Potentially daft question from second-timer who should know better!

[Verso]

Humour me, ladies . Just a thought I had in the wee small hours when I was up (as usual). When you're on the postnatal ward, what did you do with your baby when you went to the loo or for a shower? I genuinely can't remember with DD... It seems wrong somehow to leave them on the ward while you disappear, but on the other hand do you really wheel the bassinet down the corridor every time you need a wee?

Apologies for the silly question - but I know I won't have many visitors so there won't be anyone to 'watch' the baby while I leave the bed... and I'm also going to have problems with mobility as I'm having a c/s this time. DH will be at work most of the time (he'll be starting paternity leave once I'm discharged)... so I really don't know what you're meant to do!

[NorthernLurker]

If you have a c section they might be able to put you in a room with a loo enuite? I mostly leave the hospital asap but I had to stay for a night with dd1. The loo was only a few metres away as I was in a room of four beds with one loo near the entrance iyswim. When I went to fetch breakfast etc I asked one of the other mums just to watch mine and then i did the same for her. All maternity wards should have very controlled access so in theory baby should be very, very safe - but it just feels wrong doesn't it?

[Pinkyminkee]

I have had two cs. I took my baby with me to the toliet, or lefft them with someone who was visiting. When I had a shower I put them in the nursery/treatment room which is alarmed. The mw would attend to them if they cried.

[mumnosbest]

can remeber trying to go to loo holding ds and sore stitches from section. What fun! With ds I asked mum opposite to listen and she did same, then got moved to a seperate room with loo.

[mumnosbest]

Just a thought but would you be allowed your pram on the ward?

[gem1981]

had to wheel cot EVERYWHERE i went - they were v. strict about it - even took the cot with me to have a shower.

[Funbags]

With my dd there was a room at the end of the ward where you could park them while you did what you needed to - you just needed to tell a memember of staff - there were always one or two others in there, also handy for exhausted post bad labour mums to get some kip as well (they took care of DD for a whole 7 hours after i went 72 hours with no sleep and nearly dropped her). When i was only away 5 mins I just asked another mum to keep an eye on her. worked out quite well. You could bath them and change them in that room too.

At the hospital up the road you had to wheel them everywhere you went and they were really strict about it, not so good.

[Verso]

Ooh I'm really glad I asked now - seems it wasn't such a daft question after all. Thanks very much for the replies!

[jem1969]

I remember thinking the same with DD.
We were in wards of 6- everyone just left their babies in the cot by the bed when they had a shower/went to the loo. To be honest I didn't really give it much thought . She was always asleep when I did it. Actually, come to think about it, I think I only had a shower when DH was there but I would pop to the loo whn on my own.