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2nd Trimester
AMYfromKY
member
What will you do with your pets while you're in the hospital?
AMYfromKY
member
I am kind of worried about this. After I have the baby, DH is going to work all day while I'm still in the hospital because I don't see any point in him just sitting at the hospital with me. I know he will come visit me after work and then will go home. I am worried even then our dogs won't get enough attention.
I am sure my mom will also come in town for a week or so. I guess she could give them some attention during the day, but I am sure she will want to spend a lot of her time at the hospital with me.
I swear I care way too much about these dogs and their feelings!
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Re: What will you do with your pets while you're in the hospital?
We will leave big bowls of food and water out. They're cats, though, so they'll be fine.
Luckily DH owns a petcare biz, so we've got a whole army of trustworthy people to look after them. We'll board them with his partner while we're at the hospital, and then send them on daily walks once we get home.
If you're worried, try calling a local dog walker to come take them out for the first week or so. Our biz has a post-partum special to help families adjust. The key is keeping them on their pre-baby schedule as much as possible, and not creating an environment where they think the baby is something they have to be afraid of.
We have 2 cats and we never leave them home alone overnight, so a friend will stay at the house while dh and I stay at the hospital. Dh will be starting his 2 weeks of paternity leave the day I go into labor so he won't have to worry about going to work the next day.?
He can sleep on the floor at the hospital if he has to, and like it too (joking..they have cots)?
My best friend is a vet and sent us an article about how pets should be kept on their regular schedule as much as possible. She's volunteered to come stay at our house while we're at the hospital to let feed Jake, let him in and out, take him on his walks and make him feel as loved as possible. I'm letting her. DH probably won't be at the hospital with me full time - but at least this way he doesn't have to worry about our other baby at home.
Meanwhile, the same friend just picked our dog up from our house during lunch. He needs his teeth cleaned, her clinic is in New Orleans and today was her day off - so she'll have him the rest of the week (her surgery day is Friday) and we'll get him over the weekend when we're there for Jazzfest. I felt a little sad as they were pulling away - our house suddenly seemed empty!
I think you are right to be concerned about it, so don't feel bad
I am lucky in that my parents live about 20 seconds away (same neighborhood) so we'll likely have one of them stay at our house while we're in the hospital. But I also hope to only spend 1 night in the hospital.
In your position I'd look into doggie daycare or a pro pet sitter.
If you're are really worried you could try something like this:
https://fetchpetcare.com/home/page/1/-/page.php
I use them & like them - not sure if they have one in your area.
Btw- I wrote back to you on the other link, but now I am afraid you won't see it - I was not referring to your "bloat" response at all!!!
The dogs will stay at mom and dads, my bro is taking the cats (well, he agreed to two of them. I hope the fosters are gone by then!)
Start checking out dog walkers and doggy daycares. Not only for the time you're in the hospital, but for when the LO has been up all night, you just want sleep, and the dogs are annoying the hell out of you because they need to get rid of some excess energy. Its good to have a backup plan!
I'm thinking we can have family come and play with them a few times, and my MIL will probably stay in our house while we are at the hospital. So, she can watch them at night...
If MIL gets to our house every evening by 6ish and leaves at 8ish the next day, that will be about the same as a normal day when DH is at work.
Oh that's totally fine. I just wanted to make sure I clarified what I meant because I don't think the way I typed it sounded like what I meant.
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Here's my plan when I go into labor:
1) Call my husband if he's at work
2) Call my SIL if DH is at work so she can get me to the hospital (skip #2 if my DH is home when I go into labor)
3) Call my brother to pick up my dog and take care of him for a few days
I want my brother to bring my dog back home the same day I bring the baby home. I want Casey to get used to the baby and think the best way is to have him with the baby from the start. It will probably be really hard, but I think it's the best way.
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Our three cats have spent up to four days alongg before, so we will set out their "travel" bowls of food and water (large dishes that hold enough for several days and can't be knocked over) and leave the bathroom doors wedged open and the toilet seats up for them until we come back.
The only concern I have is that they get a door closed and are trapped, but that's why we wedge the doors open.