Hospital "down time"

TurtleMonsters · May 2014

This is my second child and I'm having an RCS. Last time, I had a lot of down time and by the 2nd night/3rd day I was going stir crazy. DH is planning on being with DS a bit, so I get even more down time and I'm trying to figure what fun things I can do while baby is sleeping. I'll have a lap top, plan on bringing knitting (hopefully the carpal tunnel will be manageable) but I got really excited when I realized I'll have time to read, one last time before all hell breaks loose adjusting at home. I'm digging out all the books that have been waiting to be read for the last few years and also asked my Dad if I can borrow his old Kindle. A friend wrote something about her struggle with her son's Chiari, only available on Kindle. I get into moods of what I want to read, so I want to have a few options.

Are you planning on bringing anything to pass the quiet time in the hospital?

sxymamakat · May 2014

I have my Kindle on my list (although it's always with me, so that's nothing new), some knitting as always, and I'll likely pack my Nintendo DS (yes, I'm an overgrown kid) but just with my Sudoku game already in it- it's a great distraction for me and since it's so tiny, it's really no hassle to have it in there even if I don't use it.

INmommy871278 · May 2014

I'm taking my iPad and plan on going to the library closer to my due date and getting a book or two. That's all the entertaining I can come up with right now.

purpleXdandelion · May 2014

I'm in the exact same boat (RCS amd DH will have DS the majority of the time). My parents have a little portable DVD Player that I thought I'd borrow and bring a couple movies. Especially for at night cuz I get totally creeped out and a little homesick at night in hospitals. Maybe a book and a handful of magazines.

abchittam · May 2014

I don't remember a single bit of downtime, but I didn't have a CS either. Won't you have visitors?

MississippiCatfish · May 2014

abchittam said:
I don't remember a single bit of of downtime.

That's what I was thinking. I planned for a ton and then didn't get any, even though I don't remember what I was so busy with. GOSH I hope I get some downtime this time around before coming home to the new 2 under 2 life!! I'll probably just bring my laptop and a book. I can watch Netflix on the laptop. Otherwise, I don't know, but now you have me longingly thinking about alone time;)

AKB090609 · May 2014

I keep joking with DH that this is as close as I'm going to be getting to a spa getaway for a long time. I'm bringing my iPad and an extension cord. Part of me feels like I really just need to soak up ever second I can with the newbie before we are plunged into the chaos that I'm sure will be 2u2.

TurtleMonsters · May 2014

Just my parents would visit. Last time I had 4 sleepless nights of labor and an ECS, so having the surgery on top of it, I was wiped and didn't really see anyone (then my parents/ MILS and were there a bit). I couldn't get around well after, so I was basically in bed most of the 4 days. The baby slept on me a lot and I needed something to keep my brain occupied. We invited people over a lot once we were home- we're about an hour drive for most visitors.

TurtleMonsters · May 2014

AKB090609 said:

I keep joking with DH that this is as close as I'm going to be getting to a spa getaway for a long time. I'm bringing my iPad and an extension cord. Part of me feels like I really just need to soak up ever second I can with the newbie before we are plunged into the chaos that I'm sure will be 2u2.

Exactly!! My son, put simply, is high maintenance- not his fault. But any time away, is a wonderful retreat- like all this DR. office waiting room time is so relaxing. I read so much during the 3 hour glucose test, it was wonderful.

alyss0nl · May 2014

My hospital has pretty decent tv channels, so I'll probably bring my iPad and watch some tv. I plan on having quite a few visitors and will be sleeping when baby is sleeping, since DH might be with ds1 quite a bit.

iris427 · May 2014

I'll probably bring my kindle and my laptop, but I'm also hoping to sleep a lot.

INmommy871278 · May 2014

abchittam said:

I don't remember a single bit of downtime, but I didn't have a CS either. Won't you have visitors?

I didn't have a CS either, but DS slept a lot and I after the first night we didn't have any visitors. DH went home to sleep. Bit and pick up a few things we forgot so I had a ton of down time and ended up bored.

Soon2BMrsN · May 2014

I don't remember a single second of down time after either of my boys' births. We had both sets of parents visit and the stream of nurses coming in constantly didn't allow us to rest much at all. I usually can't WAIT to go home.

purpleXdandelion · May 2014

We were busy the first 24 hours, but after that I didn't have many visitors at all.

MTAtlanta · May 2014

Downtime sounds wonderful! I don't remember getting any. I was exhausted from labor but unable to sleep with trying to bf every two hours and the nurses coming in all the time to check vitals. Dh will stay with me again this time with ds at my parents, but i do remember him watching basketball so we must have had a few minutes here and there haha.

BBColt78 · May 2014

When they told us it was time that we could leave, it was only 32 hours after birth. I had no time at all!

Maybe I should bring something just in case I have some time with this one? We call it the "drive by" birth.

Skeemer · May 2014

My Kindle with Amazon Prime & Netflix apps.

gooliahank · May 2014

I don't remember any downtime other than an hour or so before bed. I had 22 he's labor then a C-section. I felt like I had been to a combat zone. Any "downtime" I used to sleep. Boredom is a luxury I do not have these days :-(

Kohler2009 · May 2014

I am bringing my phone and iPad, but, highly doubt I will have much downtime with twins, unless they magically get on the same schedule right away!! I plan to sleep as much as I can, rest, and work on recovery.

drunkenhandstand · May 2014

Between feedings and visitors I didn't even have time to rest. It was ridic! I'd kill for some downtime this time. Haha

AutumnBonfire · May 2014

I'll probably take my iPad and a book. There are tvs in the rooms. With DS, I remember having a lot of down time during labor, but I couldn't concentrate on anything. After he was born, I don't think I had any time with nursing, check-ups, trying to sleep, a few visitors, etc.

AMcLaws · May 2014

I had downtime in the evenings/nights. I'm taking my tablet and my phone. We haven't decided yet if DH or MIL will be the one to stay with me at night. One of them will be with me, the other with DD1. My SIL happens to be on vacation the week I deliver also, and she can help out for a few days before she leaves for her trip.

TexasGirl81 · June 2014

Sleep! Give me sleep!

abundancenow · June 2014

My stay was not so long since I did not have a CS, but I did bring a few different outfits for ds and enjoyed changing him and taking pics. I have an ipad this time and will probably be surfing the net or watching some thing streaming online.

mrscutforth · June 2014

My phone and Nook. But I plan on sleeping.

acciovino · June 2014

I'm gonna go with sleep and mindlessly gazing at the wall. I'm constantly doing something or watching DD so it'll be nice to be bored for once!

Acsim · June 2014

I plan on bringing my Kindle, but not sure if I will read or use my apps, but I figure it's worth bringing and DD1 is the kindle queen so I know it will keep her busy. She has her own (Christmas present from Grandma) but that will be going with her to Grandmas house and I don't want it drug back and forth. I will bring a few movies, well, more than a few lol. HP series, Hunger Games series, and a few of the Marvel movies. We have something almost always on at home as background noise and I hate hate hate daytime tv. If DH is there, the tv will be on, so if I can control what we watch with movies, bueno for me. We will have visitors though I'm hoping honestly my breastfeeding kicks most of them out. Sounds bad, but I want to get it right this time. So, my down time is kindle, movies, boobs.

TRyan86 · June 2014

I'm not expecting any downtime. Hospital policy here (canada) is you stay 24-48 hrs after vaginal birth (closer to 24) and about 3 days after c-section. So if all goes well and I deliver with no complications I will hardly have a chance to sleep before being discharged.