Newborns in (hospital) nursery?

[HelloLA]

I recently gave birth in a busy London hospital. On the postnatal ward, all babies stayed in bassinets next to their mothers' beds. It made for very little sleep, but I assume it's good for bonding.

I know in the past you could opt to keep your newborn in the hospital nursery, and have him/her brought to you for feeding. Is that still done in any NHS hospitals?

I don't think any NHS hospital does that now. There are not enough staff to look after the babies in a nursery. I don't think there is a nursery - only SCBU for sick babies. AFAIK babies are always next to their mothers' beds. I imagine that if you had complications that made it hard to look after your baby then the nurses/midwives would help out, but I think even then they wouldn't remove the baby.

I would have HATED to have my baby removed after birth. I slept with my hand on DC1 in his bassinet to prevent anyone stealing him (mad hormones).

I think it's considered to be bad for the babies as they want mum and baby to have more skin to skin etc.
Can't imagine being separated

No, rooming in/ staying with mum is best for the babies so nurseries not really used. Having said that, when I was totally exhausted after long labour followed by EMCS, the MWs did take the baby away for an hour or so,so I could have a little sleep (at my request)

There was when dd was born (only 5 years ago!). Only the night nurses kept taking her away there without my consent while i slept and giving her formula when she awoke, 'to give me a rest' . Funnily enough they've had some trouble with their breast feeding rates... This time round I'm damned if I'm letting them take new baby out of my sight.

No, it's not policy in NHS hospitals. Better for bonding I guess. Have to say when DD3 was returned to me from NICU after 5 days and wouldn't sleep in the dead hours of the night I did ask the midwives to keep her in their office and she slept very well. I'd had a crash CS and could hardly keep my eyes open let alone walk the child around the dark corridors at 3 am.

I agree, i dont think they exist anymore - when I was too ill to look after newborn, the lovely head midwife wheeled DS into her office to keep an eye on him as I was so out of it. I'm sure if there had still been a nursery option my newborn would have gone there instead.

i cant say ive heard of this recently my oldest child is 4 she was by me the whole time after birth and i def preffered this

same with my second baby she was next to me all night on postnatal ward i really wouldnt have had it any other way i really dont think nhs hospitals do the nursery thing any more im sure if you where ill from complicated birth or something they wud help you

Thanks, everyone. I was just discussing it with someone who gave birth a decade ago (and in another country), and she was incredulous that the nursery isn't an option in the UK. But, like most others here, I can't imagine having my newborn kept in another room from me, unless strictly necessary. It seems completely at odds with both natural instinct and the current prevailing culture of skin-to-skin etc.

I'm in an overseas hospital with my newborn in the nursery a lot of the time. Here, at least, it's completely the mothers choice how much time, if any, the baby spends in the nursery. I became quite sick post birth and my husband can't stay in the hospital as he is caring for our older son, so for me it's a god send. I realise it's not the prevailing culture in the UK but I also understand why your friend might be shocked. Many cultures have much stronger roles played by women in support of new mothers both inside and outside hospitals.

There are nurseries in private hospitals/wings. I used one when I was in recovery after a huge haemorrhage, and for a few days afterwards. I was really tired and needed sleep!