Why don’t U.S. hospitals let women sleep quietly for the night in the hospital after giving birth?

[Anonymous]

Being able to give birth and recover in a non hospital setting doesn’t work for everyone. Should I suffer because I have had high risk pregnancies and needed C sections?

[Anonymous]

I was fine with rooming in, had done it successfully at another (non DC area) hospital, but OMG after my C section I needed rest and at Georgetown there was a constant parade of nurses, techs, med students and the occasional doctor. I left as early as I could. They could have coordinated even a little bit to cut down on the number of nighttime interruptions. It was crazy to me that being at home with a newborn and toddler was more restful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being able to give birth and recover in a non hospital setting doesn’t work for everyone. Should I suffer because I have had high risk pregnancies and needed C sections?

Yeah +1 I could have died or killed my baby if I'd done a home birth. Many things about hospital births suck but not worth that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one sleeps in the hospital. Everyone gets checks. Use the bassinet. Have someone stay with you.

No. The baby is a patient and should be cared for by hospital staff. Not by another patient that just had an intensive medical procedure.

This is such a strange perspective to me. I had two c-sections, and my husband spent the night in the room with me and lifted our baby, changed her diaper, brought her to me. The nurses did bring her to the nursery for a little while, but I much preferred my baby with me. As for sleep, ha, I had insomnia most of my pregnancy and I was used to go without. I slept when she slept and it all worked out!

It’s strange you should be able to recover and rest after a major surgery and while you’re on pain meds you can’t take and drive a car? It’s strange to you that some people don’t think your spouse should have to fill in for hospital staff?

Have higher expectations. Men would never put up with this BS. I figure women like you go along with it which is why baby friendly is even a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one sleeps in the hospital. Everyone gets checks. Use the bassinet. Have someone stay with you.

No one sleeps well in a hospital. True. Everyone gets checks. True. But no other hospital patients besides new mothers are expected to take care of another hospital patient.” (The baby)

Welcome to parenthood?

Exactly.

It’s a rough rocky start. Most babies do sleep remarkably well that first night. Pack earplugs and an eye mask. It will help with the room dynamics. We got two hour chunks of sleep, which was about the same as at home the first week.

I understand the frustration. It’s the most tired I’ve ever been (multiple day labor), you live through it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse. We wake people up multiple times in the night to check their vital signs, give meds, and draw blood. Those post-surgery patients are not getting a restful night of sleep.

those patients should have their sleep protected too. not to mention that a woman with an uncomplicated vaginal birth does not need vitals checked.

disrupted sleep in the hospital was absolutely nightmarish for me post-partum. like, I actually almost felt delusional the second night.

You can sleep or we can make sure that you aren't bleeding out, showing signs of an infection, or having dangerous changes to your blood pressure. If you think you don't need that, then you should just go home. Making sure patients stay alive is more important than making sure patients have uninterrupted sleep.

[Anonymous]

At Holy Cross in April 2020, hours after giving birth, I was permitted to send her to the nursery for a 3 hour stretch. That’s it.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like those complaining should do home births. No interruptions for pesky hospital things there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I feel so badly for women who need to subject themselves to hospital regulations while giving birth to their babies.

They don't need to. There are options.

Exactly. Don’t like the rules, don’t give birth in a hospital

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like those complaining should do home births. No interruptions for pesky hospital things there!

Really? Higher staffing and more sensitive care wouldn't provide better maternal care? It's your way or bust?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one sleeps in the hospital. Everyone gets checks. Use the bassinet. Have someone stay with you.

No. The baby is a patient and should be cared for by hospital staff. Not by another patient that just had an intensive medical procedure.

This is such a strange perspective to me. I had two c-sections, and my husband spent the night in the room with me and lifted our baby, changed her diaper, brought her to me. The nurses did bring her to the nursery for a little while, but I much preferred my baby with me. As for sleep, ha, I had insomnia most of my pregnancy and I was used to go without. I slept when she slept and it all worked out!

What’s strange is you can’t understand that other women have different needs and may not have a partner to care for the patient (baby).

[Anonymous]

A nurse dedicated to just a few patients would be able to provide medical care with as much deference to the patients' need for sleep and recovery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because there is a hungry baby and mom is the best one to feed it? (If she wants to try nursing)

This isn’t a corporate trick. It’s biology.

Yeah, I don’t understand the question either. Most new moms don’t want their baby in a far away nursery all night.

I did. It was the only time there would be qualified medical professionals to care for my baby while I could sleep. As soon as I went home I was on my own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work as a nurse. We wake people up multiple times in the night to check their vital signs, give meds, and draw blood. Those post-surgery patients are not getting a restful night of sleep.

those patients should have their sleep protected too. not to mention that a woman with an uncomplicated vaginal birth does not need vitals checked.

disrupted sleep in the hospital was absolutely nightmarish for me post-partum. like, I actually almost felt delusional the second night.

You can sleep or we can make sure that you aren't bleeding out, showing signs of an infection, or having dangerous changes to your blood pressure. If you think you don't need that, then you should just go home. Making sure patients stay alive is more important than making sure patients have uninterrupted sleep.

Or, you can keep me alive and still treat like a human being. I had my first baby in 1999, before the hospital MBAs had this brilliant baby friendly idea. My baby spent most of the time in the nursery, I got some rest after a difficult labor, and we happily went home in 48 hours. By the time I had baby #3, the lactation consultants, rooming in, etc. were in a full blown attack mode.

Unfortunately, the only thing that will change it now will be if a baby does get harmed somewhere and the hospital will have to pay a gazillion bucks. Then the liability insurers will put a lid on it pronto.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t want them taking my babies away but I wanted them staying out of my room when we were sleeping. It’s completely insane that they were walking a sleeping mom and her baby constantly, refusing to let them get rest, ostensibly to check that they’re healthy. I can see why so many women risk home births in this country.