Our hospital wouldn't let us keep DS in the room with us if we weren't awake. I was really surprised by this. He had to go into the nursery whenever we wanted orif we weren't awake. They brought him to me if he needed eat, which caused me anxiety. They did it so we could get some sleep, but I woke up so many times in those nights waiting for him to need food.
Re: S/O of DH staying w/ you - did you room with your LO?
My DS had a rough delivery so he had to stay on oxygen in the nursery the first night. And, my DH went home to take care of the dog and stay with my SD. That first night was really terrible for me. I was totally exhausted (as my labor started at midnight the night before), my first-born baby was in the nursery on oxygen, and I was in the hospital alone. It was kind of a blessing that I was so tired because it helped me fall asleep. If I wasn't so tired, I think I probably would've been awake all night worrying.
This exactly. Everyone told me to take advantage of the help while you were there. I had her in the room with me all day, until about midnight, then they took her (brought her back to feed around 3am), then got her back around 6am. It was nice to have some uninterrupted sleep. I had really bad cramping (back and tummy) after I had her, so I was happy with my decision.
This. here in Canada most hospitals don't have nurseries anymore. DS stayed with me from the moment he was born, until I was discharged. When he had to have any tests done, they were either done right in my room, or DH or myself went along with DS.
Me: 37
DH: 36
Married: 08-25-07
DS: 11-20-09
Name change alert: Formerly Lisswastaken
Ours didn't either and it was really rough. That first night was awful. He had really bad reflux and kept gagging on the amniotic fluid (he was a c/s baby.) It was night 2 of zero sleep for me because the previous night I had been in labor.
When my doctor checked on me the next morning, she was horrified. I looked like death. I had been awake for 48 hours and lost a ton of blood during the operation. The next night they gave me Ambien and I passed out and that left DH to try and care for a newborn alone. He woke me to nurse but I don't remember that at all.
I won't deliver there again.
It was really rough for me too--I had DD in the early morning, so by the time our first night rolled around, I had been awake for 24 hours already. The hospitals around here have all transformed into "birthing centers", so they only room-in and have queen sized beds for the new mom and partner (but are REALLY strict about bedsharing).
DH has a medical condition that drops him into super deep sleep (the easiest way to explain it is that he basically drops below REM), and is seriously IMPOSSIBLE to wake.
So, I was up with DD all night after already having been up for 24 hours. If the hospital had a nursery, I would have used it in a second.
I always planned on having him room with us, but by the time he was born I had been up nearly two days with very little sleep. We ended sending him to the nursery so we could get some decent rest. The nurses brought him back to eat several times each night, and we could visit whenever we want -- the second night I went back and got him at 3 a.m. because I couldn't sleep and wanted to see him.
I'm not sure what we'll do this time. A large part of the reason I was okay with the nursery the first time was that I didn't know what the heck to do with a newborn and I was nervous about being solely responsible for him.
With DD1, she went to the nursery the first night. I had a hard delivery and wanted rest. I now feel really guilty that I didn't keep her with me, but what's done is done.
With DD2, we kept her in our room the entire time except for 2x a day when they had to take her to the nursery for a checkup (which took about 30 minutes). I hated when she had to leave for her checks, but they wouldn't let us into the nursery with her because there were other babies in there too and they're really strict about security.
DH stayed the first night in the hospital but he was so uncomfortable that I sent him home to sleep the second night. I needed him well rested at home way more than I needed him in the room with me in the middle of the night. If I had a c/s or severe tearing and wasn't able to move around as easily as I was, I may have decided differently. DS went to the nursery both nights so that I could sleep. They brought him in to nurse when it was time.
When I go in to deliver the new LO, DH will stay at home both nights to keep as much normalcy as possible for DS.
This, unless there is an issue. DS2 and I stayed in our room alone. He came early before our family could get here! While MH stayed with our older children. I loved the "all to myself" bonding time.
That is how it was with my first. My DD went on O2, DH stayed with her until 3am. I wanted him with her but I was miserably alone. I called the nurse for additional pain meds (4th degree tear) and I was bawling mostly just sad at how things turned out. That nurse got my doc to prescribe something good; I was knocked out! It's a blessing or I would have been up all night.
Our hospital didn't really have a nursery.
Jake didn't leave the room he was born in until we were leaving the hospital. The only rule they had was no bedsharing. Jake had to be in his bassinet if we were sleeping.
My FI was there as well. I wouldn't of been able to do it without him.
DS stayed with me the entire time.
This time I may send baby to the nursery at night since DH will be home with DS and I will be having a c-section. Its really hard to get in and out of bed to put baby in bassinet. WHo knows though I will probably change my mind once I see the baby and call the nurse in every time I need a hand.
Our hospital didn't have a nursery, but unfortunately DD was in the NICU for a week so we didn't have the opportunity to have her in our room.
We had the option of sending the baby to the nursery if we wanted to or having her sleep with us but no bedsharing, she had to stay in the bassinet.
We kept her the first night and sent her to the nursery the second night. The nurse offered to give her an ounce of formula at her 3am feeding and after a c/s and not a whole lot of sleep and E losing a lot of weight, I thought that was a great idea until we didn't see her until 7am because she was still asleep and we couldn't even wake her up then.
I sent her back the third night asking they bring her in for nursing when she woke up and the 4th night, I told them to bring her every 4 hours because the on demand nursing wasn't working - she slept too much.
Personally, I slept better knowing someone medically trained was watching over her and making sure she was doing ok while I was sleeping. I asked each and everyone to come home with me.