What are your plans for your older kid(s) when you’re in the hospital?

Question

Our 2 yo daughter will stay with her grandparents while I’m in labor. After I deliver, my husband will stay with her at home each night and take her to school each morning. He’ll hang with me and the new baby during the day. If it’s the weekend, same thing except our daughter will stay with her grandparents during the day, with brief visits to see me in the hospital. 
Did any of you have issues with staying in he hospital solo with baby? I don’t think it’ll be that bad since it’ll only be at night. The hospital is 8-10 min from our house, btw.

Answer

When I go into labor, my parents will pick up my 3yr old. They will get her back and forth to school for me if needed and bring her to see the new baby after birth. If we end up having to stay the night or multiple nights (with my daughter we stayed 3 nights because of her jaundice) they will keep her for me until we come home. My partner stays with me the whole time I’m at the hospital.

Answer

My situation was very similar. Went into labor around 7 am. My parents came to watch my almost 3 year old. That night my husband went home to do bedtime with her. I was on magnesium and fairly out of it but still managed by myself overnight with my newborn. The next day I was off the medication but hubby came during the day with our toddler and took her home that night so baby and I were alone again. It was fine and you’ll be fine! The nurses are there to help too.

Answer

I had my second baby at a birth center and went home same day, but my parents kept our older child for the night we were at the center (I labored over night and delivered early in the morning). They brought him to our house that day and we began our life as a family of 4 immediately. This worked for us - my husband was home the whole first week and then my oldest was in daycare a few days a week as well.

Answer

When I had my son my partner was only allowed during visitation anyway, being on own with baby isn't bad or hard for the first day or 2 anyway so you'll be fine. Good luck.

Answer

When I had my second my in-laws watched her while I was in the hospital and my husband was home periodically checking in on her and us as the hospital. I’m not sure what I’m going to do this time, as it was 15 mins the last time I went into labor and I’ll have 2 at home. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Answer

Mine became a shit-show, which I should’ve expected lol. My 2yo was actually in the hospital when I gave birth, little dude got woken up and rushed into the car at 6:30am. Our plan was for my sister to watch him but they weren’t going to get to our house in time, they arrived at the hospital 15 minutes before baby was born and my sister took toddler to the waiting room. 
After he met baby my sister took him back to our house and watched him. My husband went back at night to tuck him in.

What are your plans for your older kid(s) when you’re in the hospital?

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