Clicky Poll: Staying with the baby after birth.

TheOriginalSP

Will you stay with your baby the entire time you are in the hospital or will you send your baby to the nursery at any point during your stay?

Feel free to explain your decision below.

[Poll]

Lina1030

The only time DS went to the nursery was for his circumcision and DH escorted him there.

Tambcat

I don't know. I have to see which way makes it easier for me to sleep. I would think them being in the nursery, but then I might just worry about them the whole time and not get any sleep at all! When I'm not trying to sleep, I'll probably keep them in the room.

TheOriginalSP

Child will be going to the nursery at some point.  I know sleep is a luxury and I don't get nearly enough at home with the two kids that I have.  So if I can get 4 hours of sleep at some point in the hospital, I'll take it.

With our first we didn't have a choice, she went to a whole different hospital after her birth and with our second I sent her to the nursery so I could sleep and then DH and I went to eat dinner in the cafeteria while she was at the "babysitters".  lol 

I don't feel like it made me bond with my baby any less by not having her with me the entire time.  Granted I was only in the hospital for 24 hours after she was born and then I went home and she's been by my side every since...but that's becuase she's a clinger!

pensparade

I said stay with baby the entire time but I probably lied. We sent her once while we had a special dinner on our last night in the hospital with DD.

Marinewife81

I didn't sleep for 3 days when I had DD so this babe will definitely be going to the nursery more often. I sent DD once, and really should have sent her more because she didn't sleep at all at night thus neither did I. I don't feel bad, either. Of course, I may change my mind, but for now, that's the deal.

DragonflyBelle

We will not room-in. Simply because I will need a bit of rest (however much rest you can get in the hospital) before I go home with a newborn.

benoitfan

At our hospital, there is no regular nursery, only a NICU.  If your baby is healthy, it is in your room in a bassinette the whole time.  FYI, with my DS, I checked in to the hospital at 6:30 Tuesday night, had DS at 6:49am Wed morning and was discharged at 10:30 am Thursday.  I had a vag delivery with a 3rd degree tear and a broken tailbone and they still kicked me out when LO was only 28 hrs old.  Here if you have a c/s you stay I think 3 days max, other than that its discharge after the baby is 24hrs old, if there are no complications.

kissyfitt

No way in hell am I letting my baby out of my sight unless my husband is with him or her.  I watch too many Lifetime movies.

Babbybaby

I think one of the things I really regretted last time was not taking the time to really get some rest before we were sent home. Now that I know I will be spending the next 3-4 weeks afterwards getting practically no sleep, I will certainly take the time to send baby to the nursery so we can all rest a little before the real fun begins

westrose

I am going to send the baby to nursery so I can try and get some rest before we head up. I might change my mind, but that is what I am thinking.

Musiclover2012

I sent DS to the nursery at night, mainly because I was in so much pain/discomfort that I needed to sleep.  They did bring him to me every 2 hours to nurse anyway so I knew that he was getting what he needed from me.  I don't know that I would have been able to get up to tend to him, it was great having the nurses hand him to me.  For a good week or so DH had to hand him to me....thanks a lot MASSIVE hemmies

TheOriginalSP

kissyfitt:

No way in hell am I letting my baby out of my sight unless my husband is with him or her.  I watch too many Lifetime movies.

Ha.  Security really is a lot better than what those movies lead you to believe.

I kid you not though, for weeks after my first was born I was worried that we took home the wrong baby only becuase I only saw her for such a short time before they took her to the NICU at another hospital.  I didn't really know what she looked like.  I just hoped that they gave us the right baby. 

After looking at DH's baby picture, there was no question.  The look identical!  But it was pretty scary.  My kid wasn't just being rolled down the hall, she was being driven 30 mins away without myself or my DH in the ambulance! (he was driving behind)

MrsGreen620

I'm having my baby at a birth center, so there is no option for a nursery. But that is part of the reason I chose the birth center - the baby is ours and there is no way s/he will leave my sight unless DH is with baby. I just recall visiting a friend and she wasn't able to see her LO for over an hour because it was shift change for the nurses and they were short staffed - I won't have anyone else dictate when I can or can't be with my baby.

Musiclover2012

TheOriginalSP:

kissyfitt:

No way in hell am I letting my baby out of my sight unless my husband is with him or her.  I watch too many Lifetime movies.

Ha.  Security really is a lot better than what those movies lead you to believe.

