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Childbirth

What do you do with the baby

73 replies

Newnaime · 22/02/2018 15:05

Overthinking I know, but if you're in hospital on your own, say back on the ward after having baby. What do you do with them when you need the toilet? Take them to the mw office and ask them to watch baby?

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CoolGirlsNeverGetAngry · 22/02/2018 15:27

We had the MW station where you could wheel the babies and they’d watch them for you while you had a shower or went to the canteen. Failing that, I would leave baby with visitors for a bit. We were also told it was ok to leave them next to your bed if you needed the loo in the night as people weren’t allowed on the ward anyway.

QueenAravisOfArchenland · 22/02/2018 15:27

I just left baby in cot tbh. I was only gone a few minutes and there weren't many people around.

beansbananas · 22/02/2018 15:34

I took my daughter in the shower room with me, because she cried when I left her and I couldn't bear to leave her alone. Didn't see anyone else do this though, so I prob looked bonkers! I didn't need the loo for hours after the birth so it was only when my hubby was there and I was desperate to go home, that I forced myself to do two wees, which I then had to show the nurse to prove I'd been. Baby was with her daddy while mummy had to stand around waiting for someone to check out what she had done in the loo

TheLionQueen1 · 22/02/2018 15:38

In the hospital I gave birth in you were not allowed to leave them with MW or other patients due to security, which was very high there. I had to take him with me every time unless I had visitors, just wheeled the cot he was in an toilets were large enough for them intentionally and had a shower room large enough.

It didn't cross my mind at all before and the first day I had a catheter so didn't have to think about it, which was actually quite nice!!

Waitingonasmile · 22/02/2018 15:41

Wow this is completely new to me!!!! I have had two babies and never witnessed anyone take their baby to the toilet. We aIl just left the baby in the crib and went to the toilet, shower, or the room meals were served in. The midwives appeared pretty quickly if a baby cried and the other mums would also help.

justbeingmyself · 22/02/2018 15:43

Our hospital had wheels on the cot, so I took them everywhere with me. Even while I had a shower. I was in for a few days and didn't have any visitors the second time, so I just went with it and made do. The midwife did watch the youngest for half an hour in the night so I could have a sleep though, but she offered.

NinaMarieP · 22/02/2018 15:46

I was in three days and I was lucky that my OH was there 9am-9pm but overnight I just left my baby in his cot by my bed and shuffled allll the way down the ward to the loo and back. First night I had a catheter in but I went down to freshen up before bed... never occurred to me to roll the cot with me!

SheepySheepy · 22/02/2018 15:46

Disclaimer - I don't have kids.

I don't understand this not being able to leave them long enough to have a wee, at hospital or otherwise. As long as no one can come and abduct them, why can't you do this?

Genuine question.

dinosaurkisses · 22/02/2018 15:46

I’d wait until DH arrived to shower- it meant I could take the piss with a hot twenty minute shower without guilt!

Outside visiting hours I just left dd in her cot- she was out cold apart from feeding and changing times and I didn’t want to disturb her. It was only the mothers and midwives after the dad’s left at 9:30pm so I felt comfortable leaving her for a quick wee.

coffeeforone · 22/02/2018 15:49

I don't understand this not being able to leave them long enough to have a wee, at hospital or otherwise. As long as no one can come and abduct them, why can't you do this?

At home of course you would leave them. Obviously never in a public place with strangers around though. Hospital ward is a bit of a grey area as to whether its a 'public place' or not. I think this is the question here.

TheLionQueen1 · 22/02/2018 15:49

I don't understand this not being able to leave them long enough to have a wee, at hospital or otherwise. As long as no one can come and abduct them, why can't you do this

Abduction and taking the wrong baby is what I was told @SheepySheepy we had to have hospital bands on baby's arm as foot for precaution and tell them all his details when we left! I suppose better safe than sorry but made going for a wee a hassle!!

coffeeforone · 22/02/2018 15:50

I think I would leave them if they were asleep, and the loo was very nearby. If not I'd probably let the midwife know i was going first.

