re: Newborn help from MIL

Nope. My Mother has passed away & my MIL lives in Ireland. My oldest sister wanted to come but she lives in Oregon & couldn't afford it at the time. So, it was just me & my hubby for the first 3 days. And then hubby went to work & it was just me.
It will be almost the same this time around except hubby will take more time off.

Re: Newborn help from MIL

My mom came to Chicago for two weeks. She left last week and boy do I miss her. She cooked, did some cleaning or watched the baby while I cleaned.

Since you are BF then having her there during the day would be helpful.

Re: Newborn help from MIL

DH will take a few days off but not much. I'm just kind of clueless...have no experience with babies. I guess I'll play it by ear. I'll make the assumption that she will stay at hotel but if I feel that I need her I'll ask her to stay over. That way she can cook breakfast

Re: Newborn help from MIL

we lived with my folks at the time but my mother did almost nothing to help me. My MIL came over everyday and made me the best comfort food. I had an annmonia right after giving birth stayed in the hospital an extra week, it was terrible. hubby helped the first time around. Second time i was on my own. my mother went on vacation my MIl stayed with my older son he had the flu at the time so we kept the kids seperate for the first 2 weeks. But I do have a good support system