The first weeks of a new baby
I was very curious to learn from a Macedonian friend that after a baby is born the parents are not supposed to have any visitors at home except immediate family for the first 40 days and he was quite shocked that his Canadian wife was inundated with visitors the first week she was home with the new baby. Traditionally this makes sense as obviously a new baby is more vulnerable to infection during it’s first few weeks and mothers need to spend this time bonding. In Germany they have the “Wochenbett” which my midwife explained to me really means spending the first week in bed with your baby. How is it in your culture, is mother and baby expected to rest at home the first weeks or are they out and about visiting right away?
I have also heard this 40 day rule applies in other cultures for example Greek Orthodox.