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Your experiences as a new parent

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Mama2020 Sun 19-Feb-23 13:10:08

Hello, all-

I’m one of the moms of young children who come here for some perspective. After seeing many posts in moms groups recently where expecting grandparents’ expectations were different from the parents’ plans, I realized I’ve never seen these questions asked/answered of grandparents in a group. I would love to hear about your own experiences. This isn’t for any stealthy research project. I’m just curious for the perspective. If I may:

What was the arrival of your first child like in relation to your parents?
Were your mother and/or MIL present at the birth?
Were they in the hospital waiting room? Did they come in to your hospital room to meet the baby on day one?
Did they stay at your home to help? Was that by their request or yours?
How often did they visit or did you visit them in those early days?
Did they offer childcare (or conversely, did you request it)?
Did they take your infant for sleepovers and if so, when? Was that something you were glad about?
Did their expectations match yours?

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pandapatch Fri 24-Feb-23 13:17:19

What was the arrival of your first child like in relation to your parents?
My first child was born in hospital (1981). My parents never discussed their experiences.

Were your mother and/or MIL present at the birth?
Certainly not!

Were they in the hospital waiting room? Did they come in to your hospital room to meet the baby on day one?
No.

Did they stay at your home to help? Was that by their request or yours?
No, I don't think either party even thought about doing that

How often did they visit or did you visit them in those early days?
Not a lot, don't really remember

Did they offer childcare (or conversely, did you request it)?
No to both

Did they take your infant for sleepovers and if so, when? Was that something you were glad about?
Never offered and I never asked

Did their expectations match yours?
Don't know, it was never discussed

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FlexibleFriend Fri 24-Feb-23 13:49:14

What was the arrival of your first child like in relation to your parents?
Were your mother and/or MIL present at the birth? No just my OH
Were they in the hospital waiting room? Did they come in to your hospital room to meet the baby on day one? NO they were not present and I went home 6 hours after giving birth.
Did they stay at your home to help? Was that by their request or yours? Help with what? I didn't need any help and my Husband went back to work after 2 days.
How often did they visit or did you visit them in those early days? Not at all.
Did they offer childcare (or conversely, did you request it)? No, neither offered or requested.
Did they take your infant for sleepovers and if so, when? Was that something you were glad about? Not until my Son was at least 2 years old.
Did their expectations match yours? I think so.

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