2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

Did your DC visit a lot while you were in the hospital? My DC will be 4 when this baby is born and have never been away for more then a few hour and I'm having a hard time not being able to see my DC will they let DC stay all day to visit?

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

I had a C-section so I was in the hospital for 4 days, I think.

DH came and brought DS to visit every day for about an hour.

I can't imagine him being there for longer than that because he would have been so bored and he wanted to climb on me and for me to pick him up.

I would absolutely have him come to the hospital but keep the visits a reasonable amount of time.

Bring little toys/coloring books, new things to keep him entertained.

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

My hospital had visiting for siblings from 2-4 and then general visiting from 7-8 at night...My dd came up for a bit during sibling hours (an hour or less) then again during general visiting for a few minutes. She was only 19 months old and was very bored there. She had special toys, etc. but I felt that she needed to be in her usual environment with all the changes already going on in her life. She stayed with her grandmas during the day and then my DH came home at night to put her to bed and was there when she woke up.

2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

At Good Sam they have a "quiet hour" (it might even be a few hours, I can't remember), so little kids cannot stay the entire day.

My dh brought our son down 2x for an hour or two each visit. He was 2 1/2 and that was more than enough time for him. We kept him busy with special toys, he brought his breakfast with him & my parents & dh had to walk him up & down the halls & go down to see the babies in the nursery a lot with him.

Like the pp mentioned, I think shorter visits are better...When he wasn't there my ILs took him on a special outing & he had a ball with them...didn't even realize that I wasn't around.

Message edited 1/31/2013 9:30:17 AM.

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

I was there for 4 days, he came once for an hour. He was under 2 at the time

Message edited 1/31/2013 9:35:29 AM.

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

I will deliver at St Charles and they only allow visiting from 2-4 for grandparents and siblings (baby will be in room) and then again for everyone from 7:30 - 8:30 (baby kept in nursery). I plan on my DD, who will be 4.5 at the time, to be there for all the visiting hours. I want to see her, I know she's excited to visit me becaus she's already talking about it, and it will be nice for her to see her baby brother. As long as she can be there, I will have her with me.

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

I had a repeat c/s and my son was able to see both DD and myself within the hour she was born.

When the baby is born and you have an older DC, have the older child come in the room first, and sit next to you on the bed. Then have someone bring both of you the baby to "welcome" the baby to the family. I also had a gift for DS from the baby and from the baby to DS. The other thing is to have someone designated to watch and care for the older child while at the hospital. It might be overwhelming for the older child to be in the room with you for long periods of time. So if you can have someone whose focus can be on your other DC to help them it would be ideal. Also, when people come to visit, have them focus on the older DC first, then come see the new baby.

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

Yup?. DS was 2 at the time and came to see me everyday. He stayed 3 nights with my parents who live around the corner from us and one night at home where my IL's watched him. He was more happy playing in the waiting area with the toys and watching the fish. He also got to see his cousins so it was fun for him.

People came and broug him presents and he was having fun with new toys. I was worried for nothing.

Message edited 1/31/2013 10:06:48 AM.

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

DS came up during grandparent hours, I thik 2-4 and then again at night with the rest of the family. I saw him quite a bit.

2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

I haven't delivered #2 yet, but I plan on having her stay with my parents so DH can stay with me in the hospital, and I assume my parents will bring DD with them when they come to the hospital. I was planning on having her stay the whole day if possible - she is easily occupied for hours with an ipad!

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

Posted by Hofstra26

I will deliver at St Charles and they only allow visiting from 2-4 for grandparents and siblings (baby will be in room) and then again for everyone from 7:30 - 8:30 (baby kept in nursery). I plan on my DD, who will be 4.5 at the time, to be there for all the visiting hours. I want to see her, I know she's excited to visit me becaus she's already talking about it, and it will be nice for her to see her baby brother. As long as she can be there, I will have her with me.

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

Yes, my 4 year old came with my husband every time. He was even there when I gave birth (in the waiting room of course) My mom even sneaked him to the birthing room right after. We wanted him with us at all times so that he didn't feel left out. He was great and happy.

2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

My older son was 22 months when his brother was born. I was in the hospital 2 nights, 4 days. He came every afternoon after naptime and hung out for several hours. The hospital had no issues with it. He was great, we just made sure we had a few new fun toys on hand to keep him busy, or food to eat. Occasionally, someone would take him for a short walk up and down the hallway if he was getting restless.

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

Sean was only 2 when I had Colin - He came twice, but only stayed about 2 hours each time -

You can't really expect a kid to sit around the hospital ALL day .......IMO, even a 4 year old.

I'm sure the hospital would let you, as long as it's during regular visiting hours - but that's not going easy for you or whomever will be chasing around your 4 year old KWIM?

Re: 2nd time moms, question about your hospital stay(kind of a spin off)

No, he actually never visited. It was during the whole swine flu outbreak and kids were not allowed to visit at all.