I think it's mostly about managing expectations with your family and extended family. The ones that you think will be a problem, probably will be, so give them the worst-case scenario. For example, we knew we were having a c/s and it was scheduled last thing in the afternoon, so we told MIL (who had previously told us she would wait downstairs while I was in labour and told DP he could then come down and have a cup of tea if he needed a break. Yes, she's a complete nut job and has only gotten worse...) that we would probably be delayed and by the time we got back to my room it would be really late, so not to expect a phone call until after 10pm. Because it was going to be 'so late', we wouldn't be having any visitors until the following afternoon at 3pm and she was welcome then.

We were actually delayed, and that was the time we called everyone in the end. But I felt GREAT the next morning and we rang MIL to tell her she could come and visit at about 10:30am, when it suited us. She was delighted at the unexpected offer and very accommodating on that day.

Our hospital had very strict visiting hours, so although we had plenty of visitors it was only for one hour, twice a day. I had a complication on day 2 and a procedure to fix it on day 3, which interrupted visiting times. Most people were reluctant to pick up a sleeping baby from its bassinet. I found if I was already holding her they assumed I would pass her over. And yeah, blame something medical for not wanting to pass her around. Ask your midwife to pick a few excuses for you that sound believable.

I still managed to p*** off my MIL, but that was kind of inevitable!