Maternity wards without nurseries

[DisneyDreamer8]

The hospital I had my DS in will let a new mom choose when and if you want the baby to go to the nursery.

They had just opened the new maternity ward but were still using the old one. I was moved from the old to the new to recover and there was only one other new baby there so the nurses were always asking if they could take DS for awhile as they were missing taking care of the babies.

I had DS in the room with me 24/7. We stayed for two nights becuase of the time I delivered. I had a long labor but was so amped up I could not sleep (plus the bed was very uncomfortable) and DS had to be on an incline due to a reflux issue so I was watching over him like a hawk.

The only bad thing about the hospital I was at is they are "nursing nazis" my little guy would latch on but was not getting anything. He was getting really jaundice and I asked if I could give him a bottle so he could get some liquid but the nurse said she would rather I didn't if I intended to BF. At that point I didn't really care if I BF I just wanted my little boy to get some liquid .

 

[mjkacmom]

The only bad thing about the hospital I was at is they are "nursing nazis" my little guy would latch on but was not getting anything. He was getting really jaundice and I asked if I could give him a bottle so he could get some liquid but the nurse said she would rather I didn't if I intended to BF. At that point I didn't really care if I BF I just wanted my little boy to get some liquid .

I had the nursing nazi's with #2. I bf #1, but had to supplement, due to a previous breast surgery. I wanted to try again with #2, but he cried all night long, both nights, in the hospital. They brought him to me from the nursery every single hour, because he wouldn't settle. I begged for formula, but they just guilted me into bfing. Right before I was discharged, I marched into the nursery, grabbed a bottle, and fed him. He sucked that bottle right down, and finally calmed.

 

[ols386]

My granddaughter is just home from the hospital (4 days old today ).

She was born in the same hospital all 3 of my kids were born in but I did notice some major changes. The nurseries are still there but do not seem to be used much at all. The preemie nursery is beside labor/delivery and the regular nursery is on the same hall as the mom's rooms.

There were no babies in the regular nursery and although I assume it would be an option, they didn't really offer to put the baby in the nursery . My DGD stayed in the room with mom and dad the whole time except for a few minutes when they thought she was too cold and they took her to the nursery to wrap in some heated blankets. While mom slept after delivery, dad took care of her and then they switched for awhile, until both rested up. One of the grandmas was usually in the room too.


ETA: Almost 11 years ago when dd was born, they asked you which you wanted to do. DH couldn't stay all night because the boys had to go to school the next day so she stayed in the room until he left. I went to sleep and as soon as I woke up the next morning (like before daylight sometime) I was able to call and they brought her back. They said then that mom's called all during the night to get their babies, just whenever they woke up. (they only brought the babies to be fed back then if the mother requested it)

And having experienced it so many different ways (my sons were kept strictly in the nursery except being brought to visit), I would have to say that I think rooming in is much better for the baby and the parents. For a brand new mom and dad (like my son and his gf) it gives them that time to get experience with the baby, to feel more confident but know that help is only a buzz away. And it gives parents and baby a time to bond.

Congratulations!

 

[ols386]

When my kids were born, the hospital where I was, gave the mother a choice of the baby being in the nursery or in the room 24-7. If they stayed in the nursery, then the nurse brought them to the room for feeding, and afterwards they were returned to the nursery.

I had a c-section both times, so I was a bit slower in recovering, but even if I had a normal delivery, I think I would still have chosen for them to be in the nursery. After 34 hours of labor and then a c-section, I realllllly need some rest.

 

[SydSim]

I had the nursing nazi's with #2. I bf #1, but had to supplement, due to a previous breast surgery. I wanted to try again with #2, but he cried all night long, both nights, in the hospital. They brought him to me from the nursery every single hour, because he wouldn't settle. I begged for formula, but they just guilted me into bfing. Right before I was discharged, I marched into the nursery, grabbed a bottle, and fed him. He sucked that bottle right down, and finally calmed.

Those breastfeeders can be a handful in the beginning Some of my patients will give the baby a bottle and the baby calms down, others have roomed-in and nursed all night long (sometimes non-stop) and the baby calms down.

 

[Beca]

WTH kind of hospital were you at were you couldn't have the baby with you at night? I would have flipped out! With my first son I took him to the nursery but changed my mind. I walked down to get him he stayed with me the rest of the night.. sleeping in bed with me of course. I dont remember what I did with my 2nd daughter it was almost 7 years ago

It was just a regular regional hospital in AZ. They said my dd couldn't stay with me the first night because she was a c-section baby and they tend to be "wet" in the lungs and can have respiratory problems. The second night, they told me she could stay in the room with me, but could not stay in bed with me because they were afraid I would go to sleep and she would fall out of the bed. They kept walking in on me to make sure she was not in my bed. Of course, she was screaming her head off, and only holding her would quiet her down...it was very frustrating. It was early the next morning that they came and told me she was too jaundiced and would have to stay in the nursery for the next 3 days. I was so upset!!!! I am SURE they were doing what was best for her, but I was hormonal, and wanted my baby!!!! She and I were both much calmer when we were together!!

I just don't think moms and babies are meant to be separated...I think it must be scary for the baby.

