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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Silly question re after the baby is born and going to bathroom

30 replies

Carrie06 · 24/02/2009 16:35

This is a bit of a silly question but after the baby is born and you are back on the ward and DH has gone home etc, given that baby is supposed to stay with you all the time, if you need to pop to the loo or have a shower or whatever, what do you do with the baby?

I thought that the cots were on wheels so you could push them around and take them with you but given that toilets/bathrooms aren't that big, is this expected? Also, the hospital showers tend to be on a flat so floor can get soaking rather than being a traditional cubicle - all sounds a bit of a mess if you have baby in there too.

I wouldn't have thought that the midwives would have time to be looking after the babies when all the mums are heading back and forth to the bathrooms? Or do you ask the mum in the next bed to keep an eye?

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MrsJoeMcIntyre · 24/02/2009 16:37

When I had a shower dd just stayed in the cot next to my bed whilst I was in the bathroom. I remember being convinced I'd go back in there and she'd be gone, or imagining I could hear her crying. She was fine, of course, they put a little security tag on her ankle.

RubyRioja · 24/02/2009 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NorthernLurker · 24/02/2009 16:39

It's not a silly question - and it's pat of the reason why with babies 2 and 3 I was out of the door before you could say 'quick recovery'

A lot of bathrooms would be big enough for you to squeeze in there with the baby actually - but you will most likely find that all the mums on your bit of the ward will be in the same position and you can all watch each others babies and get washed. The loo should be close enough for you to pop in and out anyway. Also I think it's standard now that your baby will be tagged and if anybody tries to leave with them the alarms will go off big time and most likely the doors will lock! Think shoplifter x 100!!

crokky · 24/02/2009 16:42

When I had my 2nd baby, we had to wheel the cot to the toilet with us. I don't think the mw have time to look after babies - they are severely understaffed in both hospitals I have been in. We were asked never to leave our babies unattended.

My 2nd time, I had a shower in the delivery suite with the door open - I could see DH and DD and then once I was on the ward, I didn't shower again. (She was born on sat, I left on Sun). Otherwise, shower when you have visitors.

saymyname · 24/02/2009 16:47

I remember going for breakfast and asking what to do with the baby and they just said leave him, it was ok, he was tagged.

So I did, which I am quite about now, But in my defence I had an absolutely horrible delivery and in retrospect was quite traumatised.

SnowlightMcKenzie · 24/02/2009 17:15

I didn't ask, just left him in the room while I went down the coridoor and round the corner for some toast.

Came back to find a mw who was supposed to be doing paperwork, playing with him at her desk.

Mws get surprisingly little contact with babies these days apparently.

Original poster

Carrie06 · 24/02/2009 18:37

Thanks for your replies. I know the babies are tagged in the hospital I am going to. The wards have 4 beds and toilets/bathrooms etc. are along the main corridor. I was in the same hopsital this time last year but baby was in NICU and I was in single ensuite room so not something I unfortunately had the chance to even think about. Cx

OP posts:

ladyhelen2 · 24/02/2009 18:44

I heard a story of a girl who didn't want to leave her baby at all. She was too timid to ask anyone to keep an eye while she went to the loo so she ended up weeing on her bed. Best not to do that I think.

Horton · 24/02/2009 18:45

It depends on the hospital. Where I went (NHS hospital, nothing fancy), the bathroom was easily big enough to take the cot thing in there with me and I only had to share it with one other person. I don't think I could have left her without worrying myself stupid (I was full of hormones and felt like people might kill her if they looked at her).

DanJARMouse · 24/02/2009 18:50

I just asked another mum to keep an eye out.

Made sure baby was fed and asleep before i popped to the loo etc.

One point I had fed baby, was asleep and went to the loo to come back to him screaming with a mother trying to pacify him - bless the mother, she was a darling - DS had decided he needed to feed a little more before settling.

None of the babies were tagged either, and the only contact from the nurses/midwives in hospital was to do my obs every 4hrs for 24hrs and to keep closing the window we mums kept opening because we were all melting (but the babies would get cold!)

bluebump · 24/02/2009 18:53

When I went for a shower I took my DS with me, but not if I just went to the toilet. I know at my hospital there was usually someone on the door to get out of the ward which beeped and buzzed each time (I was unlucky enough on one stay to be very close to the door to hear this day and night!) There was also two security guards on the main entrance door who have to buzz you out of the hospital.

