In hospital. First time dd (2) been without me at night. Sad.

[Alittleteapot]

I'm 38 weeks pg and hv been admitted because baby is in an unstable lie. It's heartbreaking being away from dd at night - till now it's always been me to put her to bed and to settle her if she wakes at night. she's finding it tough - it's a lot to put on a two year old. I cd be in here for two weeks or mote. How can we get thru it? Ideally wait it out as obs thinks baby will drop into position when tIme comes but part of me thinks ask for c section now so I can get home. It's just feeling really really tough. Wd love to hear reassuring stories or anything that might cheer me up.

read the old fuckers thread on style and beauty, very funny.
children are resilient, she will cope.
if you are alright, everyones alright.
try to relax.
xxx

Poor you!

I spent a lot of time in hospital when pg with dd2 (dc3) who was born when ds was just 22 months and had never been away from me apart from one night.

I was in 17 times in the 18 months of the pregnancy adn following 8 months, including 4 weeks before/after birth.

He coped. (As did dd1 who was 3 at the time).

Dh used to pick them up from the minder after work, bring them to the hospital. They would be fed by CM before he got them. Then we would chat/play/read etc, then get them into jammies, I would do prayers and bedtime stories with them, then dh would put them in the car where they would go to sleep ont he way home (we lived 30 mins from hospital).

Now, neither of them even remember!!!! We were talking about it recently, and while dd1 remembers dd2 being born, neither of them have any recollection of those endles nights of getting ready for bed in the hospital.

Children are resilient - don't worry!!!

I also spent a lot of my second pregnancy in hospital. Dd (3) was fine. She was well looked after by dh and my Mum and had a great time.

If I were you I would not try to influence the drs to change anything because of your older dc: they should be thinking about what is best for the baby.

Have no experience of this but sympathise with your situation. I'm sure your daughter will cope fine. Don't worry - try to relax and make the most of your rest.

I hope everything goes well for you.

Thanks everyone. just the sorts of things I needed to hear they are having a tough time in the eves and at night but everyone seems fine in the day. We'll just have to take one day at a time and try and get a comfortably new routine going.

I had dd2 when dd1 was 2 1/2. I spent a lot of the pregnancy worrying how she would manage the couple of nights around the birth without me.

Then I got high blood pressure at the end of the pregnancy and ended up being hospitalised 3 times before dd2 finally arrived.

It turned out ok. DD was a little sad, especially at night and I was a little sad at times feeling I was cheated out of the last few weeks when it was just the two of us but 10 months on she has almost forgotten I ever even went to the hospital.

DH was great with her and MIL helped out a lot. In some ways I think one long stay is not as hard on them as going in and out like I did as she kept expecting me to come home with the baby.

Best of luck.

This was me when I was pregnant with ds2 ......do you know what? ds1 and his daddy grew so close and he still talks about the time it was just Dad and him.

Its really a very short time in the whole scheme of things but she will visit you during the day and you can get little treats for her from the hospital shop or even write little notes for her to listen to at bedtime,perhaps a spritz of your perfume on her pillow?

Its all part of the parenting adventure.

Good Luck xx

give dh some litle notes or crd to give her at opportune times and make sure he makes something with her to give to you like some fairy cakes or something. I was in hospital with appendicitis when my dd was just 2. If its any comfort she won't remember you being away in the future.