Did your maternity ward utilize a nursery?

[bcla]

Ours didn't. They had an NICU, but of course that was for high risk cases. All other babies were in the same room with mom in a bassinet.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

To be clear, "rooming in" is the standard in most US hospitals, meaning the baby stays in the mom's hospital room. Many hospitals still maintain a small nursery where the baby can be watched by nursing staff for a period of time. "Baby Friendly" hospitals do not have a nursery at all. They typically only have a "procedure" room where baby might go for a hearing test or circumcision.

 

[mtemm]

Both hospitals I had my babies in had nurseries. With my eldest we never used it at all, never wanted to. With the twins I would have preferred they stay with us all the time but dh wanted to use it and when my son needed to be under lights all the time for jaundice we really didn't have a choice. I did have them bring them to me for all night feedings so can't say I got a lot of sleep

 

[hereyago]

But for the non nursery hospitals: what happens if the mom has complications and cant take care of the baby?



Or if the bio mom is putting baby up for adoption?
Where are they putting the baby?

 

[MillauFr]

I never remember seeing one in the hospital my kids were born in. They are 15 and 18 now so it was a few years ago.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

But for the non nursery hospitals: what happens if the mom has complications and cant take care of the baby?



Or if the bio mom is putting baby up for adoption?
Where are they putting the baby?

In our hospital, while there is no "general" nursery, there is a special care nursery for babies who are premature or have health problems. While my grandson was there (born prematurely), we saw one baby brought in for a few hours because his mother had complications after a C-section.

 

[ndelaware]

Huh? That has to be a typo, right? I had huge babies but they were only 10 lbs each.

LOL, yes it was, 17 pounds was the what I meant to type.

 

[superme80]

Both hospitals had nurserys, but you were discouraged from using it. When I was exhausted after DS #1 and requested he go to the nursery. Oh the guilt they heaped on me. They only let him stay for an hour. The last hospital didn't want to give me a pacifier for DS #3. I tried explaining he hadn't slept all night,b ut they were more worried about nipple confusion than me actually resting. I was so glad to be home and sleep.

 

[princesspumpkin]

To be clear, "rooming in" is the standard in most US hospitals, meaning the baby stays in the mom's hospital room. Many hospitals still maintain a small nursery where the baby can be watched by nursing staff for a period of time. "Baby Friendly" hospitals do not have a nursery at all. They typically only have a "procedure" room where baby might go for a hearing test or circumcision.

Not sure about the statistics on rooming in as being the standard for most hospitals (to me, rooming in means keeping the baby in mom's room 24/7, not just during the daytime), but my hospital is a designated "Baby Friendly" hospital and we do have a regular newborn nursery. We practice non-separation, but the nursery is still there for those moms who want a break/nap. We are supposed to stress the benefits of rooming in before we take the baby to the nursery though.

For the most part, there are only about one or two babies in there at night.

 

[jahber]

The hospital I delivered at 11 and 9 years ago encouraged rooming in, but they would take the baby if necessary. It's intended to facilitate breastfeeding (as newborns feed as often as every hour, although some new moms don't realize that), but it sounds like some nurses are making those first few hours so hard on moms! I had my husband and family to give me breaks, but if you don't I can see how it would be so exhausting. Fwiw, I slept with my babies in my hospital bed because they cried at night and wanted to be with me. I made it work safely, but I know that isn't for everyone. And further, I had my third at a birth center (and will have #4 at home, hopefully) so no nursery option at all. It forces me to have a good support plan in place so I don't lose my mind. And I know how fortunate I am to have that system, which makes me even more upset for you moms who couldn't even get a few hours' break after giving birth! It's called labor for a reason.

 

[powellrj]

There was a nursery available with all 3 of my kids and I used it. I knew I was going to be taking care of them with no help once I got home so I wanted all the rest I could get. Dh and my mom both had to work when I came home and I had a c-section with all 3.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

It was 20 years ago, but the hospital had a nursery. I don't know if they encouraged rooming in or not. My son ended up in the NICU.

 

[kuhltiffany]

My hospital had a nursery but it could only be used by invitation, moms could not request that their babies go. I was "allowed" to use it after my c-section, that was one of the "acceptable" reasons...

 

[sasywtch]

I feel so old! Back in the olden days : ) My kids were born in the late 70's- 1990. The first two it was mostly nursery and they brought them to you for feedings and you got to go learn how to give them a bath. The last two, they still have the nursery but it was assumed you were keeping the baby in the room. I still believe there is something to be said of having one good days rest before heading home. I got yelled at by a nurse because I was holding my baby and walking and it wasn't in the steel basinet thing. I realize I guess it's for safety but it's my kid and he's going home with me tomorrow with no steel thingie for him to lay in.

 

[Planogirl]

Wow, I hate reading some of this. DS was fine when he was born but I was in pretty rough shape for a few days. Without a nursery I don't know how I would have gotten through it.

 

[DawnM]

The one I gave birth in (same hospital for both kids) had one but they strongly discouraged using it and mine didn't use it, even though I wish I had. I was so tired. My oldest just turned 18, so it wasn't recent!

 

[indimom]

I had my kids 18 and 16 years ago. The hospitals encouraged rooming in even then. DD18 did have some cardiac concerns and spent about 24 hours in the nursery on monitors. We are very rural, so there was no NICU, just a standard nursery where procedures could take place, etc., and that's where she stayed until she was cleared.

 

[mom2rtk]

I had my first 2 during that lovely window of time where insurance companies were trying a move to the 24 hour discharge (delivery to departure). There wasn't time to rest anyway. I breastfed each of ours for a full year, but dang I needed a break that first night.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Both hospitals where I had mine had nurseries and, at both, they encouraged me to send the baby down to them anytime I needed a break or wanted to get some sleep.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have given birth at a hospital the "strongly discouraged" using the nursery.