When you had your baby...

FutureMrsWagner

Did you leave him/her in the nursery overnight or have him/her in your room?  It seems like alot of my friends send their babies to the nursery overnight and (if they are BFing), just have the nurses bring the baby in to nurse.  I kept both of my babies in my room the entire time.  I actually would kinda start to get antsy and worried if they kept them too long when doing routine stuff with them even during the day.  I just wanted them with me the entire time.  I'm sure I'll probably feel the same way with this baby, but I do think it would be nice to actually sleep while at the hospital.  I got NO sleep while I was there, either time.  I ended up holding them most of the night...or listening to them cry...also being woken up by the nurses, etc.  I was exhausted by the time I got home.  So, I feel like it may be smart to let them keep the baby overnight since I will have 3 children to take care of when I get home from the hospital.  But, I just don't see myself actually doing it.  I just can't imagine my newborn not being with me 24/7. 

What are your thoughts on this?  If you did have the nursery keep your baby overnight, what were your reasons for doing so?  Are you glad you made that decision or do your regret it?  Would you have changed anything regarding this?  TIA!

star21gazer

I sent Aubrey back to the nursery each night...my only reason was so I could sleep.  What was funny was that before she was ever born I had decided I would do this, then when it came time to do it  I actually had some anxiety about it, but I knew I needed the sleep.  But it wasn't easy to do.   

sdkrlm

Absolutely.  The first night - we went to bed and every little whimper and squirm from Avery we'd both wake up and check on her.  Finally, I just sent her to the nursery and it was BY FAR the best decision we made.  I BFd and I just had them bring her to me every few hours and slept in between.  I was recovering from surgery as well so I really wanted to get as much rest as I possibly could in the hospital. 

 

She was with us most of the day though. 

12106mrsmun

The first night, I had her with me the entire night because I just couldn't put her down....you know what I mean, right.  I seriously just couldn't put her down.  Plus, she would literally nurse for an hour straight if I didn't take her off.  Between the nurses coming in to check on me and her needing to nurse, I didn't sleep anyway.

The second night, I did send her to the nursery, but it's not like I slept, lol!  I was a very nervous new mama....but that was me and this is you...and your 3rd, plus you had a newborn in the not too distant past, so maybe it'll be different.  They'd bring her in to BF and then DH would take her back to the nursery.  Two hours later, they'd bring her back again.

Either way, both nights, I was just exhausted!

bamanichole

I have not had my baby yet but it would depend on the hospital and their policy. I haven't asked the policy at my hospital yet and I know you can do what you want, but my friends hospital told her they could not gaurantee that somebody would be in the nursery with the baby at all times. If that is the policy at the hospital I am delivering at then the baby will stay with me all the time. Even if there will be someone in the nursery all the time I don't know if I could let the baby stay away from me all night. I guess it just depends on how I feel when the time comes. 

sdkrlm

bamanichole:

I have not had my baby yet but it would depend on the hospital and their policy. I haven't asked the policy at my hospital yet and I know you can do what you want, but my friends hospital told her they could not gaurantee that somebody would be in the nursery with the baby at all times. If that is the policy at the hospital I am delivering at then the baby will stay with me all the time. Even if there will be someone in the nursery all the time I don't know if I could let the baby stay away from me all night. I guess it just depends on how I feel when the time comes. 

 

this can't be true.  I seriously cannot believe that they would not have someone on staff in the nursery all night long.  

12106mrsmun

sdkrlm:

bamanichole:

I have not had my baby yet but it would depend on the hospital and their policy. I haven't asked the policy at my hospital yet and I know you can do what you want, but my friends hospital told her they could not gaurantee that somebody would be in the nursery with the baby at all times. If that is the policy at the hospital I am delivering at then the baby will stay with me all the time. Even if there will be someone in the nursery all the time I don't know if I could let the baby stay away from me all night. I guess it just depends on how I feel when the time comes. 

this can't be true.  I seriously cannot believe that they would not have someone on staff in the nursery all night long.  

Yah, I have to agree with Sarah on that one. 

ARCatlett

We kept Abby with us the whole time because she was our first and 'there was no way I was sending her out'!:) However, we didn't get any rest--- I basically watched her all night!

Before we ever had Sydney I had decided to send her out- I wanted the last few nights of sleep that I could get while there. So they just brought her in every few hours to nurse and then we kept her all day long...

