Mother begs family and friends not to rush to visit a new baby as she reveals she was left exhausted after giving birth – and parents can relate
- Katie Bowman, of Australia, wants people to listen to mums when they need rest
- She says visitors often rush to visit new parents even if they request some space
- The mother-of-three shared an image of herself at hospital following childbirth
A mother has begged family and friends not to rush to visit a new baby – as she reveals she was left exhausted after giving birth.
Katie Bowman, from Australia, 29, took to Facebook on Wednesday to explain how she felt overwhelmed with the amount of guests rushing to meet her eldest daughter, who is now four, following her birth.
The parenting blogger and mother-of-three shared a photograph of herself sitting on her hospital bed, looking exhausted, while her baby was being passed around.
Katie’s post seemed to resonate with many mothers who agreed with her assessment – while others said they loved having their family around immediately after a new arrival.
Speaking to FEMAIL Katie said: ‘The whole post isn’t related specifically to me. A lot of it is about mothers in general, and raising awareness to listen to the mums when they need rest.’
Katie Bowman, from Australia, 29, shared this candid hospital snap following childbirth alongside an emotional message to discourage family and friends from visiting new parents straight away
Katie took to Facebook (pictured) to explain how she felt overwhelmed with the amount of guests rushing to meet her eldest daughter, who is now four, following her birth
Pleading with families to hold off on meeting newborns, Katie wrote in her post: ‘A picture really is worth 1000 words.
‘This is me, roughly 24 hours after giving birth to my eldest. I have no idea who took the picture but you can probably tell how I feel just by looking at it.
‘One or two days. Is that too much to ask for? One or two days for a new mum to come to terms with the fact she had a tiny human emerge from her body.
‘One or two days for her to finally have a shower and wash the sweat and blood from her body… One or two days to try to have some sleep because she is absolutely exhausted.’
She added: ‘Everyone is so excited to have a photo with the new baby, the new mum doesn’t get a photo with her own d*** baby! I had to ask for a photo with mine.
Explaining how loved ones are desperate for ‘the bragging rights to say they saw the new baby within 24 hours’, Katie (pictured with her three children) added: ‘They simply must satisfy their need to hold this new baby
Admitting that ‘some people can’t wait to have visitors’, Katie explained (in her comments pictured above): ‘This is about people who have tried to ask visitors to wait a day or two, but been made to feel like they told them they can’t be in the baby’s life’
‘Other than that one photo, the only others I have are of her fresh out of my uterus, with us laying there naked and covered in blood… From there on, it’s mostly selfies.’
Explaining how loved ones are desperate for ‘the bragging rights to say they saw the new baby within 24 hours’, she added: ‘They simply must satisfy their need to hold this new baby.
‘If you don’t allow them to come visit you in the hospital, you’re a selfish, delicate, drama queen.
Admitting that ‘some people can’t wait to have visitors’, Katie explained: ‘This is about people who have tried to ask visitors to wait a day or two, but been made to feel like they told them they can’t be in the baby’s life.
‘I feel so loved that everyone couldn’t wait to meet our new baby, and so happy that everyone wanted to be part of our baby’s life.
Reaction: Katie’s post seemed to resonate with many mothers who were quick to agree with her assessment
‘What I didn’t realise was how hard trying to ask people to stay away for a day would be. “It’ll just be a quick visit.” You’re too tired to argue, so you sit and wait for them to get their baby fix.
‘The next time someone you know has a baby, remember how tired this new mother looks. I know you are excited, but remember it is not your right to visit a new baby, it is a privilege. If that offends you, go home and put it in your burn book.’
Katie’s post was quickly inundated with comments, racking up 12,000 in less than a week, as well as 84,000 shares and 38,000 likes.
One person wrote: ‘This picture breaks my heart. Everything you said was so true. My husband’s aunt and grandma still don’t talk to us because I asked if they could wait a couple days to see our son because I was overwhelmed and that was almost seven years ago.’
Other social media users suggested they loved having visitors surround them following childbirth
Another said: ‘100 per cent yes! I remember feeling like my hospital room had become a public place for anyone to come and go.
‘As an introvert I struggled feeling I had nowhere to go to get away from everyone and no control over who came or how long they stayed for.
‘This picture breaks my heart. You look so forgotten and lonely,’ a third person added.
Other social media users suggested they loved having visitors surround them following childbirth.
‘I couldn’t wait for my visitors to come so I could show them how beautiful my baby was. I felt so excited, proud and blessed to have such a beautiful baby boy’, one person wrote.
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