Ok - I am not sure if this thread belongs here, but I am not sure where else to put it.
I had my son first thing in the morning, meaning that I had little to no sleep the night before. It was quite an easy birth, and I had no complications in that department afterwards either. So the actual birth is not what I am worried about.

DH and I had a couple of hours with our little boy, then the tirade (sp) of visitors began. First my mum and MIL. (Which was fine - 2 people I could handle) but then for the next 4 or 5 hours it was just 1 person after another, after another. DH tried his best. He took DS out into the day room, so to give me a rest, but I was just so exhausted from everything I really didn't want to see anyone. my family and DH's family apparently then went out to dinner, and then all came back at 9pm, to say good. - Nice gesture I suppose, but I was overwhelmed. I had 11 people in my room, and I just wanted to go to sleep!
My family seemed to understand, and left, they also said that they wouldn't come back in as they understood I was tired, but DH's family has no idea. They came the following night also. Then when I went home, they would just come over any time they felt like. it would be nice if they came over to help, but they didn't. They would come over (Usually when DS had just gone to sleep, and I too was trying to get some rest) Wait till he woke up, have a play with him, then when he started to get cranky go home for me to deal with the baby.

Do you think that it is rude for me to deny family visitation when this baby is born? I just don't want to end up how I was last time, a mental wreck who ended up in a MBU. (although this was not the cause of it, it was a contributing factor - DH also broke his neck when DS was 4 weeks old and ended up in a traction brace for 3 months!!)

I also think DH's family will get pi$$ed, as I would really want my parents and 2 sisters there, but not really his family. is that rude and ungrateful?

As far as friends go, I am going to as DH to send out a SMS when the bub is born, with all the birth stats , and nicely saying "Please no visitors for now."

I dunno - i sorta feel rude for not wanting people to come, but I just didn't cope with it last time.