I would certainly do it again too!

bamanichole

They were on staff but they wouldn't staff enough people to stay in the nursery the whole time. The baby would be alone at times if it was in the nursery. The nursery did have locks and keypads on the doors so that only hospital personnel could access the nursery. But if the nurses had to make rounds or leave the nursery the baby may be left alone. In other words they would be there just not necessarily in the nursery with the baby 24/7.

12106mrsmun

bamanichole:

They were on staff but they wouldn't staff enough people to stay in the nursery the whole time. The baby would be alone at times if it was in the nursery. The nursery did have locks and keypads on the doors so that only hospital personnel could access the nursery. But if the nurses had to make rounds or leave the nursery the baby may be left alone. In other words they would be there just not necessarily in the nursery with the baby 24/7.

Regardless of the safety precautions, I find the lack of care horribly inadequate.  If that was the case at my hospital, you'd better believe that DD would be with me 24/7.

mrssamuels2b

I sent him back to the nursery...J only stayed the first night because he had to open the shop every morning and I was so sore and sick with pneumonia that I couldn't properly care for him....I needed assistance just getting to and from the bathroom(including cleaning myself!)...I called for him as soon as I was awake and usually sent him back to the nursery once I felt myself dozing off at night...I kept the crib right next to the bed so I could reach him w/o having to get up...it was had to let him go every night but trying and failing to care for him was even harder...

bamanichole

12106mrsmun:

bamanichole:

They were on staff but they wouldn't staff enough people to stay in the nursery the whole time. The baby would be alone at times if it was in the nursery. The nursery did have locks and keypads on the doors so that only hospital personnel could access the nursery. But if the nurses had to make rounds or leave the nursery the baby may be left alone. In other words they would be there just not necessarily in the nursery with the baby 24/7.

Regardless of the safety precautions, I find the lack of care horribly inadequate.  If that was the case at my hospital, you'd better believe that DD would be with me 24/7.

My point exactly! Even if nobody can get in there that doesn't belong the babies need constant supervision in my opinion. I mean what if they got strangled on their saliva or anything and nobody was in there? When we were looking at the babies through the nursery window there was only one lady in there and she was on the computer. But someone in there is better than nobody even if they don't do anything but sit there and watch the babies.

amandabrooke81

The first night I sent DS back to the nursery because I heard the wisdom of how you need your rest- esp right after labor (and I was super tired anyhow!). They brought him back to BF so he ate...and I was able to sneak in a few Zzzs.

BUT, on the 2nd night, I was so particular about wanting to do everything right and asked for the nurses to show me how to bathe him. I went back to the nursery (at nighttime) and while she was bathing him it was like the Hallelujah chorus with probably about 20 newborns screaming their heads off. It also didn't help that DS absolutely HATED getting undressed for his bath and was crying at the top of his lungs.

I was emotional and almost bawled my eyes out with all the babies crying. It was so sad thinking of my 1-day-old DS crying and not being held; I told the nurse that I wanted to room-in that night instead. I "kangaroo"ed with him all night long because I felt so guilty about it. And realistically, he would have been just fine if I'd left him in the nursery- I just couldn't do it after hearing the nursery cries!

*****I was at a larger hospital though (Brookwood) and at nighttime EVERYONE seemed to send their babies back to the nursery. There just simply weren't enough nurses to hold every newborn---and while the nurses were all very sweet and phenomenal at their jobs, I think they're so used to babies crying that they can block it out. It was counterintuitive for me...when DS cried (esp as a newborn), I wanted to either soothe him or satiate a need.

AllisonLeigh

I was at hsv and I sent Jake to the nursery. That said one night they brought him to me (a brand new mom) and said here we can't make him be quiet. He is gonna have to stay with you. I actually got more sleep that night because the nurses were not turning on lights and waking me up every couple of hours to feed. Instead when Jake cried I could just lean over and pick him up.

JameyRN

I sent Aidan to the nursery every night and I am so glad I did.  He is 9 months old and that was the last time I got a great night of sleep.  I was very comfortable leaving him in the nursery because I knew everyone taking of him (I work at the hospital I delivered at).  I would do it even if I didn't work there.

crollin

I'm glad you asked this question.  I plan on sending the baby to the nursery so I can get some rest.  Several friends have recommended that I do this.  I plan to BF so I know they will be in & out of the room with him so atleast I will still be able to see him through out the night.

