DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

Of course, we'll have to play it by ear to some extent, but what did you do (or what are you planning to do)?

Esp if you had a c-section?

How much assistance do the nurses / LCs give you?

How does it change things if babies are in NICU?
I.e. would you still be doing night time feedings or are there restrictions preventing that ...?

Also, I have zero experience w/newborn care.
Is there a video for that? Is it included in Laugh & Learn?

ETA: we'll be at LIJ & I'm planning to breast feed.

And we'll need to arrange care for our doggie while DH is w/us.
Thanks!

Message edited 9/8/2012 7:29:33 PM.

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

I was at North Shore but I'm pretty sure it's similar to LIJ.

Yes, DH stayed every night with me. They had a little couch in my room that turned into a bed. The nurse asked each night if he was staying and brough him a pillow, sheets , and a blanket. The bed was small but it worked

The nurses/LCs are wonderful. Don't worry. They'll show you everything you need. We didn't know what we were doing. We must have asked them a hundred times to show us the swaddle again.

I breastfed and formula fed. I was in so much pain after the c-section I couldn't think straight. They told me there was no rush to feed. The babies were just detached from the placenta so they have nourishment for awhile. I had one son in NICU for one night. I couldn't breastfeed him (cause he was hooked up to wires, etc.) but they encouraged me to pump.

My other son latched like a champ but dropped weight. If they drop more than 10% they have to give them formula. So we did both, I tried to pump. I didn't get anything from pumping for a couple days which makes me wonder how much if anything my son was getting from me.

My NICU son was out the next night but had a lot of trouble for quite awhile latching. He was much smaller than his brother at birth (now he is the bigger one ).

I was having them bring me the babies every 3 hours (when they weren't with me like at night) to feed. That lasted one feeding and I told them to give them formula (which they had been getting anyway) so I could get some sleep. DH and I were exhausted.

Hope that helps!

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

I had my girls at NorthShore and I also believe it is now similar to LIJ. My DW was able to stay with me the entire time. My babies were in the nicu and too young to nurse, but I think I would have been able to. The parents can go down to the nicu at any time day or night.

Message edited 9/23/2012 6:10:27 AM.

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

My situation was a little different and also a different hospital but

My DH was not allowed to stay over and honestly it was probably a good thing. He was exhausted too and a good nights sleep was more important. I wasn't able to see my babies the first 3 days(I had fevers) so he was running back and forth to the NICU all day long and literally dropped by the end of the day!

The second day I wasn't allowed out of bed until the evening bc I had magnesium and you can get out of bed for 24 hours. The first time I got up the nurse helped me and helped me change my clothes and get cleaned up. By the next morning I was fine on my own getting in out of bed, showering, walking my pumped milk to the NICU

The NICU at good sam was all for me breastfeeding and I had alot of support. They would even call me if I got my times mixed up and it was feeding time.

DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

I was at Winthrop & I sent babies back to NICO most of the time. I wanted my husband to get REST & take care of dog. I was able to get out of bed by day 2 by myself. The nurses make you anyway. The nurses helped tremendously because they help change the pads you are wearing etc from the the bleeding. There is not really anything husband can do except help during daytime

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

I was at Good Sam. I'm very blessed my twins didn't need any NICU time. My husband wasn't allowed to stay, but stayed as late as possible with us. I didn't breast feed, but I kept the babies in my room overnight after the first night, so I would wake up for all their feedings. I was sent home on Day 3. The nurses really helped during the day with everything from showering to helping you change and feed the babies. They were amazing,

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

I delivered at Mt Sinai in the city. DH was not allowed to stay with me after the babies were born, but prior to that I was on bed rest for 26 days and was in a private room so he stayed with me almost every single night. It was annoying that now after giving birth he couldn't stay, but I was in a shared room in postpartum. I was there 6 days. Should have been 4 but got readmitted for an infection like 2 hours after discharge and had to stay and extra 2 days. My twins were born at 27wks so they were too young/sick to nurse, but during our NICU stay I did see mother's of other babies coming down to nurse their babies so you shouldn't have a problem. You will definitely want to get some rest though and try to recover, especially if it is a c-section. It might not be a bad idea to let them do some of the overnight feedings for you. They will use your breast milk if you start pumping and bringing it to them.

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

I delivered at 34w4d in an unplanned c-section. My original c-section date was 3/12, but then I started to have (even more) complications and was given a c-section date of 2/16. My crazy little monkeys decided to surprise me on Valentine's day instead!

We also have a toddler at home and delivered in San Diego (just for background).

*DH (or my mom) stayed with me every single night.

How much assistance do the nurses / LCs give you?
*TONS! We had a lot of help. I had an LC come visit at LEAST every day while I was in the hospital and every day while my babies were in the NICU.

How does it change things if babies are in NICU?
I.e. would you still be doing night time feedings or are there restrictions preventing that ...?
*Mine were in the NICU. I still BF and pumped. Since mine were having difficulty feeding early on, I pumped every 2 hours around the clock and they were fed BM only by the nurses through various methods (depending on when).

Also, I have zero experience w/newborn care.
Is there a video for that? Is it included in Laugh & Learn?
*I never watched any videos or anything. The nurses will teach you a lot! Ask questions and ask for help if you need it!

Message edited 9/11/2012 1:24:22 PM.

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

Had my babies at Winthrop via c-section. The girls were full term (37w2d) and born without needing any time in the NICU, so I can't really shed any light in that area.

But what I can say is we had a 2.5 year old at home so DH staying with me wasn't an option. And between the 30 minute drive from our house to the hospital and DS, DH wasn't really able to spend a whole lot of time with me or the babies. My hormones were wacky and I felt so bad for him. But that's another story

So due to circumstance no one stayed with me in the hospital overnight.

I did BF. And requested an LC come to visit me the very first day. She was great. I also had 1 amazing nurse who actually got them to tandem nurse while we were in the hospital. She did all the work, I just laid there

Only downfall was at change of shift (for the nurses) I'd hear them talking outside of my door saying "she has twins and is BFing. But she has a little boy at home and really seems comfortable with everything so she won't bother you". Which I was actually really annoyed with. Because I feel like there were times when I didn't have any visitors and could have used the nurses help with a baby. But, I survived and was SOOOOOO happy when it was time for discharge. I just couldn't wait to have my family home under 1 roof.

Re: DH staying overnight in hospital w/you? & how many nights?

I delivered at 31w6d at NS Manhasset in the middle of Hurricane Irene via emergency c-section.

My boys went directly to the NICU after birth.

I stayed in the hospital for 4 days. DH stayed with me the first 2 nights and then went home for the last night to get some good sleep.

They do have couches that pull out to beds but he found it very uncomfortable and hard to sleep on.