Extra Help

I know I’m very blessed that I have a MIL who wants to cook for us every dinner (leaves a huge mess) and wants to spend the night for the first week (because it’s a little bit of a drive back to her house) BUT she can be very overbearing. This is what caused my first ever panic attack at the hospital with my first daughter. My husband and I were never alone with our newborn for the first 48 hours and it killed me. She bathed my daughter when we got home from the hospital without asking us and I sobbed in the bathroom alone. I can’t ever speak up for myself because I don’t want to upset anyone. I’m an introvert and crave my time and space with my husband and get anxious when I’m around a lot of people for long periods of time or days. What can I do to change this mindset? I don’t want to seem ungrateful but I’m already so anxious thinking about this. My mom knows how I am so she usually will just pick up easy meals to go and stay for an hour or 2 and then let’s me rest. My husband has spoken up for me in a very kind way and she’s literally so sweet, she’s not malicious or mean at all. Just overbearing.

By the way, we have hired a postpartum doula BECAUSE of how much anxiety I had with my first. I want expert advice and I’m grateful we’ll have that for the first few days! She’s a lactation expert and focuses on mama’s well being!