Freaking out...What did you do with DC#1 when you had DC#2?

djandkellen · January 2010

We can't take DS to the hospital when I have DD. We don't have family around and only have the occasional babysitter. We'll be able to figure out someone (not sure who yet) to come over when I have to go to the hospital. But, what did you do while you were in the hospital for the 2-3 days? Did you have a babysitter/nanny watch DC#1 the whole time? Did you have people watch DC#1 in spurts and DH would come home to cover the rest?

This is about the only thing that I'm really freaking out about right now. We're getting a plan together for help for after we get home, but the actual delivery and recovery time is freaking me out!

Thanks!

opermommy · January 2010

First of all, can your DC#1 not even come and visit at all? Ours could, just not stay the night. So what we did was have my sister stay the first night with me as I had a C section and couldn't be alone if I chose to room-in at night which I did. My husband stayed at home at night with DC#1. We thought that it was important for her to have her normal routine and her daddy. During the day she stayed with daddy or grandma (maybe you have a good girlfriend, or maybe you can have a family member fly out for a few days to help.) My husband never stayed the night with me. After that first night, I was there alone with the baby for most of the time and honestly, it was blissful to just focus on myself and the new little one for those couple days. So much changes and you need to get your feet underneath you. The nursing staff was so wonderful, I just felt taken care of. It was the last real rest I got for a long time. Remember that as soon as you leave the hospital, it's all about the new baby to everyone else while you struggle to keep up with the demands of your toddler, who could care less about how you feel physically or emotionally. Take the time now for peace and quiet. My husband and DC#1 did visit for a little bit every day, but I have to say that my 16 month old really didn't know what was going on. She just wanted to toddle and run around. Basically she was fine. That was my experience. Good luck to you.

emas · January 2010

Our family all lives 400+ miles away, but my mom was able to come down for a week. She stayed with my daughter while we were at the hospital, and then stuck around for a while to help out. It really was a huge, huge help as I had a c-section and was limited in what I was able to do for a few days.

Jerseygirl16 · January 2010

When we had DD #2 we dropped #1 off with my BIL and SIL and they kept her overnight and took her to her cousin's birthday party the next afternoon before bringing her back to us at the hospital. DH took over her care from then until he was able to bring me home the following day. She was only 21 months at the time so they couldn't spend hours at the hospital but visited that day and then came back for me the next morning. We thought it was important that we preserve DD #1's sense of normalcy as much as possible and I was being well taken care of at the hospital anyway.

With #3 we now live in a different state. MIL is coming out to watch DD 1 and 2 while we are at the hospital delivering DS. We are planning on an induction so I expect that DH will go home that night after we have him and be with the girls. If his mom sticks around he'll probably be able to spend a little more time with me and baby at the hospital but I want him to also focus plenty of time on the girls. We'll be home soon enough. If his mom leaves after that first day then he'll probably make a visit the second day and then just come up when I'm released the following day.

Brit1017 · January 2010

I was induced, so it made planning a little easier. My mom and sister, who live 2 hours away, came up the day before my induction and stayed until the day after I came home. I delivered vaginally and asked to be discharged 24 hours after delivery, so it wasn't bad. We left for the hospital after breakfast on Sun, DH was there for the delivery then went home to be with DS for dinner and bedtime, then came back, and I was home by dinnertime on Mon.

queenie521 · January 2010

opermommy:
First of all, can your DC#1 not even come and visit at all? Ours could, just not stay the night.

I dont know if this is the posters case, but most hospitals around here have started not letting ANY children under 18, sibling or not, ever since all this H1N1 stuff. They are trying to be EXTRA precautious.

jnksmom · January 2010

I was blessed and my mom came to stay with us 1 week before #2 was born so she could be there with DS when we had to go to the hospital. She also stayed with DS while I was in the hospital but brought him to visit during the day. However, we only stayed in the hospital 24 hours after DD was born.

userdeleted · January 2010

I was really worried about this issue too. We have no family around, I was due around Thanksgiving so we knew that the friends living closest to us would probably be out of town, and we have never had a babysitter.

In the end, pretty much my entire playgroup offered to help out and watch him which was so sweet. When I went into labor I dropped him off at one of the playgroup mom's house. She took care of him that day/night. The next morning my husband went and picked him up, took him home for his nap, brought him to the hospital in the afternoon, and then went back home with him for the night. I was discharged the next morning, it all ended up being much less stressful than I anticipated.

GL, you have plenty of time to work something out!

Want a personalized experience?

Freaking out...What did you do with DC#1 when you had DC#2?

Re: Freaking out...What did you do with DC#1 when you had DC#2?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards