Humm....sometimes it is really hard to get through to someone who is a friend with the best of intentions from their perspective... I think your sign for the door is great, perhaps an addition of please call first to the sign with a cute pic?  You and your friend have a much different life style, and I would suspect once the babies arrive, her excitement will deminish a bit, and it is OK to let her know what you are going to need. No long explainations, rather ya, we can get together, just let me get my feet under me first....we can talk on the phone until then...I'm hoping for your sake she will get it, and not be offended.  If she is offended, that is her issue, as you are not being unkind, rather self-caring as you can only get and give yourself what you might need. 

Also, I was in same boat as you, only no 5 yearold child, and was totally exhausted by nursing. If you are able, can you get a pump to express?  I found when I did this, it was so much easier as I could just feed ds and also be out and about with out having to look for a place to nurse. It was so hard to stop myself from doing everything while he slept, but eventually through sheer exhaustion, I did learn to take a nap in the afternoon when he went down which helped me alot.  

Being some what unraveled at the time, I also  shut off the ringer to my phone and let my answer machine take calls so I could rest without being disturbed. 

Best of luck to you....Take care, Simba1 

Hey  she's excited.....but we all had preconcieved notions of what having a baby was about, and honestly how wrong were we all in our naivety. And I'm sure the second kid will be different to the first too.

Just say, "hey, look I know you're excited and all...but. To be honest I'm really gunna need a few weeks alone when bub comes along. It's nothing personal, I'm just going to need time to adjust to lifes little changes. Our lives are very different and how we cope with these changes will be very different too. I respect your decision to have a c'sect and bottle feed, but I also need you to respect my birthing and feeding decisions too. You may find that you want some time to yourself as well, and I will respect that too."

Firstly take it from someone who has had 3 c-sections, she won't be doing much for 6 weeks either, don't say anything to her and burst her bubble you don't know how she will take it and having the hormones of pregnancy she may not take it very well, good friend or not,  just take it as it comes, do whats best for you, have the sign on your door, I did the same and I never had anyone disrespect my wish, but then again most people rang before turning up.....  but really just wait until you have both had the babies and take it day by day, you don't need to give her a big song and dance, when she says she wants to come over just tell her straight, Im exhausted and really need my sleep today maybe another day.....  And hey if her hubby is going to be helping her that much she might be able to help you out.   But believe me I didn't breastfeed my third child and I was not out and about for more then 6 weeks.... x

Anyway, I'm rambling on a bit. The sign for your door is a great idea. If your friend ignores the sign either tell her it's there for a reason or ignore her knocks on the door. Maybe sit her down & explain how you feel - explain how different it is for you & why. If she's a reasonable person, & a real friend, she will understand.

I can't see why having a c section would make things easier for her - it would be the opposite as you are in pain for a week or 2 afterwards so it's harder to do things. Too many women these days ask for c sections & the medical authorities have been warning against it! There are too many risks for both mother & child.

Anyway, best of luck to you.