Can DC#1 stay overnight at hospital with me?

[Anonymous]

OP, hope you don't mind me making this suggestion. Others have mentioned that you may go home earlier from a birthing center and you mentioned that you didn't think you could do a birthing center b/c of your VBAC hopes (Good luck, I hope you make it happen!!). I just wanted to mention that I went home 12 hours after DS was born. Not everyone wants this, but I wanted to be at home where I could be comfortable and not in some hospital where they were poking me and DS every 3 hours (not to mention the food people, janitors, etc!) This was my first birth. Had I had a child at home, (and had I had more experience with a newborn) I'm not even sure I would have held out for 12 hours! I got the OK from my OB (who was hesitant, but agreed when I said I'd do it against medical advice if i had to) and, more importantly, from my pediatrician. She ok'd that and actually discharged us the morning after my delivery, about 5 hours after DS was born.

That said, with a child at home, you may be more comfortable at the hospital -- many women are. I just think if getting home to your (bigger) whole family unit is important, you have other options than having DC1 stay overnight in the hospital.

Good luck!

PS. We co-sleep too.

[Anonymous]

23:10 here. Forgot to mention, I went home from the hospital. (kind of misses the point without that info!)

[Anonymous]

Mine coslept and she was fine at home w/DH. W/i 2 weeks of the baby coming home she just wanted to sleep in her crib. It was like a gift from god.

[Anonymous]

Policies may have changed due to flu concerns, but someone asked this question when I went on the tour at Shady Grove last spring - the answer was yes, but they discourage it if you have any other options, as it's not a very restful environment for you or your older child. I got the impression that they try to reserve it for special situations when there are no other alternatives but to have the older child stay in mom's room.

[Anonymous]

We are co-sleepers and for our DC2 and 3 my husband slept at home at night. I can't tell you how great it was to have some alone time with my newborns in the hospital. We just snuggled for the 2 days.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who mentioned her co-sleeping DD. I weaned during pregnancy and then we got her sleeping on her own bed by the time #2 rolled around. My parents came in town the few days before I was due and that excited helped alot. DH also went home each night and put her to bed - I stayed at the hospital with #2 by myself. It went just fine.

[Anonymous]

I think the hospital stay would be very tough on your older child. It is not like the place is baby proof and there are tons of toys everywhere. In addition there are people coming and going at all hours. Add to this mix a new interloper and I sense some major meltdowns due to lack of sleep and frustration. I think your older child would be much happier hanging out at home and sleeping in her own crib on in bed with your DH.