preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

i am not sure what to do on this one. i originally wanted her with me at all times so i could BF. but then i heard from BTDT moms that it is helpful to let them go to the nursery at night so that you can sleep, and i assume this means the nurses would give formula during the night. im not sure if i want to EBF or what. would it be terrible to give the baby formula at the hosp during the night and BF during the day? does it make sense to have the nurses bring her in for feedings during the night? should i just keep her with me? i really feel so conflicted about the whole thing.

what have u done with your LOs?

thanks so much!!

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

If you wanna BF, then you really shouldnt give formula, in the first few days because the baby will get confused, bottle-breast-formula-breastmilk? ya know? Also, you want the baby to BF as much as possible in those first few days so you can stimulate the milk production. (this is just my opinion of course)

I was EBF and my hospitals policy was that BF or not all moms have to have baby with them 24/7. Let me tell you I was exhausted!!!!!! My water broke friday 3am and I was up literally until sunday when I left the hospital with NO SLEEP cause of DD.

You could send her to the nursery BUT make sure (oif you wanna EBF) to make it well known!! THey will bring you the baby every 2 hours of so. Its better than no sleep at all, lol. Again just make sure you tell them no formula, no bottles at the hospital, cant stress that enough. One nurse apparently didnt hear me well enough so DD had formula when they were doing some testing on her, they told me afterwards, I was so mad.

Goodluck w/your decision.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

We sent the baby to the nursery at night. I was BF and they just brought her to us every time she needed to eat. Definitely take advantage of the nursery!

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

i bf and was at a pro-bfing hospital -so i never saw formula and they prefererred the babies stay in- but i needed a break so i sent the baby to the nursery - thry brought him back to me atthe 3 hour mark and took my vitals and helped me get him latch - it was nice having the nurse there then - i would recommend sending the baby tot he nursery and having them bring the baby back just request your vitals be taken then and not an hour later - you will not be allowed to sleep striaght through the night anyway so it is worth trying

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I agree with all of the above PPers...
You can def send to nursery...but it doesnt mean they need to be bottled fed..you will want to nurse every chance you get to get your body to start to learn to make milk..it works on supply and demand..if you dont ask for it, it wont make it!

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

DS stayed with me the whole time. DH was with me too. I EBF but the nurses did tell me I could use the nursery and they would bring me him. I wanted him with me at all times though

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I EBF and didn't want her to have formula. I told the nurses and they said they would bring her back when she got hungry.

The first night I sent her to the nursery for a few hours but honestly I kept waking up hoping they would bring her back to me. They brought her back when she got hungry and I never sent her back. The 2nd night she stayed with me all night.

I was lucky to go into labor around 9am so I had a full night sleep and 7 hours later I delivered. DD also took immediately to BFing. I know some women have very long, intense labor/delivery and all different situations come up so I think you should make the decision after you give birth.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I sent him to the nursery and they brought him in for the feedings. One night I let them give him formula because I had a splitting headache.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I EBF both my children once they were home from the hospital.
With DS1, I BF during all feeding except the very middle of the nigh when he got a bottle of formula so I could sleep straight through (I figured this was the last time I could sleep until he was in college ) and I was also recovering from a c-section so I needed my rest too. I nursed him for 9 months.
DS2 was in the NICU so his feedings were all closely monitored. i pumped so he was getting my milk but he also had to be on the high fat formula to gain enough weight to get out of the NICU. Once he was home, I EBF for 15 months. He had maybe 5 - 10 bottles ever once he was home.

I personally don't "believe" in nipple confusion but not every child will take to BF as easily as mine did (I know that I was EXTREMELY lucky in this aspect!). Only you will know your child and what you need

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I bfed DD in the hospital...there is a little card in their bassinet that you check off what you want them to do - if you don't want them formula fed, or to have a pacifier or whatever.

You NEED your sleep in the hospital...definitely take advantage of the baby going back to the nursery.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I did not want anyone to feed my baby. They woke me up each time he was hungry & it was BLISS to sleep in-between those times.

There REALLY is not a huge nipple-bottle confusion. I had to supplement (my pediatrician watched me breastfeed and watched DS afterwards and told me to supplement a little until I was making more milk... which was two days or so). IMO, they like breast milk better (it's tastier).

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I was EBF.

Night one they kept him in the nursery so I could sleep (not that i did, roommate issue). They gave him a bottle but it did not cause nipple confusion or harm either of us.

Night 2 they brought him back so I could bf him.

I do agree w/nycgirl. I have been supplementing about 3 weeks... no nipple confusion. He loves my boobs lol

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I breastfed during the day and he got formula at night.. latched beautifully with both.. no issues.. took to both.

It's up to you though...

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I asked the same question on this board when I was pregnant with my 1st!

As it turned out...
With #1 I let her stay in the nursery for the 1am feeding; they brought her in at the 5am to nurse then she went back until 9am.

With #2 she stayed in the nursery for both overnight feedings. Brought her to the nursery when DH left around 10 or 10:30p and they brought her back in around 9am.

same as #2.

I nursed all of them for several months--3 mos, 6 mos, 4 mos--with NO problems nor any nipple confusion, etc. In fact, at home DD#2 wouldn't let us give her a bottle for quite a while and none of them even wanted a pacifier even though I tried to force it upon them!

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

My DD was in the NICU, so if I didn't show up for a feeding, she got a bottle. We had some MAJOR latch issues when she came home, but they got sorted out after a few days. I've been BFing her for almost 8 weeks.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

You can definitely send the baby to the nursery. Just make sure to let the nurses know to bring Dc to you when DC needs to be fed.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I wish I had this choice to make. DD was in the NICU and had to be given bottles due to low blood sugar issues. I still went there before feedings to attempt to BF but I'm pretty sure those bottles in the first few days caused us some problems BF'ing. I pushed through though and now 2 months later she's still BF'ing great. I'd really advise against bottles if you can avoid it, BF'ing can be difficult enough without causing the baby more confusion with a bottle.

I swear I read somewhere that mothers who's babies room in actually get MORE sleep than those who's babies are in the nursery but I'm not sure where I heard that. If I had had a choice I would have kept her in my room overnight (I couldn't take her out of the NICU at all though).

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

I have had 4 babies and they never left my side in the hospital. I had my first 3 babies in California and the hospitals didn't even have nurseries so leaving them wasn't an option. My 4th baby I just had in Arizona and while it was an option I couldn't imagine sending my baby away to get sleep. I wouldn't have been able to relax away from him. We are EBF'ing and those first few days of being close and bonding really help your milk come in.

Re: preggo crashing. question about newborn in hospital.

When I was pregnant I thought "send her to the nursery, I'm gonna want to sleep!" but as soon as she was here I didn't want her to leave my side.. she never went to the nursery.. the thought of her crying and it not being me to comfort her made me sad