Alone in the hospital

When my son was born my husband was able to stay at the hospital with me the entire time. Following an unplanned c-section they would 't let me up for over 24hrs. It wasn't so bad because my husband could get our son when I needed and lay him back down for me (or whatever else I needed). I am scheduled for a repeat c-section in 2 weeks. Though I am hoping, because of less trauma from having it planned, I may be allowed up after 12ish hours, I will still have to go it alone while my husband cares for our 15 month old at home (visiting hours are only noon-8 even for siblings). Everyone works so we aren't able to get anyone to watch him, especially in the evening and overnight when I'd be alone. The nurses are there to help me...I know, I know. But I don't want them to just take him. I'm not one of those "momma hogs" that doesn't want anyone to hold their babies...but I just want to be the one to care for him.

Anyone else experience this? Some reassurance would be really nice!

I just went thru this on the second. The first night was rough, but the nurses would hand me the baby and everything, even changed his diaper. The second night i did it myself. I found that if i made the bed as upright as possible and used the handles to scootch to the edge of the bed it was much easier to get up and down. Make sure a nurse is there the first few time you get up. And they wont let you get up until you get the catheter out anyway

Before your scheduled csection I would type up a birth & after birth plan to give to the nurses as they come on shift. Let them know that you want to be the one to take care of him. A lot of the times they are perfectly fine with this and you just push the call button, they will hand him to you and come get him when you are done so you can stay down but still do what you can from bed. That's what I had to do after mine, they had to keep us for a week because of complications and I was a single mom, the nurses were really nice and helpful   Especially when she had an especially gross diaper, I could hand her back to them ;)

How soon were you allowed up? I think some of my 24 hrs the first time was cuz I went through 36+ hrs of labor, 3 epidurals and then finally the spinal. Actually now that I think about it, I'm not sure I was drinking as much as they wanted (to take the IV and catheter out. Not sure though. If I can be up sooner than that I won't be so worried. The other thing is I feel bad ringing them every hr or so (cuz of nursing).

<blockquote><b>Quoting Taphath Foose:</b>" How soon were you allowed up? I think some of my 24 hrs the first time was cuz I went through 36+ hrs ... [snip!] ... I can be up sooner than that I won't be so worried. The other thing is I feel bad ringing them every hr or so (cuz of nursing)."</blockquote>


I had him at 750 friday night. They took out the catheter sat morning at 10, and i could get up at that point. My first was also an emergency, and i was also not allowed up for 24 hours. It is so much different when youre not going thru hiurs of labor. I only went thru 12ish hours of hard contractions this time.

Quoting Unique Mama:" Before your scheduled csection I would type up a birth & after birth plan to give to the nurses as ... [snip!] ... the nurses were really nice and helpful   Especially when she had an especially gross diaper, I could hand her back to them ;)"

Good point on the birth plan thing. How hard would it be to change him from the bed..between my legs? Maybe I wouldn't be able to lean front like I needed...

<blockquote><b>Quoting Taphath Foose:</b>" Good point on the birth plan thing. How hard would it be to change him from the bed..between my legs? Maybe I wouldn't be able to lean front like I needed..."</blockquote>



You are not going to want to do that. Leaning forward was the biggest bitch.

Quoting Amberchik78:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Taphath Foose:</b>" How soon were you allowed up? I think some ... [snip!] ... It is so much different when youre not going thru hiurs of labor. I only went thru 12ish hours of hard contractions this time."

Ok. I wondered if that's some of why I wasn't allowed up for 24hrs. Maybe with a more relaxed atmosphere I'll feel better quicker this time around. Not getting my hopes up though!  

Quoting Amberchik78:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Taphath Foose:</b>" Good point on the birth plan thing. How ... [snip!] ... lean front like I needed..."</blockquote> You are not going to want to do that. Leaning forward was the biggest bitch."

Yeah, probably not. I just remember not being able to lay in any position but my back for the first 24 hrs (until I was allowed up). I'm assuming like you said earlier, the first night might be pretty rough.

My other concern is that my sister will be here for only a week afterward and then it's just me through the day. My husband will only be here for the evenings and nights. My first time around I was only lugging an 8lb-er...this time it will also be a 15 month old...

I had a csection with my daughter and I was able to change her between my legs without a problem. However coughing, laughing, crying, sneezing and standing SUCKED lol

Quoting Unique Mama:" I had a csection with my daughter and I was able to change her between my legs without a problem. However coughing, laughing, crying, sneezing and standing SUCKED lol"

I definitely remember the coughing, laughing, crying, sneezing part....!!!!! lol