May 2015 Moms

Hospital nursery

I'm a FTM and just wanted some opinions. Our hospital has a nursery and I'm trying to decide if we should use it or keep DS in room with us. We can change our minds at any point. It would be great to have the opportunity to rest, but I also want to learn more about DS and his hunger signs. What experiences have y'all had with the nursery?

Re: Hospital nursery

  • MrsS728MrsS728 member
    My daughter is a week old today. We kept baby in our room. We had the option of having baby go to the nursery at night, but chose to keep her with us. When she was in the nursery for her 12-hr and 24-hr tests we were wide awake and couldn't sleep until she was back in our room. 
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  • Our hospital didn't have a nursery, all babies stay in the room with the mom 24/7. I liked it that way except the first night was rough , I hadn't slept in over 24 hours and I couldn't sleep at all that night because every noise she made I had to check her and make sure she was ok, I ended up being awake for more than 48 hours. So you might sleep better knowing the nurses are watching over baby and let yourself get some rest, you will need it.
  • kby721kby721 member
    They say having the baby in the room with you helps your milk supply if you plan to nurse. If you are able to change your mind at any time why not keep him with you, see how it goes and if you feel you need sleep send him to the nursery.
  • Our hospital does not have a nursery, but I'm wishing they did. Although I would probably opt to keep baby with me overnight, it would be nice to have the option if I wanted to sleep and rest up before going home.
    Since you can change your mind I would keep baby with you and see how it goes, you can always send him in if you need a little break to recuperate!!
  • We had the option of my son going in the nursery and even when he screamed all night the first night I couldn't give him up. Just go with your gut once you're there.
  • Thanks for the advice. Yes we are very lucky to have the option. I guess I'll see how labor goes!
  • With my first two I used the nursery for like 3 hours, just to get a few hours of sleep. Just as I woke up missing them the nurses brought them back to feed. This time I never used it, but if I had needed to I would have. You will never again have RN'S who want to take your baby so that you can get much needed rest.
  • My first 2 both spent the night in the nursery with instructions for them to be brought back as soon as they woke up. I had 0 nursing/supply issues. With my first I could not relax enough to sleep or let her sleep...every grunt and sigh had to be an issue I thought. When the nurse suggested moving her to the nursery it was sooo much better. I only let them take my babies at night and only once they are asleep. This time my hospital doesn't have a nursery and I'm actually sad....I went home sooo much more well rested knowing I could sleep deeply those 2 nights in the hospital bc my babies were being watched by nurses.
  • We used our nursery with the first two. With DS, I was very sick and when I needed to walk (to help with the C-section recovery) we needed the nursery because I needed my DH to hep me walk. With DD we would use them to get some rest. 

    Since then our hospital has become baby first and I am worried about how to manage my recovery and knowing she will be with us the whole time.


  • We don't have the nursery option. But I agree with PPs. Especially if you can change your mind at any time, I would definitely opt to keep baby with me. If it's getting hard then you can ask them to take it to the nursery for a while. Then if you're not sleeping without baby there, bring it back. But I would definitely try having baby with me first.
  • No nurseries here - but look at it this way, you're never going to sleep again anyway, what's an extra night.  :P
  • Our hospital does not have a nursery, but if they did I would be using it at night.  When my first was born I think I got 3-4 hours of sleep total those two nights we spent in the hospital, not fun after having just given birth!  With my second DS had breathing problems and so he spent the first 36 hours in the Level II Special Care Nursery.  I never would wish my baby in there.  But I've got to be honest, I felt a lot more recovered after DS was born.  The first night I had to wake up and pump every 2-3 hours and the second night the nurses would call me to come and nurse him.  But I slept pretty soundly knowing he was well cared for.  Obviously he wasn't really sick or I know I wouldn't have been sleeping, but my SIL who is a pedi basically told me they were being overly cautious and chances were there was nothing wrong and she was right.  So I'm all about the nursery!  I just wish my hospital had one!
  • When DD1 was born we had the option of sending her out with the nurses. I really appreciated being able to sleep. They brought her to me if they noticed hunger cues or every 2 hours throughout the night. Things at our hospital have changed since then, and for DD2 we had to keep her in our room. It was a good experience, but mainly because she slept quietly and log enough stretches for me to get rest.
    S- March 09 E- Feb 12 L- May 15


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