Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

I want to try and keep Jack's schedule as much as possible (including his naps) but I'm just trying out figure out how to do this all. We would have help from my parents, but I would really like DH up at the hospital as much as possible since I am having a c-section and I remember not being able to do everything I wanted to without help.

My plan was this - have DH bring Jack up to the hospital with him first thing in the morning when he comes.

Have my mom/dad take Jack home around 12 for lunch and then nap at 1.

Once he wakes up around 3:30 bring him back to the hospital around 6 - then bring him home for bed. DH or my parents can rotate bringing him home for bed as long as one of my someone is at the hospital with me. My cousins can even come and stay with him once he's sleeping if my DH or parents want to come back to the hospital (or my parents need a break lol)

Does that sound like it would work? I wouldn't worry so much if it was a vaginal since you are in/out -- but with a c-section I'm going to be gone for at least three nights.

Message edited 4/4/2009 9:03:13 AM.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

I, too, am having another c section.
Im hoping on leaving DS with my inlaws and/or my sister.
Any of them can bring DS up to the hospital.
I want DH to work while I am in the hospital (may sound a bit crazy, but, theres nothing for him to do there and the nurses are a tremendous help)..I want DH to take his 2 weeks when I'm home because thats when I'll need his help the most as I recover.
Thats our plan as of now.
He'll come visit me at night. Maybe even work 1/2 days that week.
I agree with keeping DS on a schedule and if my inlaws and sister can do that, great, if not, thats OK too (it may be hard on my sister since she has a DS of her own)..
Like I said, this is our plan as of now. Hopefully, it will work.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

My parents took Jared while I was in the hospital. My dh worked. I told him that I didn't need him there every day just the day Nikolas was born. No need to lose money at work when I really needed him at home.
My parents brought Jared to the hospital the second day...after lunch and a good nap. He also came the 3rd day after his nap and lunch.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

If you guys didn't have your DH's there how did you do things the first day - I remember not being able to get out of bed to pick up the baby??

DH is a teacher so he gets paid either way so that's not a concern thank goodness!

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

The day I went into labor (thursday) my father watched my dd. Then next morning (friday) DH brought DD up to see me and her new little sis. My sil took her to her house to sleep over that night, and then the next morning (saturday) brought her back up to hospital were my sis took her for the day. That night she brought her back to my place and washed her up and put her to bed. Then my dh went home and took over. Then he brought her sunday to hospital and we all went home together.

We lost all schedule .. it was impossible to keep her on, especially when others were taking care of her. She was thrown off, b/c she was super excitted to see new people and wanted to play. She also started to HATE baths.. she would throw a fit!! It took me about 2 weeks after to get her to LOVE them again... (bubble baths was the key)

I wouldnt worry too much about the schedule.. b/c once baby #2 comes home the schedule changes... Now 6 weeks later were still working a schedule.. not worried too much about it. Summers here so Im sure it would have changed anyway.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Message edited 4/4/2009 9:31:01 AM.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Honestly Diana- having DD in the hospital with me for that amount of time would have been too stressful. I missed her like hell while I was in labor, but once Eliza was born, I went into autopilot mommy mode concentrating on my new baby.

I went into the hospital at 6am and Eliza was born in the afternoon (about 3pm). Tony brought Mads to see me in the afternoon the next day. She stayed for about 2 hours and believe me, as amazing as it was seeing for the first time in almost 2 days, I was ready for her to go home. The hospital room is cramped, there was too much for her to get into, and she was upset anytime I held Eliza- which stressed the hell out of me. Now granted, I had a vaginal birth, so I was in the hospital for a shorter time- but that 2 hours in the afternoon was enough for me. I was surprised by this because I assumed I would have wanted Mads there the whole time.

I also felt that I had the rest of our lives to deal with dividing my time between the two. As much as I missed Madelyn, I really wanted that time to bond with Eliza. I was a total recluse and didn't want anyone botheing us though- which is something that surprised me. With Madelyn, I craved visitors. With Eliza, I wanted everyone to leave me (and my new baby) alone so we could bond. Again, I was trying to establish BFing so maybe that was a reason.

Wanted to add: my parents were taking care of Madelyn while I was in the hospital. She doesn't get to see them much (they live OOS) so I wanted her to have that undivided attention from SOMEONE before her world was rocked by Eliza's homecoming.

Now- of course this was MY experience. I should also add, I lived almost an hour from the hospital, so that was another reason.

Message edited 4/4/2009 9:32:54 AM.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

I really wasn't in too much pain when I came home after the c-section. I was driving the 2nd day home, holding DS and taking care of DD. I just didn't think about it and when I felt tired or in pain, I took it easy. As far as being in the hospital, Ant came up with DH and would either leave with inlaws,my parents or DH. I didn't stress over his schedule,,,he just went with the flow and did fine. He was in the hsopital probably 2 hours at a time. When I got home, we went back to our normal schedule and I put Mattea on it as well. I want to say by week 2, both kids were on the same nap schedule. I got lucky!

Message edited 4/4/2009 9:38:20 AM.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Since my induction was planned we took Roman and Clover to my MIL the night before. They stayed there the whole time until I got home with the baby. Their schedules were off a bit but they were okay with it. When they came home Paxton was hanging out on the boppy and it was like no big deal. They were so excited to talk about what they did on vaction at Grandma's.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

My parents took Andrew. My Mom made sure that he had a nap everyday and then she would bring him up to see me. DH would stay with me until 10pm so having Andrew with my parents was best. Otherwise he couldn't have stayed there late.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

My inlaws watched him. They came here at 3:00 am in the morning on Friday (relieved my neighbor) and he didnt come home until Sunday afternoon

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

My IL's came over the morning of my C to watch Julia, then they came up to the hospital with her right before I had the baby, then they took her home with them and went to lunch , came back up for visiting hours later in the day. Todd took Julia home with him at night, then dropped her off in the AM to his parents house, and then they took Julia up with them for grandparents visiting hours, worked out well with us!

