Jumping over from third tri with question about your hospital stay

NicoleR524 · April 2010

So, I was reading on my hospital's website, and then had it confirmed by my doc, that they have a rule that you get to have the baby for 1 hour and then they take the baby for 4 hours for monitoring. I have a HUGE problem with this but wanted to know how normal it is or isn't before making a huge scene.

I have a number of questions but the first is how will my baby eat if away from me for 4 hours. I will not allow any bottles in the hospital unless some major issue happens with breastfeeding. I know they have to wash them and all that but 4 hours just seems ridiculously long to me and really no one will be watching the baby the way I will be during that time. But I'm a first timer so I was hoping to get some ideas of norms from you ladies.

Thanks!

MrsPreK · April 2010

This is not the case in our hospital. Have you mentioned your concerns with your OB?

skmac05 · April 2010

Mine was an emergency so my circumstances are different than yours, but I will add that newborns can go for a while without eating and be perfectly fine.

IrishBrideND · April 2010

I would not have been happy with that.

NicoleR524 · April 2010

MrsPreK:
This is not the case in our hospital. Have you mentioned your concerns with your OB?

Yes, I asked her about it and she said it's the hospitals rule. When I questioned further and implied that I didn't like she said to bring it up at the hospital tour but she didn't give me hope that it would go over well. I mean, legally, can they keep the baby from me? Wouldn't it be like any other medical procedure that I can waive?

BabyLove987 · April 2010

They did that at my hospital, too. If it is hospital policy, there is nothing you can do about it. Your baby will be fine not eating 4 hours. Use the time to sleep!

liza0828 · April 2010

At my hospital they took the baby for tests but it was only about 45 minutes.

JenandJustin10806 · April 2010

That does not sound right at all to me...especially with BFing...we were given DD right away and they did not take her to have a bath until 6 hours later and they brought her back in less than an hour. Baby stayed with me unless I sent her to the nursery...for a shower or something

Greyfaery · April 2010

The only time DD was out of the room was 15 mins for her first checkup, then a couple of hours the first night so DH and I could get some sleep (we asked for this). I would def. ask about it.

Mzshell13 · April 2010

This policy stinks, but it's not the end of the world. I bf immediately after LO was born, and they ended up taking him about an hour after his birth for a bath and all the other stuff they do. I had complications from the epi, and DS had swallowed a ton of fluid, so they kept him in the nursery for a few hours so we could both get situated. Didn't have any effect on breastfeeding whatsoever. If you have a problem with it I would talk to the hospital on the tour and see what they say (as I'm sure there have been other bf mothers in the same situation). Good luck!

brittbritt9621 · April 2010

my baby was takin away due to breathing issues when he was born and 13 hours went by before i fed him.

MrsPreK · April 2010

NicoleR524:
MrsPreK:
This is not the case in our hospital. Have you mentioned your concerns with your OB?

Yes, I asked her about it and she said it's the hospitals rule. When I questioned further and implied that I didn't like she said to bring it up at the hospital tour but she didn't give me hope that it would go over well. I mean, legally, can they keep the baby from me? Wouldn't it be like any other medical procedure that I can waive?

Interesting. Yeah, I agree, I wouldn't be happy about it but if that is their policy LO will be o.k. not eating for the first few hours - if you plan on BF your milk will not come in for a few days - only colostrum so should be o.k. to start. Just let them know that you do NOT want a bottle introduced

GL!!

aocain02@yahoo.com · April 2010

At my hospital the baby is with you the whole time. The only time DS left the room was for his hearing test and when he was circumcised. I would ask the hospital if there is a wavier to sign to decline the monitoring or if it could be done from your room.

rysmomsn2banother · April 2010

My son was in the NICU for 3 days with lung problems. He didnt eat till he was 2days old.

Sassystace · April 2010

This would make BFing and bonding difficult and seems like overkill unless there is a problem with your baby. My hospital was what they called "baby friendly" (bfing friendly) and even though I had a c/s, my baby never left my side--they even did the bath, weighing/measuring with me in the recovery room or my hosp room. Later on (like the next day) they do take the baby away for a hearing test, circ, etc but nothing for more than about 30 minutes. I would definately question this practice and find another hospital if it is a strict rule for all births.

HelloDaisy · April 2010

My baby only left my room once, for 15 minutes, when she had her hearing test. She was over 24 hours old at that point, too. They bathed her, etc all in my room. I would be annoyed by this policy, but fwiw we had breastfeeding troubles to begin with and she didn't nurse at all the whole first day, and then had a bottle and we are successfully ebfing at 10 weeks!

mrs.oz · April 2010

My baby couldn't keep his temp up and didn't eat for 24 hours.

mrssamuels2b · April 2010

DS was with me the entire time...the L&D room had the equipment needed to check him out and wash him up...he never left the room...I did have to wait 2 hours before anyone was allowed in the room but that was fine with me...I enjoyed spending time with both my men.

araevg · April 2010

That's ridiculous! I had a c-section and not once did the baby leave my sight, even while being stitched up and recovering.

terrahill09 · April 2010

Thats how our hospital did. As did the university of florida hospital when my SO's other two daughters were born. They bring your baby back if he/she acts hungry to BF.