Hassled · 24/02/2009 18:56

This is the reason I was at home within 6 hours of having DCs 3 & 4.

BlackLetterDay · 24/02/2009 19:06

Where I was you could just ask one of the other mums to keep an eye out or pop the cot into the nursery opposite the midwives station if it wasn't being used. Or actually I remember the HCA who took me to the shower said she would keep an eye on him whilst she was making the bed.

diddle · 24/02/2009 19:24

Our hospital has all private rooms with en suite for post delivery, and i was worried abou leaving my baby by my bed even then, anyone could have come in, i wheeled him to the bathroom door with me and sat on the loo with the door open.

With my 1st son, his security tag kept coming off his ankle as he wriggled, they are very good, and kept coming back in and putting it on again, almost every time he was checked, which i tink is great security

pigleychez · 24/02/2009 21:04

We werent allowed to leave the babys unattened at all or leave them with other mums.

The cot was on wheels and had to come with you to the bathroom and to the dinning room for dinner.
I often had my showers when DH was around.

PlumpRumpSoggyBaps · 24/02/2009 21:31

The cots at my hopsital had some kind of weight sensor attached which you switched on if you popped to the loo. It meant that if someone picked up your baby the alarm went off. I still waited for dh or mum to come in before I went for a shower though. Possibly a little OTT given that all visitors had to be buzzed in thorugh two sets of doors, past maternity reception with two eagle-eyed ladies on guard. And then the visitors had to sign in too!!

It was NHS too.

LadyOfWaffle · 24/02/2009 21:41

First time I went when DH was there was during the day and wheeled DS to the midwife station at night (thought they would always huff ), second time I was out same day, but when I went back in after 2 days for 5 days, as I had a private room, I would leave him asleep there then rush to the loo down the corridor. The room was set back in it's own little bit so was very safe. When I had a bath there was room to squeeze him in. about a 'dining room' on a post labour ward! I had all my meals in bed with my telly on

cory · 24/02/2009 21:45

In our NHS hospital we had the weight sensor and it's 8 years ago since I had my youngest. But also the other mums were there keeping an eye. I quite liked the sociability of the ward- and very unlikely that anyone who had just delivered their own baby would try to nick somebody else's. Though of course mine were much handsomer and cleverer

mrsleroyjethrogibbs · 25/02/2009 07:41

you know this isnt a silly question. When I had my pfb i desperately needed the loo in the night and in the end after a lot of agonising I snuck off to the loo which was in reality a few metres away and was back in a minute or two. however I then waited until dh came back in the morning to go to the loo/clean up after that.
This time round should I need to stay in I will be either using my sling or wheeling baby into the loo with me. But I am paranoid/overbearing/mental 9 take your pick

littleboysblue · 25/02/2009 07:49

In the hospital I was at, there were alarm pads under the cot mattress with a key to activate it, so you turn the key and it means that if you're baby is picked up te alarms sound. I just left the key at the midwife/nurses station whenever I left.

cory · 25/02/2009 09:54

Those key things are good.

MiaMamma · 25/02/2009 14:32

I showered when had visitors. Never thought it was strange to leave DD1 sleeping next to bed when went to toilet, it only takes few minutes. I guess I would have asked other mums in room to keep an eye on DD if I had to leave a room for longer.

lou031205 · 25/02/2009 19:23

At my hospital you have to take them with you.

insertwittynicknameHERE · 25/02/2009 19:28

I don't know as we don't have maternity wards as such at the maternity hospital here. They are all private rooms with a private bathroom for after you have given birth. DH stayed overnight in the room with me.

I thought it was like this all over

WhatFreshHellIsThis · 25/02/2009 19:29

At our hospital there was a room called the Park and Ride (!) where you could leave your baby while you went and had a shower or to the loo, or to eat. It was always attended by a midwife or HA and they checked your tag and the baby's before they let you take the baby away again.

The ward also had security doors and the m/w had to buzz visitors in, so noone could just wander in and pick up a baby.

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