Should I have my mom come right after delivery or after two weeks when DH returns to work?

[Anonymous]

YES. Have as many people as possible come to help you. Don't turn down any offers of help!!! (trust me, I have a two month old).

[Anonymous]

How about a combination?

If DH goes back to work on Monday have mom come that weekend so there is a 2 day-overlap with 4 people in the house (I'm sure that won't be too close for comfort).

That way, mom can get a sense of the routine (that YOU and DH established), DH can start preparing to go back to work (at least mentally preparing, checking email, etc.), and you can start sharing the wonderful experience with your mom (since you and DH already started bonding with baby).

[Anonymous]

I did Option 2 with first baby. Was first grandchild and yes Mom would have preferred to be at the hospital but she is also practical and understood I already had help for Week One and needed her more the 2d week.

That said: Here's the part I did not understand: I thought week one was about me and husband taking care of the baby together. I did not understsand that *I* needed to recover (and I did not have a c-section but a difficult vaginal one). So we split the babycare/household duties as evenly as my breastfeeding permitted -- so I was doing things like cooking dinner and shopping that I had no business doing -- and by the end of the week I ended up very sick, got the baby sick, baby ended up in hospital.

So I think you and your husband have to be prepared for the possibility that he will need to take care of the baby and possibly also you. Ideally he should be bringing the baby to you for breastfeeding and doing everything else! If he's not that kind of guy have your mom come Week One.