Todd had the time in the morning to spend with me and the baby, and then Julia had the time to spend with me and the baby in the afternoon.

ETA: WE had things for her to do at the hospital also, coloring books, games, and my family took turns walking around and showing her the babies--lol

Jack will be fine D!

Message edited 4/4/2009 10:48:49 AM.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

I had an unplanned C-section so I actually had my sister and SIL watching my DD that first day. After that I relied on the nurses and my DH would come to the hospital with me after DD went to sleep at night. I thought it was more important for him to be with DD who was already scared Mommy was in the hospital.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

I had DH and my Mom with Damien. DH couldn't be there as much as he was with Damien and I had a c-section too. Truthfully you just suck it up and deal. I have to say I had a much speedier recovery with Jaidy than with Damien. So I think the moving around was helpful. When Damien was up there he was so bored we didn't have him stay too long.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

My DS was only 12 months when I gave birth to my DD it October and I too wanted to keep his schedule the same. My DH and mother came to the hospital with me for the c-section. My in-laws watched my DS at my house. After I gave birth to my DD and I was out of recovery my DH went home and picked up my DS. He visited with me and my DD for a little bit and then my DH took him back home. My mom went back to my house later to sleep over and watch my DS. My in-laws also came back the next day to watch my DS.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

I'm sure this time around DH will be spending more time with DD at home rather than with me at the hospital. I want things to be as normal for her as possible. He'll bring her up either in the morning, or after nap and then take her back home.

I'm confident this time around to be ok with being alone at the hospital with just the nurses and the baby.

I also know she's too rambuncious (sp?) to be kept in the hospital room all day with us. So it's better he stays home with DD.

Plus, I know my parents and MIL will be around to help if DH wants to come up alone.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Since I went into labor on a Monday with #2 and I was at my parents house my mom stayed home with DS and we went to the hospital. DS stayed home with them all day until the evening and that is when my parents brought him up that night. DH's family came that first night too and my SIL took him for the second night. On the day I was being discharged DH went to pick DS up and then come and get me and left the hospital as a family of 4 .

DS was very upset when he saw me holding DD. He wanted nothing to do with who ever was holding DD. I don't know that I would bring Jack around for that amount of time. At 2.5 years old he is gong to be so bored at the hospital that he will just act up. My mom was in the hospital in Feb. for 4 days and we went to go visit her. We were their for I guess 45 minutes and DS was acting out so much that we had to leave. Plus, I think emotionally it will be hard for you see him if he is upset and I think you should take that time and bond with the new baby. That one on one bonding won't be their for the second like it was for the first. HTH

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Thanks so much everyone!

It really sounds like Jack would be up there much longer than he really would. I am figuring about 2 hours in the morning before lunch/nap and then 2 hours in the afternoon after his nap. I am not totally set on him coming up all that time - I just can't imagine being away from him for so long

We do have a crib at my parents house and he could easily sleep there - I just want to make this as easy for him as possible. I'm also not a lunatic about his schedule but just think he'll be much happier for whoever he's with if he gets his nap in for the day.

I will have to ask the nurses for help more this time - I don't think I ever called them unless it was for drugs - I felt like I was bothering them I guess.

But, the thought of being gone for three nights absolutely kills me.

Message edited 4/4/2009 2:36:09 PM.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Posted by Diana1215

Thanks so much everyone!

It really sounds like Jack would be up there much longer than he really would. I am figuring about 2 hours in the morning before lunch/nap and then 2 hours in the afternoon after his nap. I am not totally set on him coming up all that time - I just can't imagine being away from him for so long

We do have a crib at my parents house and he could easily sleep there - I just want to make this as easy for him as possible. I'm also not a lunatic about his schedule but just think he'll be much happier for whoever he's with if he gets his nap in for the day.

I will have to ask the nurses for help more this time - I don't think I ever called them unless it was for drugs - I felt like I was bothering them I guess.

But, the thought of being gone for three nights absolutely kills me.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

I also wanted to add that while I didn't have a C-section I think the recovery is going to be a lot easier for you this time around because your body isn't going to labor. My SIL was up and walking around when she had DD#2 and her first was 28months.
After I had DS every ounce of my body was hurting the next day. I pushed for an hour so I guess that didn't help. I felt so much better and was doing things faster after I had DD. I only pushed for about 10 minutes and I knew what to expect.

I would have a plan B ready and see how you feel the day of and day after you have the baby. Maybe bring him around and see how he does. If he is acting out a lot, it may be a sign it is to much for him. If not then bring him more. Play it by ear.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

Well Rob has very few vacation days so we are really limited in what we can do. The plan is he will be with me on delivery day (scheduled for a wed - but the plan could change if I go early) and then after that he will stay with me at night and then go to work thursday and friday. My parents will be watching Kaitlyn - they haven't determined when or how often they will bring her to the hospital but since they are watching her I will leave that up to them. She will also be sleeping at their home the nights I'm in the hospital.

Re: Moms of 2+ - what did you do with DC #1 when you were in the hospital?

I think you have it pretty much figured out! It will all work out Danny and I are here to help out also!!