Hospital Varia
by Melanie Bettinelli on March 06, 2008
There’s one nurse who brings me a pitcher of ice water and six small plastic cups and six straws. Why? I’ve already got one big cup with a straw. There’s only me and Dom and Sophia in the room. Does she think we’re having a tea party with the elves?
* * *
I’m very tired. Sophia didn’t sleep last night. She just eats and poops and eats and eats and eats and poops some more. From about seven pm on (and it’s now almost 10 am) that’s about all she’s done/ and doesn’t it just figure that one of the two times I actually managed to get her drowsing on my chest a bit was exactly when the pediatrician came to make her rounds: “Oh, I’ll be quick. See she wants to go back to sleep. You won’t have any problems.” Of course not. Which is why two minutes later we were nursing again. Haven’t been back to sleep yet… that was almost 2 hours ago.
“Sleep when the baby sleeps,” they say. But the baby starts to drift off just as I realize I have a full bladder. And then while I’m still working myself to my feet housekeeping comes in to clean the bathroom. And then the nurse comes in and then room service with breakfast and by that time the moment is past. Well past.
“Sleep when the baby sleeps.” Good advice. If only they’d let you follow it. If only she’d sleep….
Comments
Melanie,
I’m so sorry. I had similar problems in November when Felicity was born. She wouldn’t sleep and then when she did the nurses would come in and wake her. Or they would come in an wake me. The did not even coordinate when they would come in so as to do everything in 1 or 2 visits. Drove me nuts and I actually complained when the hospital PR person called to ask me how my stay was. I informed them not allowing a patient to sleep in no way helps any healing or recovery for mommy or baby.
I wish I had better advice for you but my only suggestion that let me get any sleep was to sleep with her in my arms - it helped her stay asleep - and, if you feel the sandman is visiting Sophia, inform the nurses you want to be left alone for a few hours to sleep.
Hope you are feeling better.
Posted by Katherine on 03/6/08 at 12:44 PM
It’s so much harder to sleep with the second (and I assume subsequent) children! Not much of a comfort but you do get used to it and it does get better. Our second is 3 months old now and not sleeping great and I’m functioning still (sort of).
Congrats and best of luck!!
Posted by Kelly on 03/6/08 at 02:41 PM
I agree with what everyone has said plus the fact that I never slept well in the hospital and I didn’t even have to stay as long as you will. Those places are horrible for anyone who is not sick, just in need of rest. After my third I remember viciously yelling at the tech who came in for the 12,000 time to check my blood pressure “It’s 120/60 now GO!!!” Not my finest moment!
Posted by Matilda on 03/6/08 at 03:28 PM
Oh - and sleep is so good. I’m sorry your little one isn’t sleeping. My first and second insisted on sleeping with me in the hospital, and I was so scared I’d drop them over the edge of the skinny hospital bed I didn’t really sleep either. My second also nursed for almost the entire first six hours of her life - and she was born at 9:30 pm!
I was lucky, though, and able to go home after the 24 hour prick test and rested much better at home. I don’t think they’ll like that idea after a C-section.
Maybe someone (Dad?) could take Sophia for a walk so you can sleep.
Posted by Kansas Mom on 03/6/08 at 03:56 PM
Hopefully she is just working hard to encourage your milk to come in, and once it arrives that nice full tummy will help her to sleep. Hang in there!
Posted by The Bookworm on 03/6/08 at 04:38 PM
We eventually got one who didn’t have his days and night mixed up with Lou (fourth). Eventually she’ll sleep.
And maybe if you set out the drinks for the elves, the nurses will leave you alone.
Posted by Heather Price on 03/6/08 at 05:14 PM
Oh, God bless you. My daughter screamed the FIRST 4 months of her life non-stop. I sympathize with you. Sleep, it is a beautiful AND necessary thing. I HATE hospitals because they DO interrupt your sleep. Just remember, you are paying THEM so you can set the rules, especially when it comes to sleep.
Posted by RCM on 03/6/08 at 06:57 PM
Oh, no. Maybe your milks is coming in and the change is affecting wee ‘Phia? Especially if she is nursing constantly.
Daughter #3 screamed incessantly the first 24 hours of life and then most of the remainder of the hospital stay. I remember asking myself, “WHAT did you DO?!” like I had control over anything, anyway…and then Daughter #3 fell asleep as she was being strolled out of the hospital and was a lamb ever since. I don’t think she liked the hospital, either!
Hope you get some sleep soon. Hope you get home tomorrow!!!
Posted by CherieB on 03/6/08 at 09:42 PM
Sounds like you’re ready to be home
Hospital practices in the maternity ward have always puzzled me… Before having my babies I was naively convinced the days at the hospital would be a nice break before the hard work at home… But (some) nurses (sometimes) can make things hard… Don’t they know what it feels like after an emergency C-section? You just need quiet and rest… Poor Melanie and poor Sophia 
Well, just think soon she’ll be looking up at you smiling for the first time…. Oh, the little miracles of babyhood, how sweet they are and how much comfort they bring to a tired mommy 
Posted by GB on 03/7/08 at 09:15 AM