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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Postnatal ward question

30 replies

Goldi321 · 20/01/2022 08:44

I’ve reached the stage of peeing 3-4 times per night in the 3rd trimester with 1st baby. This has got me thinking about postnatal recovery and practicalities with a baby. Probably a stupid question, but what do I do in the middle of the night if I need to pee on the post natal ward?
If baby is sleeping I was hoping I could quickly nip to the loo and be back ASAP but I don’t want the midwives to think I’m a negligent mum!
If baby is crying and I am desperate, what do I do?
I’ve never even considered this before!

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kittykat33 · 20/01/2022 08:46

You put them in the fish tank thing that has wheels and take them with you, Or you leave them with your partner at the bedside, or you ask one of the HCA or midwives at the nurses station to watch them / cuddle them for a min while you go to the loo.

GrandmasterGlitchsMoustache · 20/01/2022 08:56

If it's during the day you can ask another mum to watch the baby. Or (assuming no partner with you) if the baby is sleeping in the cot you just leave it there and go to the loo! It's only a few mins and no one is going to move the baby or think you are neglectful. I had a baby in lockdown when no visitors were allowed on the ward and the wonderful midwife just said "well the baby isn't going to go anywhere while you shower!"

It's not ideal but babies can sleep very deeply the first few days after they're born. I wouldn't bother a HCA or midwife for a quick trip to the loo.

MrsWooster · 20/01/2022 09:01

First baby: insist mw watches like a hawk or wheel the fish tank to the loo with you.
Second baby: leave on bed (with a pillow each side in case she was a rolling prodigy) and nip off for a pee.

TH22 · 20/01/2022 09:08

@MrsWooster

First baby: insist mw watches like a hawk or wheel the fish tank to the loo with you. Second baby: leave on bed (with a pillow each side in case she was a rolling prodigy) and nip off for a pee.

🤣

DefaultParent · 20/01/2022 09:10

At mine you just left them in their cot in the room. Toilets were dotted about so you wasn't far away.

HeyDiddleDee · 20/01/2022 09:13

I took mine with me (in the wheelie crib) and was told off by one of the midwives for it being “unhygienic”.

MindyStClaire · 20/01/2022 09:13

I was in a 4 bed bay and just left mine, but I think that was during the day. Don't think I got up during the night (to pee, didn't sleep a fucking wink thanks to the baby ).

Original poster

Goldi321 · 20/01/2022 09:15

Thanks for the answers! It was a thought that came to me during one of my many loo trips overnight. It’s currently very easy as baby comes with me in my belly! Hoping to not be on the postnatal ward too long to avoid overthinking things like this but equally am preparing myself for an overnight stay as I know they like to keep an eye on feeding to make sure you know what you are doing with first time mums.

OP posts:

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 20/01/2022 09:17

I left mine when I went for a wee, didn’t even cross my mind to take them with me, until I returned and the MW told me off!!!

WalkingOnSonshine · 20/01/2022 09:20

I normally poked my head out of the curtains & there was usual a passing staff member that I’d say I was popping to the loo & could they keep an eye for a couple of minutes.

Typically if he was crying, then they would love the chance for a cuddle. Although I did find that my peeing frequency massively reduced as soon as he was born!

stuntbubbles · 20/01/2022 09:21

Benefits of my EMCS: a catheter! They left it in for ages too, ward was busy, so never had to think about this.

When I needed a shower DP had to help me and the MWs took DD in her fish tank to the nursery.

One of the things that’s odd about postnatal is the assumption you’ll know the rules about this stuff! But for many people it’s their first overnight hospital stay, and not all of it intuitive. They should give you a little leaflet before labour starts:

You’ll get tea and toast once the baby is out.
Breakfast is down the corridor.
The baby fish tank has wheels, take the baby with you.
It is hot as balls in here, yes.

That sort of thing.

kitkatsky · 20/01/2022 09:22

When I had DD last year they had key operated alarm cots so you could leave them in their cot and take the key with you and it'd trigger an alarm if they were picked up. Let me tell you that was a bloody stupid idea on a postnatal ward with sleep deprived mums 😂

RockAndRollerskate · 20/01/2022 09:24

I just left the baby in the crib with an alarm. The ward is locked anyway, can’t see what harm it would do.

GemmaRuby · 20/01/2022 09:25

New babies are generally very sleepy so don’t worry there’ll be time to nip to the loo and back.

Raggeo · 20/01/2022 09:31

For nipping to the toilet I just left mine in their hospital cot. For showering everyone on my room (6 of us) just asked each other to watch the babies. They sleep so much at the start you would be very unlucky if they woke up while you took a quick shower. The only thing I found hard was that I didn't know my baby's cry yet so if I heard a baby cry I automatically thought it was mine, so rushed out to find it was my neighbour's little one. We had to walk to the kitchen to pick up our meals and we all just left our babies for the few minutes that took.

CoalCraft · 20/01/2022 09:40

Didn't have my baby with me at the time (she was in NICU) but the postnatal ward I was on would have been great for this - each bed in a private room with en suite! On the NHS! I didn't realise how lucky I was at the time.

ReeseWitherfork · 20/01/2022 09:43

I asked one of the MW this exact question when I was in with my first and they basically said anything I was comfortable with. Leave them unattended, take them, ask someone to watch them. She said there was no right or wrong answer.

Original poster

Goldi321 · 20/01/2022 10:08

One of the things that’s odd about postnatal is the assumption you’ll know the rules about this stuff! But for many people it’s their first overnight hospital stay, and not all of it intuitive. This! I’ve worked in the hospital I’m having the baby in, and even worked on the postnatal ward on the paediatric side of things but still feel very clueless! I am looking forward to the tea and toast though, there is something amazing about NHS toast! It got me through many a night shift and you can never recreate it at home.

OP posts:

DuneFan · 20/01/2022 10:09

Also once you've had the baby that urgent need to wee constantly will probably disappear! I only had two wees in my 12 hour stay and one was the compulsory post labour wee with the midwife hovering to check everything still worked . . .

FrancesFlute · 20/01/2022 10:12

I left mine as the laptop was just across the corridor and I didn't have the strength to wheel it through a heavy door! For a shower I waited til DH was visiting though.

I also had catheter first night so had no idea when I was weeing then!

iloveyankeecandle · 20/01/2022 10:15

I just went. Didn't even think to ask someone to watch him 😵‍💫

ohfook · 20/01/2022 10:17

@MrsWooster

First baby: insist mw watches like a hawk or wheel the fish tank to the loo with you. Second baby: leave on bed (with a pillow each side in case she was a rolling prodigy) and nip off for a pee.

This is pretty accurate.

avynair · 22/01/2022 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

GuidingSpirit · 22/01/2022 11:20

@avynair you might want to start your own thread. I'm sure lots of women would be happy to answer (including me!) but they might not see your questions in a thread with a title about a different topic

TulipsGarden · 22/01/2022 11:23

I was told off for asking a midwife to keep an eye on mine while I peed. Couldn't have taken the cot with me as I had a c section. It felt awful leaving him alone on the ward.

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