What did that midwife sign say!!??

[Gabesgrrrl]

Hi everyone! I'm busy working on setting up my birthingroom, and I remembered today, that I read a thread I thought was really neat.

Apparently, someone had a midwife bring a sign and hang it on her front door, and it sort-of layed down the rules for well meaning visitors....it said something about bringing food, and helping with the housework, and about not expecting anything of the mother and being allowed to hold the baby so soon....Can anyone help?

I'd love to make one for my upcoming HB!

Marcie

[captain crunchy]

I can't remember I'm sorry

I did make 2 signs though... one says "homebirth in progress...licensed midwife in attendence, it is SAFE and LEGAL...
Please DO NOT DISTURB...
Thank you for your consideration...

(that's for anyone who thinks something crazy is going on *sigh*

Then one for after that simply says ...

Shhh...mama and baby are resting comfortably, please do not disturb...
Thank you for your consideration...

(it looks all cutesy to take the edge off :LOL Basically, nice way of saying leave us alone

Good luck finding the info!

[pamamidwife]

Here's what my sign says that we put on the door before we leave:

SSSHHHH!

This house has a new baby!

[name of baby] was born on

[day & date] at [time]

and is [weight / length]

Please help us support this new family during this special time by:

*Limiting visits to 20 minutes (unless helping with housework)
*Washing hands before holding baby
*Offering to pick up groceries or run errands for the first couple weeks
*Bringing meals to the family
*Helping with household chores (laundry, dishes, etc.)
*Greeting sibling(s) or pet(s) first upon arrival

Thank you so much!

The Midwives

[Music-mommy]

My girlfriend also changed her answering machine message to say something like "thanks for calling the ___ family, Michelle was born healthy on (date) at (time), we are doing well, please leave a message if you'd like, we cannot promise to return your call, but we thank you for calling".

I thought that was great because i was calling to see if she was ok, etc... if her baby'd been born, but didn't want to bother her... so I got all the info I wanted without having to hassle her!

[Gabesgrrrl]

These suggestions are great!

All of these posts are helpful! I think I'll make my own, with a combination of the ones given.

Thanks so much for your suggestions and help!


Marcie

[applejuice]

Good ideas.

[orangebird]

I think I'm going to for sure use the one Capt. Crunchy wrote- about homebirth in progress- MW in attendance, safe and LEGAL
LOL

I live in a not-so-good part of town so I wouldn't be surprised if someone mistook any screaming (although I didn't make a peep last time, each time can be different) for fighting or a murder or something!


I also like Pam's. I hate visitors so it would be good to have some rules right up front.

[Lisalee2]

Oh, I wish I would have seen this thread before. Those are all great little reminders.

[Pandora114]

I'm gonna make a sign for my door. Since I live in a Duplex PMQ, and I don't know if the other half is gonna be occupied when I give birth or not, I'm gonna make a sign so when the neighbors call the MP's due to my primal sounds, they can read it and whatnot. Of course I could always call them in advance and let them know...

[Full Heart]

You would think after 5 kids I would have had someone do this for me...or had the idea myself Man I really could have used that answering machine one! What great ideas.

Michelle

[hunnybumm]

I really like the "Home Birth in Progress... Safe and Lega..". I am hoping for a homebirth and we living in military base housing. We are connected to another house, connected by the closets in the two bed rooms. If our closet doors are open, and their closet doors are open, then we can ear there tv, or hear them hanging up their clothes.

However, if we do hb I will probably knock on their door at the end of my 9th month and tell them we are planning on laboring at home, so if they hear any wierd sounds then that is probably me.

[Rach]

I love the idea of the signs! I never thought of that!
I was just telling my boyfriend last night that I didn't want anyone to visit for a week or so after the baby was born. He said "You don't want your mom to come out and help?" and I had to explain I meant the well wishers and such who have come solely to hold the baby. Those that have come to help with housework and Eva are welcome-welcome-welcome!
The answering machine message is a great idea as well!

[Soulshinepapa]

Marcie,
I remember the one you were talking about and I wish I could find it, as well. I've searched all over the boards. If you ever do let me know, the other suggestions are great too! Thanks so much ladies!

[Metasequoia]

IMO, the most important point made on this thread is the one about all visitors FIRST greeting siblings! (and pets ) When Dd2 was born, so many idiotic people came to visit & didn't pay Dd1 an ounce of attention! How infuriating! The worst thing about it was that most of these people had more than one child!
It still happens, strangers dote on cute little 2.5 yr old Dd2, while Dd1 (5.5yrs) just sits by & watches, makes me wanna cry .
I think I'll definitely post a sign for THAT on my door, wish I had thought of it before!

[mom2threenurslings]

Dear Visitors:
We are glad you are excited to meet the newest member of our family. Introducing
(Space here to write birth date, time, gender, weight)

Please knock quietly as mom and babe are resting. Please keep your voices low inside the house. Please keep your visit brief as we are all adjusting and recovering.

If you want to be helpful, bring food, clean up the kitchen, put in a load of laundry, whatever appears needs to be done. We are focusing on our baby...

or

We'll be having a "Birth Day Party" for family after Moonbaby is born - so my nosey family can say they saw the baby and so my older kids have some form of entertainment after baby is born. Here is the sign we'll be posting on the door:

Welcome to Moonbaby's Birth Day Party!
Please remove your shoes upon entering our house and greet Alex, Zachary and Haley first, as they are the hosts of the party! Please wash your hands before touching baby, who will probably be busy nursing with Mama. Don't worry, you'll get a chance to hold him/her next time! Thank you for helping us welcome Moonbaby!