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Well... I am queen of posting nervous questions tonight!
I found out this week that since my Mother will be taking care of my kids for four days strait, all day, when I have the baby that my husband will be coming home at night. This leaves me at the hospital alone. I will be recovering from surgery and I imagine I will have a hard time doing everything that first night or two.
Has anyone else had to be in the hospital alone overnight, after baby? Was it horrible? I just picture this baby screaming and needing me and being too sore to do anything. If you were alone, did you room-in or have the nurses take the baby at night?
I am not mad at my Mom because I can understand she will need a break, but I am nervous as my husband has been with me the ENTIRE time with both other children and this is my first C-section.
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When I had my c-section, they kept her in the nursery the first night since I couldn't get up and brought her to me for feedings. I was in for a week mostly by myself, and they were happy to take her to the nursery anytime I needed a break.
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I roomed alone with the new baby and its fine. For one the baby will mostly sleep, the nurses will help and you will kick in with your mommy instinct. I was nervous too but I was nice.
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I left her in the nursery for the nurses to handle, your there to rest and heal right? I figured i would have her at home by myself for the next 18 years she could handle a few nights in a nursery getting spoiled by the nurses. It was the best 4 days and 3 nights i ever had, i got plenty of sleep! lol
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Originally Posted by summeranne
When I had my c-section, they kept her in the nursery the first night since I couldn't get up and brought her to me for feedings. I was in for a week mostly by myself, and they were happy to take her to the nursery anytime I needed a break.
Ditto
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With my first, they didn't have a nursery to send him to ; it was for sick babies only. So...the first night was great. I held him, he nursed, dh slept in the recliner. The second night, he got hungry, I had no milk yet and he was hungry. Nobody told me that it was really OK to give him formula at that point. And because they had no nursery, a nurse took him w/her to let exhausted me sleep. I heard him crying all night, so got no sleep.
The second time, different hospital, the first night was again great. She was in her bassinet looking around. However, at one point, the nurse noticed she was choking. From that point on, I held her most of the time - all the rest of the night. She slept in my arms, on my shoulder. I had the IV in my hand and it hurt - dh changed her, as did the nurses.
Second night, dh had to go home because ds had not had a good night staying w/his cousins and aunt & uncle. Baby was still nursing well, but by then I knew it was OK to use a little formula, as I still had no milk. The nurses were available to help open the formula, put the baby in the bassinet so I could use the bathroom, change her and whatever else I needed. They or an aide were usually very helpful.
So, don't be shy about asking for help if you need it.
My worse thing is when I had to go back in because I had postpartum preeclampsia. Away from my babies! DH was home alone w/newborn and hyper 5 year old. He did good, though. Had them get me a breast pump. Had baby Sunday, milk didn't come in until Friday! Then, OUCH! Need baby!
Ask for what you need. The most they can say is no. Being hooked up to an IV makes it hard to do a lot of things and the nurses know that.
edited: I forgot to say, the second hospital DID have a nursery - heaven! The nurses kept encouraging me to send her down, which, when I decided to stop being stupid, was the best thing. they kept her swaddled, gave her a pacifier (which she stopped using within her first month) and gave her formula. Me? I got a SHOWER!!!!!!!! I got sleep! I read a book and watched TV! I was so refreshed when they brought her back. I often asked for her back early because I really felt like a mommy ready to have baby, rather than one who dreaded her coming back. So, if you can use the nursery, do it!! I was so afraid sending her for someone else to care for make ME a bad mommy. It didn't it make me a BETTER mommy! Plus, they have nurses, doctors and trained, dedicated volunteers to take care of the babies. It was wonderful.
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I was alone everynight I was in the hospital. Dh was at home. I would not want him there. I sent the babies to the nursery. They brought them to me to eat and I sent them back. That may be the only sleep you get for quite awhile!!! I loved my alone, resting time!!!
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I was at the hospital for all the days alone with all mine. I had C-sections with 4 of the 5 and the one I had natural was VBAC, so I was in the hospital longer with her than I would have been had she been not VBAC. My husband came in only twice during the four days I was in with each one (I mean twice with each baby), but the nurses were so helpful and nice, they did whatever I wanted them to do. With my last baby, he had to evac'd to Children's hospital in a special ambulance for isolets, that was the most horrible part of all of it, being stuck in one hospital, with my baby an hour away in another hospital and not being able to go to him. If you have one of those really devoted be by your side all the time type of husbands, congratulations, mine isn't that way. He didn't even come to the hospital until a few hours after the babies were born. My Mom always goes in the operating room with me (C sections), and my husband stays with the kids, which is better, he doesn't handle things like surgery well.
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I was alone in the hospital with my last 2. My babies never left my side. If the nurses had to take them I either went with them or if it was when hubby was there he would go. My babies never left my sight for anything. Even when my youngest had to go be put in the warmers for a hour or so I made my hubby stand there with him the whole time. Yes I had 3 c-sections and yes they can be hard to re coup from but..... If it is a planned section there is a good likelyhood that you will have very minor pain afterwards. I know with my second which was a planned c section I had categorically no pain didnt even take a tylenol. I was ready to go home the morning after I had her which was at 8:54 at night lol so litterally less than 12 hrs later I was ready to go home I felt like a spring chicken ready for the world. So honestly its not bad being in there by yourself and the kids can come and go when ever they are brought up cause they are siblings. So relax and enjoy what little rest you get cause even though the nurses can take the baby for you that doesnt make those nasty beds any softer or easier to sleep on. Good luck and everything will work out
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Originally Posted by Country~mouse
I left her in the nursery for the nurses to handle, your there to rest and heal right? I figured i would have her at home by myself for the next 18 years she could handle a few nights in a nursery getting spoiled by the nurses. It was the best 4 days and 3 nights i ever had, i got plenty of sleep! lol
Same here! My 1st dd I kept in the room....you know the first. I think that I stared at her all night and didn't get any sleep because of me! Dh was also there for her. The other 2 I learned my lesson and let the nurses take them! Ahhh a peace of heaven. Then the nightmare started......