The hospitals in our city only allow baby's parents, grandparents and siblings to visit. There are NO friends, aunts and uncles, or any other visitors allowed. While I don't agree that the policy should stipulate who can visit, I do like that it limits the numbers. It should be baby's parents, siblings and up to 4 others. That would allow for family or friends if there are no grandparents or they are not close.

The catheter bag makes me laugh! I had one after my daughter was born and had my husband move it behind the stand before guests started arriving because I was numb and had no idea when it would fill.

I did NOT want many visitors, and I was so glad my family respected my wishes. If I ever have another baby, we'll repeat the process - especially since I think I overdid it with the visitors I did have.

I'm the type that would prefer to have the visitors at home instead of the hospital. Maybe if I had c-sections and was in the hospital for a longer amount of time, I would prefer that friends/family come see us there, but since it's only a day or two that I'm there, it seems so rushed to have everyone in and out.

That was a great list! I don't have kids... do most women get catheters?

Danakscully64--most women do get catheters. It doesn't hurt at all, and it was a huge relief to me to not have to go pee every five minutes. Once they do an epidural, you're pretty much confined to the general bed area, so no potty trips.

The hospitals here have you fill out a form listing who is allowed and at what times. It can be anyone, as long as you okay it.

Thanks, Jules What about people who give birth without painkillers? Just curious. Sorry for the questions. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I ever want to have a child (give birth, I'd love to adopt at some point).

I gave birth naturally and had no catheter, but then again my labor was only five hours and I hadn't had anything to eat or drink yet that day when my water broke so, I am probably not the normal first time mom delivery situation.

5 hours?! Wow, that's luck Thanks for sharing! I should ask my Mom, she had 4 kids naturally.

I was so exhausted after giving birth that I just wanted a day or two to rest before going home to the crazy "new baby in the house" round-the-clock schedule. Our hospital was almost an hour and a half from our hometown, so that limited the visitors, and I was thankful! Just spending two days and two nights not having to think about the chores at home (laundry, cooking, etc.) was kind of nice. And then it makes your homecoming that much more exciting with visitors coming over often!