Soon2BMrsWiley

sdkrlm:

Absolutely.  The first night - we went to bed and every little whimper and squirm from Avery we'd both wake up and check on her.  Finally, I just sent her to the nursery and it was BY FAR the best decision we made.  I BFd and I just had them bring her to me every few hours and slept in between.  I was recovering from surgery as well so I really wanted to get as much rest as I possibly could in the hospital. 

 

She was with us most of the day though. 

This...except we sent him the first night (which he was born after 9 and I wasn't done with recovery until close to midnight).  He was with us all day and late into the night, but I knew I needed the rest after my C-section. I don't regret it at all.

RachelJohnson

ARCatlett:

We kept Abby with us the whole time because she was our first and 'there was no way I was sending her out'!:) However, we didn't get any rest--- I basically watched her all night!

Before we ever had Sydney I had decided to send her out- I wanted the last few nights of sleep that I could get while there. So they just brought her in every few hours to nurse and then we kept her all day long...

I would certainly do it again too!

This was my situation, too.

MrsAO

I let Mitchell go to the nursery at night.  It was like from 10pm - 7am.  They brought him to me every couple hours for feeding.  I still didn't rest that well, just because I was generally uncomfortable but I got a little sleep and was okay with my decision.  I'm sure I will do it again.

FutureMrsWagner

amandabrooke81:

The first night I sent DS back to the nursery because I heard the wisdom of how you need your rest- esp right after labor (and I was super tired anyhow!). They brought him back to BF so he ate...and I was able to sneak in a few Zzzs.

BUT, on the 2nd night, I was so particular about wanting to do everything right and asked for the nurses to show me how to bathe him. I went back to the nursery (at nighttime) and while she was bathing him it was like the Hallelujah chorus with probably about 20 newborns screaming their heads off. It also didn't help that DS absolutely HATED getting undressed for his bath and was crying at the top of his lungs.

I was emotional and almost bawled my eyes out with all the babies crying. It was so sad thinking of my 1-day-old DS crying and not being held; I told the nurse that I wanted to room-in that night instead. I "kangaroo"ed with him all night long because I felt so guilty about it. And realistically, he would have been just fine if I'd left him in the nursery- I just couldn't do it after hearing the nursery cries!

*****I was at a larger hospital though (Brookwood) and at nighttime EVERYONE seemed to send their babies back to the nursery. There just simply weren't enough nurses to hold every newborn---and while the nurses were all very sweet and phenomenal at their jobs, I think they're so used to babies crying that they can block it out. It was counterintuitive for me...when DS cried (esp as a newborn), I wanted to either soothe him or satiate a need.

This was and is my fear exactly!  That is probably the main reason I didn't send either of them to the nursery.  The thought of them crying like that and not being consoled just makes me feel horrible.  I can't stand the thought of that.  I guess I'll just play it by ear and see how many babies are in ther nursery when we are there.  If it's not packed, I may try it and then have DH go in periodically to check and make sure the baby isn't laying there crying all alone for long periods of time. 

Thanks for all the responses!  It's interesting the see what others have done regarding this decision.   

 

MissLMS

MrsAO:

I let Mitchell go to the nursery at night.  It was like from 10pm - 7am.  They brought him to me every couple hours for feeding.  I still didn't rest that well, just because I was generally uncomfortable but I got a little sleep and was okay with my decision.  I'm sure I will do it again.

This. I sent her to the nursery but they brought her in every couple of hours to nurse, and with nurses coming in do checks on me every few hours, I really didn't sleep well anyways.

Honestly, I didn't have a second thought about sending her to the nursery.

lilcrablegs

he stayed in the nursery late night-early morning.  they brought him in for feedings, obviously.  the nurses highly recommended us sending him to the nursery the first night..

I will say that if you're peculiar about having your LO use a pacifier, you need to specify that.  when GK came in the room the second morning, he had one.  I wasn't against it, but I was surprised nothing was said.  it made me a little nervous that he had been inconsolable...that was the only uncomfortable moment for me.

belle204

I tried to keep Amarah in my room but she wanted to be held and I couldn't stay awake. Plus, I was in pain. I sent her back to the nursery and had them bottle feed her. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I figured a couple of nights wouldn't hurt her.