 

[Beca]

The only bad thing about the hospital I was at is they are "nursing nazis" my little guy would latch on but was not getting anything. He was getting really jaundice and I asked if I could give him a bottle so he could get some liquid but the nurse said she would rather I didn't if I intended to BF. At that point I didn't really care if I BF I just wanted my little boy to get some liquid .

Your baby is beautiful, btw!!!! I am the other way around....I REALLY wanted my dd to bfeed, but we had a HORRIBLE time getting her to do so, and then the nurses would bottle feed her w/o my permission when she was in the nursery. It made me so mad!! However, I did expect to have use of the hospital's lactation consultant, but my dd was born on Dec. 29th...a Friday, at 5:30 pm. The lactation consultant didn't work on weekends, and the following Monday was New Year's Day, so she was not working then, either. I was released Mon. evening, so I never got to talk to anyone about bfeeding. I went home and found a lactation consultant in the yellow pages and went to her business to see if she could help us. I ended up seeing her a few times over the next six-weeks to help us and make sure my dd was getting enough nourishment (so that I could sleep a little without worrying all day and night). I couldn't believe I was in the hospital 5 days and couldn't see the on-staff lactation consultant!! Just another lesson learned!!

 

[HelenePA]

It was just a regular regional hospital in AZ. They said my dd couldn't stay with me the first night because she was a c-section baby and they tend to be "wet" in the lungs and can have respiratory problems. The second night, they told me she could stay in the room with me, but could not stay in bed with me because they were afraid I would go to sleep and she would fall out of the bed. They kept walking in on me to make sure she was not in my bed. Of course, she was screaming her head off, and only holding her would quiet her down...it was very frustrating. It was early the next morning that they came and told me she was too jaundiced and would have to stay in the nursery for the next 3 days. I was so upset!!!! I am SURE they were doing what was best for her, but I was hormonal, and wanted my baby!!!! She and I were both much calmer when we were together!!

I just don't think moms and babies are meant to be separated...I think it must be scary for the baby.

My nurses never said anything to me about the baby not sleeping with me in bed for any of them. Not that I probably would have listened anyway. What could they have really done to me?

 

[Beca]

My nurses never said anything to me about the baby not sleeping with me in bed for any of them. Not that I probably would have listened anyway. What could they have really done to me?

Interesting....they said it was per the insurance policy of the hospital due to the risk of the baby falling out of the bed. They pulled her little crib up to the bed and I could hold her hand, but she just screamed and screamed until I picked her up. We now live in another state...I am HOPING no one says anything to me about this next baby sleeping with me. I cannot imagine I will feel any differently!!

 

[vetrik]

The hospital where I'll be having my baby (hopefully soon!) has a rooming-in policy. They do still have a nursery, and you can send the baby there if you want to, but they try to get the baby back with you as soon as possible. However, if you are alone with the baby and need to sleep, they would prefer that you send the baby to the nursery during that time.

We went on our tour recently, and there were almost no babies in the nursery! It sounds like most moms do keep the baby with them the whole time.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

You were not allowed to sleep with the baby in your bed at my hospital.
There was a nursery. They gave you a choice whether or not to take the baby there. Being that I had lots of stitches and hemorragged with both kids (enough to have a transfusion), we let them keep the babies bothtimes for a short while until they needed to eat again. I breastfed both of them. It was not a problem with them in the nursery, they just brought them to you.

 

[boltfans]

There is no way I would be able to sleep in the same room with my baby without a lock on the door. Around here, hospitals don't even require visitor passes like they used to. ANYONE can just walk right into your room. It's very rare, but babies do get "taken," and that's the last thing a new mom needs to worry about.

This is precisely the reason our hospital recommends that anytime the mom needs to sleep, shower, use the bathroom etc. that you bring the baby to the nursery. Rooming in is allowed, but they make using the nursery extremely easy. Both of my kids were in the nursery at night and their nurses walked them to my room everytime they needed to nurse, then I could call them and they'd pick up the baby or I could walk the baby back to the nursery. They ask you to wheel the baby into the bathroom with you if you need the toilet, but if you are showering they would prefer it in the nursery.

They check IDs and make you sign in to get into the hospital, but really, like that can't stop someone from stealing a newborn.

And FWIW, I breastfed both of my kids, 1st one till 21 months and 2nd one for 23 months, and neither were affected by being in the nursery overnight, getting pacifiers, formula bottles (out of necessity with the 1st who lost way too much weight, by choice with #2 as he was so jaundice and I just wanted to be able to bring him home, so the more he ate, the more he pooped it out). And my son was preterm and had really bad jaundice, so he was under the lights in the nursery all the time, he didn't even get to stay in my room during the day like my 1st did. The only time he was allowed out was to be fed and changed and then had to go right back under the lights.

So anyway, I would be highly upset to learn that I had to deliver in a hospital without a nursery, or one that made using the nursery annoying or difficult. I loved knowing my baby was safe, in a locked nursery with constant supervision while I was sleeping. No way could I have rested well otherwise. Especially with the 1st. I don't think I slept for 2 weeks after bringing her home cause I kept thinking she was going to stop breathing in her sleep so I'd lay awake and stare at her all night.