Emotional rollercoaster

So on Friday my life was forever changed. I gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy I've ever laid eyes on, unfortunately he was five weeks premature. Although he already received steroid injections, he was still placed in NICU. I don't know if any of you have dealt with this but it is truely an emotional roller coaster.

    First, while you're ecstatic your new baby is here. It is heart breaking  when they tell you that due to the prematurity of his lungs they are taking him to NICU. What's even worse is when they tell you while he is in NICU you will be unable to touch your child. Do you know how hard it is to look at your precious baby laying in a bed hooked to many monitors and you unable to even hold him when he cries. It's heart wrenching.

   Next is the visitors, everyone has heard of his arrival and wants to visit. While with every visitor you are thinking please go away I just want my baby. You are in a very awkward state. While you are glad that your friends care, you really just want to be alone or with your spouse. You don't want to be rude and ask them to leave but at the same time you just want to scream.

  Then it's the phone calls, everyone calls every few minutes to check on your new baby. While again you're glad they care, you're thinking if I knew I'd tell you. Maybe it's just me but when I'm already stressed to the core dealing with all of this on my own, I really don't feel like answering a thousand questions. Then its the never ending I can't wait to hold him. You really want to go off then dep end. You're thinking seriously I carried him for eight monthes, almost died having him, and you don't think I'd like to hold him. Hello, I'm dying inside not getting to.

  Finally you get some good news. You can't wait to share it. Your precious baby is finally getting better. Everyone is already planning their visits to your house. How do you tell them you want time with your baby before anyone visits? Your child needs time to bond with his parents before he meets a hundred new people.

Has anyone else dealt with this? How did you handle it?