Newnaime · 22/02/2018 15:50

Abduction didn't even enter my mind tbh, more the baby crying or choking and me not being there. Like I said, I know I'm over thinking but I'm a worrier!
I suppose it's a policy in some places as where do they draw the line? If you're allowed to leave baby to go to the loo, why not a shower, or outside for a cigarette. Speaking from experience of being in hospital a few times, you see all sorts!

OP posts:

strawberrypenguin · 22/02/2018 15:52

I just went to the loo and left baby sleeping in the crib!

Ward is secure and to be honest it didn’t even occur to me to get anyone to watch him

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 22/02/2018 15:52

I made friends with with the woman in the next bed. Friends as in we smiled and chatted a bit, so we used to ask each other to keep an eye on the cot and nip to the loo.

As mentioned, the cot's on wheels so you take it with you if you're having a bath or something- the bathrooms are big enough to fit it in (where I was).

EekThreek · 22/02/2018 15:53

All of mine have been electronically tagged in hospital, so they can't go within a certain distance of the ward doors without MWs coming running! Also if the tag is removed, it sets the alarm off. Wriggly DD3 kept us all on our toes as she kept losing contact with the tag and they had to keep checking that she was still there 😂

I left all of mine in the crib by my bed while I used the toilet and ate lunch at the central servery. Didn't occur to me not to tbh.

SheepySheepy · 22/02/2018 15:53

At home of course you would leave them. Obviously never in a public place with strangers around though. Hospital ward is a bit of a grey area as to whether its a 'public place' or not. I think this is the question here

Thanks coffee. I understand now it's about hospital here. I've just heard a few family members say "oh well you HAVE to take them with you when you go to the toilet." It just sounded a bit mad to me (with no personal experience).

SheepySheepy · 22/02/2018 15:54

Makes sense LionQueen.

OutyMcOutface · 22/02/2018 15:56

Make friends with the student nurses and the older nurses-they will pop in constantly. Lovely people!

butterybollocks · 22/02/2018 15:57

I was on the 'enhanced recovery' programme after a c section - discharge from hospital within 24 hours if at all possible. I was very keen to go home but had to drink and wee a certain number of times. I drank a lot and weed a lot because I really wanted to go home! Overnight I just left baby in his crib next to the bed but I did have a private room. Within visiting hours I wouldn't have just left him though as there would have been more people around, overnight it's all locked, can't get in or out.

coffeeforone · 22/02/2018 15:57

Just to add, our little one's name tags weren't put on tight enough and slipped off whilst we were dressing him. We didn't think anything of it, and put them on the side table, but the midwives panicked and questioned whether he had been out of our sight for a second (he hadn't), and were we 100% sure? Not sure what they would have done if i said i'd left him unattended to pee...

Paie · 22/02/2018 15:59

When I had DD, I'd just ask one of the other mums on the ward if they minded keeping an eye on her while I popped to the loo. In return, I'd do the same for them.
As PP said the ward is secure but I'm still too paranoid to leave her alone!

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Steeley113 · 22/02/2018 16:07

I’m pregnant with my 3rd and still not sure of the etiquette of this! My first I remember bursting for a wee but being unable to put the baby down for even a second as he would scream. I took him to the midwife station, they weren’t impressed though. My 2nd I wheeled him with me! I dunno what I’ll do this time 🤷🏼‍♀️

Dairymilkmuncher · 22/02/2018 16:09

When I had my first I waited till the midwifes were coming round for checks and asked them to watch my baby while I went to the loo and she said no we don't do that, just ask another mum which I didn't want to do but she said she had checks to do anyway so I went quickly and she was still there when I got back. Total bitch

Second baby I had the choice to stay over night and my partner leave or leave Labour ward after 6 hours with my partner, I went home....

Newnaime · 22/02/2018 16:09

I can't believe mw's have actually expressed annoyance of a desperate Mum needing help with their baby! Nothing like a bit of compassion is there

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