Hospital with 1 year old and newborn

[elliejjtiny]

Has anyone done this? DS4 is due to have an operation that he was meant to have at the beginning of March in July. Op lasts about 3 hours and he'll be in for 1 night as long as there are no major complications. DS5 is due on July 5th. Hospital have been really nice and say I can bring DS5 with me but I'm scared about how I'll manage with both of them. I'm reluctant to cancel unless I'm actually in labour because the op is already being done late and it could be harder when baby is older anyway, at least newborns sleep lots.

When DS2 was a few days old DS1 was admitted with croup. The staff were aghast that I wanted to bring the baby onto the ward full of sick children. He was breast fed so I couldn't leave him at home. In the end DH stayed in hospital with the toddler while I stayed at home with the baby.

I've been in hospital lots with my child and this is normal.

Don't worry, I've seen a few mums in hospital wit the child who's had an op and a newborn. However it is stressful, do you have a partner who could stay overnight at hosp, you could all be together at hosp,on day of surgery.

I would have a stretchy wrap for newborn, so you have hands free and poss feed in it if bf. Will you be sleeping? I guess they will lend you a fish bowl cot of they are being supportive?

Thanks. Hospital is an hour away and I can't drive so it has to be me who stays. It's a children's hospital and we'll be on a surgical ward so hopefully less germs than the general childrens ward at our local hospital. DS4 is small so was planning on putting the carry cot at the end of his cot and putting DS5 in that. The man I spoke to on the phone said that they often accommodate twins when only one is the patient. Stretchy wrap sounds like a good idea, I'll make sure I take mine. Last time DH went home when DS4 was out of theatre and stable and came back just before he was discharged the next morning. I've told him that this time he needs to stay all day and just go home to sleep.

My daughter has a bad asthma attack at 18 months while I had 2 week old baby. The staff in the ward were fab about me having baby with me as was breast feeding they bought a crib over from maternity. And did watch the baby while I had to take her for X-rays etc my partner at the time couldn't of had time of work and we still had children at home. We were given own room but think i prob would of had that anyway due to the fact she was so poorly. Nurses usually welcome and accommodate parents staying even with newborns, my sis is a paediatric nurse and is shocked to how many parents leave poorly little 1s having a parent there is comforting to the child and means they can concentrate on caring and nursing for the child rather than soothing those that are missing their mummy's or daddy's

some parents have no choice tho - other caring commitments, disabled children whatever.

in op's case - why cant dad just stay with the ds?

One of our twins was admitted to hospital for 3 days when they were 4 weeks old. I expressed milk and left the well twin with DH at home. I stayed in hospital ith the poorly baby. This happened again when they were 10 months old. We did the same thing only this time it was 6 days.

I did it with a 6 month and 18 month old. Wasn't a planned hospital stay. Was fine when 18m DS still felt unwell as he was grumpy but mostly watching cbeebies in his cot. But next two days were awful as he was hyper and we spent hours chasing him up and down ward. Ward were totally fine about having baby on ward but where possible DP stayed overnight with DS and I stayed at home. We then swapped in the morning and I kept baby with me whilst DP got a few hours sleep.

Thanks everyone. DS4 hates me leaving him when he is well so don't think that's an option really. Last time he had an anaesthetic he slept loads afterwards so hopefully it won't be too bad.