HappilyScotts · April 2010

Even though I had a c-section & was put to sleep I got to breastfeed DD a half hour after she was born. At my hospital the baby stays with you at all times and only goes to the nursery for tests & to be bathed. They won't even take the baby at night for you to get some sleep, but I would have kept her with me anyways. Everytime DD left my room DH got to go with her even for all of her tests. Unless your LO is in a restricted area like a NICU or something you or your DH should be able to go with your LO.

hilwithonelary · April 2010

I think that is ridiculous unless there is some problem that comes up with your LO. They did my LO's bath, tests, etc in the room with me. I had the option to send him to the nursery overnight, but I declined. The only time he had to leave was for 90 minutes for a carseat test, which he had to do because he was less that 37 weeks.

beckyone · April 2010

Sassystace:
This would make BFing and bonding difficult and seems like overkill unless there is a problem with your baby. My hospital was what they called "baby friendly" (bfing friendly) and even though I had a c/s, my baby never left my side--they even did the bath, weighing/measuring with me in the recovery room or my hosp room. Later on (like the next day) they do take the baby away for a hearing test, circ, etc but nothing for more than about 30 minutes. I would definately question this practice and find another hospital if it is a strict rule for all births.

same with me.

asned · April 2010

1. My hospital doesn't do this. Eden was away from me for about an hour total and that was over two days. It included a bath, visit with the pedi, Hep shot, and a few tests.

2. Newborns (that first couple of days) can go forever without nursing. Four hours would be completely fine.

dragonsmercy · April 2010

My baby was only away from me for a total of 45 minutes on the second day, and I made sure DH was with her at that time.. they had to do a 4 limb BP test, as they were concerned about a small heart murmur, and that was in a different part of the hospital. If it weren't for that, she was in my room with me at all times. She wasn't bathed until she was around 8 hours old. If you're seriously uncomfortable with it, then you might want to change hospitals, or see if they'll make some kind of exception.

JellyMama · April 2010

I had my babies at two different hospitals and one delivery was a vaginal birth and one was a c-section and they were with me nearly the entire stay except for a daily 20 minute trip for the nursery for testing. I've not heard of that kind of monitoring before unless there was a concern or problem.

blckwhtyllwgirl · April 2010

Sassystace:
This would make BFing and bonding difficult and seems like overkill unless there is a problem with your baby. My hospital was what they called "baby friendly" (bfing friendly) and even though I had a c/s, my baby never left my side--they even did the bath, weighing/measuring with me in the recovery room or my hosp room. Later on (like the next day) they do take the baby away for a hearing test, circ, etc but nothing for more than about 30 minutes. I would definately question this practice and find another hospital if it is a strict rule for all births.

This was exactly same for me. Similarly, they only took him away twice - once for the hearing test (and I could go with and watch if I wanted) and once for the circumcision (which I could also watch if I wanted).

Jessgran · April 2010

My baby had to stay in the NICU for 24 hours. I could go there to feed him or just allow the nurses to do it since I FF. If I were you I would ask about feeding - they may bring him to you, etc. I'd be a little annoyed at first too, but ask good questions and find out for sure what happens before inserting foot into mouth GL!

grapeape73 · April 2010

I have had 3 children at 2 different hospitals, and they all stayed with me with the exception of #3 while I was in recovery from a c/s. Even then DH stayed with her the entire time. With both DS and DD1 they never left the room unless it was for the hearing test or weighing, and even then DH went with them. They even bathed them in the room.

I think the policy you are referring to is archaic. You have the right to refuse any medical testing you want. I would be very specific in your wants and desires. I would also do as much as possible before going to the actual hospital. You don't want the "you need to talk to so and so, and they aren't here right now" excuse.

AmandaAllison · April 2010

My hospital's rule was that the baby was with mom unless and until there was a problem. The nurses would take him periodically to get examined by the doctor or to monitor him, but he was never gone more than 15 minutes or so. I think 4 hours is really excessive absent a problem. They take perfectly healthy babies for 4 hours for monitoring as a rule? Talk to your provider (mw/ob) and see what s/he says.

adriennevla · April 2010

Not only did I not ever have to switch rooms (everything happened in the room I was first given when we arrived), but they bathed and did EVERYTHING in the room also. Their policy is to leave the babies in the rooms unless there is a medical need for the nursery, or if the parents ask for the child to be watched for a bit. Four hours is completely unnecessary if there is nothing wrong.

Krista123105 · April 2010

That seems like a strange policy to me...at my hospital everything was done within my birthing suite, including DS' first bath. He had to go to the nursery for his hearing test and his circumcision, and we had him go to the nursery for a couple of hours both nights so we could sleep, but other than that he was with us.

murfygirl · April 2010

HappilyScotts:
Even though I had a c-section & was put to sleep I got to breastfeed DD a half hour after she was born. At my hospital the baby stays with you at all times and only goes to the nursery for tests & to be bathed. They won't even take the baby at night for you to get some sleep, but I would have kept her with me anyways. Everytime DD left my room DH got to go with her even for all of her tests. Unless your LO is in a restricted area like a NICU or something you or your DH should be able to go with your LO.

This is me exactly!

I was put under and I saw DS 10 mins after I got out of surgery and her always stayed with me.

MrsJJC · April 2010

Thats nuts - I'm sorry! I hope you can waive it. :-( With Kaiser, they only took DS away for 15 minutes the next morning for the hearing test. Otherwise he never left my sight or side. Granted I will say he diid not take to BFing right away - he was too busy sleeping so I am sure if you cant waive it, it will work out fine. But - do tell them if you do not want LO to be FF during monitoring,

NicoleR524 · April 2010

Thank you all SOOO much. I was worried that I would have no legs to stand on when arguing this point with the hospital but now i know that that across the country this is not the norm and that there is no reason for it. I appreciate all your posts and comments.

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