Malka, you are soso right about both help for the husband, and allowing Marieka's mother to help.

My personal experience was this: I am older than both of you most likely, and all of my children are grown. My husband is a physician, and he is a loving, helpful person. But he had to go back to work at some point after my surgery. My sister came to stay with me. It was the perfect solution. I got dressed every day, and she knew just how hard to push me to eat and move. She also knew when to be quiet and let me doze, and when to suggest an outing, and when to try to think of something that I might enjoy eating or drinking. She brought her knitting (making me a prayer shawl, weaving her prayers for me into it while I slept!) She took me to the local doctors when I was scared, and we had a little outing every day. She greeted guests when they came. She came a couple of days after I came home from the hospital (I only stayed in the hosp. a couple of days...maybe not quite long enough.) and she stayed for 10 days. I cried when she left, though I was ready to take care of myself by then. I don't think I would have wanted to try to take care of myself during that time, nor would I have been able to care for children at all. And for your husband to try to do it all would really be stressful for him. You would find yourself trying to protect him by being an extra good girl and not being any trouble. I think you should ask your mother to come and share the duties. You can either set yourself up in the middle of the action, or put yourself in your bedroom away from things. I always liked to be in the middle of things. You can get a baby monitor to call, or a bell...or a cell phone. Give your mother the gift of allowing her to help, and give your husband some support by not allowing him to have all of the responsibility. You will perhaps need to go back to the dr. during this time....or you might think you do...and what will he do with the children?? (How old are your boys?)

Yes, let your mother come, by all means! If everybody talks frankly in the beginning and gets some things understood, it should go fine. This is a time when you have to let go and trust other people. They love you , and they'll do fine.