I kid you not though, for weeks after my first was born I was worried that we took home the wrong baby only becuase I only saw her for such a short time before they took her to the NICU at another hospital.  I didn't really know what she looked like.  I just hoped that they gave us the right baby. 

After looking at DH's baby picture, there was no question.  The look identical!  But it was pretty scary.  My kid wasn't just being rolled down the hall, she was being driven 30 mins away without myself or my DH in the ambulance! (he was driving behind)

Luckily DS was born with a light Salmon Patch birthmark on his forehead so that really helped to know that he was mine.  Sometimes I forget that the salmon patch is there (as it is fading) and someone will so, "oh did DS scratch himself" and I'm like " huh? oh yeah...no."

Tambcat

Just to freak all you people out a little more.. when my mom was in the hospital after having me, they brought her the wrong baby to nurse. The baby bit her, and she was like "what!? This isn't my sweet baby!" lol. And then she looked at the armband, and she was RIGHT! 

But at least they did have the armbands, and I think they have even more foolproof methods of matching baby with mom now. 

What's really weird is I think I ended up going to middle school with the baby. There was someone in my class who shared my birthday and was born at the same hospital and had the same last name as this baby. Funny that she was on my mom's teat.

sometimesalwayschaotic

I will hopefully be delivering at the birth center and will be sent home met baby about 4 hours after delivery. Last time DD was in NICU for 1 week.

Musiclover2012

Burp

FusionLMT

If I have another c-section, then I will for sure send baby to the nursery at times since I won't be doing much other than laying there and it will be a good time to get some sleep. If I have a VBAC I may still. I think I will be more relaxed about everything this time than with DS.

crystalmeyer08

This is our first child, so I am not sure how things will go.  I have full intentions of keeping the baby in the room with me the whole time, but if I am exhausted because of a difficult delivery, I may consider sending the baby to the nursery for a short time to allow me to sleep and be able to better care for my newborn.

shouldbworkin

DH doesn't stay with me at the hospital.  Maybe he will if the cot is nicer than the last hospital, but he's a tall guy and a bear when he hasn't slept well ... I'd rather he go home.  I'd also rather he go home for our older kids too.  So, LO will go to the nursery for some amount of time. 

Harper'smom

DD was with me in the room for our entire 5 day stay with the exception of when DH went with her to get her hearing test done. Since I BF there is no point to having the baby taken out of the room because the nurse will just bring the baby back in 1-3 hours for another feeding. Babies do sleep in the hospital so I slept when she slept and it wasn't a big deal. The nurses coming in all the time and the noise of all the machines were much more disruptive to my sleep than DD and that would have happened even if DD has been in the nursery.

If all goes according to plan at the birth center it will be a non issue. If we end up transferring I would do the same as last time barring any medical problems.

lenfant1201

I've done this twice, and I know from experience that I don't sleep well in hospitals. Both times, the nurses--after seeing me awake for 40+ hours--took the baby and gave me an Ambien. It was soooooooo worth it. It's a big physical and emotional ordeal, and rest is important.

If you want your baby with you, I think that's wonderful and you'll enjoy that bonding time.

If you decide you need to rest, do NOT feel guilty!!!!! You have the rest of your life with your baby, and a few hours of rest for both of you will not change your bond. AT ALL.

adamstodrake

DS went to the nursery late at night so I could attempt some sleep and he came back to me every 2 hours to nurse.

Daisy41459

We will definitely send the baby to the nursery at some point and won't feel guilty for doing so.

With DS, he had to spend his first night in the nursery because that was hospital policy (he was a c/s baby, so they had to monitor him...plus I was still paralyzed from the spinal and catheterized, so I wouldn't have been able to get him).

We opted to send him there the other 2 nights (plus he was jaundiced and they were taking his blood frequently).  The nurses brought him to me whenever he needed to nurse and DH and I both slept great.  I think it was the best decision for all 3 of us. 

We will definitely need our rest before having 2 under 2 at home, so this baby will most likely spend all of its nights in the nursery.

TheOriginalSP

shouldbworkin:

DH doesn't stay with me at the hospital.  Maybe he will if the cot is nicer than the last hospital, but he's a tall guy and a bear when he hasn't slept well ... I'd rather he go home.  I'd also rather he go home for our older kids too.  So, LO will go to the nursery for some amount of time. 

Yeah my DH didn't stay with me in the hospital either since he was with our first in the NICU and the second time he was with our first at home.  He will be at home with our kids this go around too.

Browneyedhunni85

The hospital where I will deliver has a huge womens center. There is no nursery.  LO stays in the room with the mother.

devious1031

Every hospital is diff in what they allow.  If they allow it here the baby will be with me at all times. The only time I'll send them to the nursery is so I can shower, unless DH is there with me.

NayNaysPlayPen

I voted that I will have my baby with me all the time, but I also want my baby with me all the time until he/she is 18 haha.

 

Ask me again when I just gave birth and am sleep deprived I hope I have the same answer....but I am not putting money on it! Ive never done this before so its all new to me!

katieh1017

I voted to keep the baby with me the whole time. I didn't think sending them to the nursery was an option anymore - I guess I will have to look into it. OP mentioned their hospital was in-room only unless they needed to be in the NICU. Maybe mine is the same way... Either way I am keeping LO with me.

Maribel2002

I kept my son with me the majority of the time, he only went to the nursery when he was being evaluated and for the first vaccine. I admit I felt really anxious everytime they took him and I would want him back with me as soon as possible. Nothing against the nurses but they are just doing their job and giving the basic care to the babies, to me nothing is better than Mommy to hold them and hug them and kiss them and make sure they are ok... there will be time in the future to catch up on sleep, right now is all about my babies. So again I'm keeping my baby in the room with me this time around.

bio-oesch

There is no way I would send my bay to the nursery after waiting all this time to meet him/her I want to cuddle and watch him/her sleep. The baby will be staying with me, with the exception of going with DH for the hearing test. I will be nursing and I will sleep when baby sleeps. I would sleep worse if baby was in the nursery. I figure your going to be learning the babys cues and creating a pattern so why not start right away.

 Poor DH actually slept on the floor with DD, they only provided him some random chair after we asked 3 nurses for something for him (overcrowded). Hopefully he gets a futon/couch this time

okate0213

Lina1030:

The only time DS went to the nursery was for his circumcision and DH escorted him there.

He stayed the whole time basically. The first night he had a bath and went to the nursery for it, even though I was SO tired I couldn't sleep w/o him:( once he got back I didn't want him to leave ever. The last day he went for shots and his circ, 30 mins max. I loved having him on me or being held the whole time. I will do the same for this LO.

MDmama519

I sent DS to the nursery so that I could nap on and off. For the most part, he stayed with us.

At my new hospital, they room with you 24/7. 

Sherry&Jeff

I have no first hand knowledge but from what my friends who have had kids tell me here (Ontario) you do not have the option to send the baby to the nursery, the baby stays in the room with you unless they require a NICU stay. Two of my close friends both had emergency c-sections late at night after a long day of labouring and the had to have the baby in the room with them that night. Thankfully their husbands were able to stay with them.

Again, I don't know if this is the norm in all hospitals but my two friends were in different parts of the province and had  very similar experiences.

Kaiene

I haven't decided yet.

WildcatPrincess

Oh that baby is going to the nursery at night! They still brought R to me every 2-3 hours to nurse so it wasn't great sleep, but it was sleep. I'd been awake well over 24 hours that first night in the hospital and every time we put R in the bassinet she cried. I couldn't have survived the going home without that little bit of catch up.

OrganicTeacher

I think it will depend on what happens with me (having a c or vag birth) - and also on how I am feeling.  I know the sleep is needed and a luxury - so not totally sure.

Mrs.Teddy

I haven't read all the replys.

I coted keep baby with me and thats a hope as DS was earlyand in the NICU. Our hospital does not have a nursery for well babies. WE practice rooming in and expect parents (we expect dads to stay as well) to be responsible for the baby's care.

This is an important part of the baby friendly hospital intitiative, seperation at all in not conducive to breastfeeding. Also, babies who are brought to the nursery have higher cortisol ( stress hormone) levels then those that are kept with their mothers. Just an interesting tidbit you may want to consider.  

MamaBoden

I need some sleep! But mostly LO will be with us

JFH2010

I voted SS because it will 100% be a game-day decision. I won't hesitate to send LO to the nursery if I think it will help me sleep better (I do love my sleep), but it's possible that could make me anxious, or it's possible that LO will be sleeping enough for me to rest, or it's possible that DH can help out thus leaving me free to sleep...who knows. Hard for this FTM to say.