Making Your Hospital Stay Work For You

We recently came home from the hospital with our second child. We had the unique situation of delivering baby #2 in a completely different hospital than baby #1. The stays had very big differences. Delivery process aside (both c-sections) the postpartum stays vary so greatly that we wanted to give some tips so that no matter where you deliver, you can enjoy those first few days with your baby to the maximum.

I want to leave some tips for expecting moms to get the most out your postpartum hospital stay.

TIP 1 - Nurses
All nurses are not created equal. Some nurses win awards, have been doing this for 30 years, have 12 kids of their own, and are so kind you want to call them "momma bear" and they would probably let you. Other nurses look like they should be your little sister and make you feel like you should be giving them advice on why their new nose piercing was not the best idea and that there are certain types of boys to stay away from. The last thing they seem capable of is understanding what your body just went through and what you need on an emotional level.

TO DO: Be prepared for each nurse to handle you differently. Some will just bring you a cup of pills at seemingly random times and expect you to take them without question. Some will expect you to call them when you want pain meds and then explain what hurts and how it hurts in great detail before they hand over medication, and only after they have described in detail all the possible side effects, etc. More on pain meds later. Just be prepared for different nursing styles and temperments amongst the staff that will be caring for you. They really mean it when they say they are there to help you in any way they can, so don't hesitate to ask, ask ask. The "momma bears" will even help you take a shower if you want to.

TIP 2 - Charts
There are lots of things to keep track of during your stay: when the baby eats, when the baby goes peepee and poopoo, when you go peepee and poopoo, when you take your pain meds.

TO DO: Be prepared to keep track of everything that is important to you by yourself (in other words, make sure your spouse is prepared to do this). At our first hospital stay we did this using paper charts we brought with us. At our second hospital stay there was a dry erase board we used. Second time around, we weren't so worried about when the baby last ate and for how long on each side, etc...our babies are excellent eaters and this time breastfeeding came much easier. But we were interested in keeping the pain medication I was taking on a regular schedule so that there were no periods of time when a pill was missed and the pain began to be unbearable. Let each nurse know that pain management is important to you (or breastfeeding, whatever the case may be) and that you want their help in supporting you in keeping track, etc.

TIP 3 - Meals
If you are delivering at Northwestern's Prentice, you are in luck...the food is pretty good and you get a room service menu to order from at your leisure. Most other hospitals bring you a menu the check off items on before the scheduled meal and then deliver it when they get to it.

TO DO: At Prentice there are 3 tips.
1. Ask the person that takes your order (over the phone) what you can have (i.e. one entree, 2 sides, 1 dessert and 1 drink) and then order the max. Your spouse can help you eat what you don't get to...or your toddler if she happens to be visiting when your lunch arrives with a chocolate milk and a fruit cup you hadn't planned to get to.
2. Make sure you order in advance, it really does take 60 minutes from the time you place your order to the time they bring it.
3. Find out from your doctor how soon you can order from the full menu (I think this mainly applies to c-sections). With baby #1, I had to have clears (think jello and chicken broth) for 2 whole days, but with baby#2 my doctor said I could have solids as soon as I wanted if I wasn't feeling nausiated. So within 5 hrs of having my baby, I ate mac n cheese and a fruit cup and chocolate brownies.

Tip 4 - Nursery
With baby#1, we didn't take enough advantage. By the second or third night we turned our baby over to the nursery staff for 3 hours each night so mom could get some sleep and dad could get a shower and a change of clothes and something hot to eat. We put a note in the crib with the baby that she was a breastfeeding baby only, but I think they might have given her a little something else once or twice to sooth her so I could get some sleep.

TO DO: Find out right away what the nursery policies and hours are and decide if you plan to check your new bundle of joy in during your stay so you can sleep. You can also send her to the nursery to get a bath. If you are breastfeeding only, make sure that you know whether or not they will bring her back to your room when she get fussy instead of giving her a bottle and decide how you feel about that. It's your call, sometimes a good 4 hours of sleep will be better for you than ensuring nary an ounce of formula ever passes your babies lips.

Baby Comes Tomorrow

Yes indeed, she will be here Tuesday, July 21 in the afternoon. Will keep you posted!

I saw the doctor today and got my last weight check of the pregnancy. Current weight is 16o.5 lbs. Total weight gain for the pregnancy = 28 lbs.

She'll Be Here in 1 Week!

That's right - baby girl number 2 is scheduled to arrive via c-section next Tuesday afternoon. I have one more doctor's appointment, 1 stop to make at the hospital to pre-register, and 1 appointment to give my own blood, in case I need blood (O neg is rare I guess). Things are getting pretty exciting around here!

Week 37 - or week 38ish...

Well, hard to say what week this is. Better to just count the days left until baby #2 will be delivered via scheduled c-section. And that count folks is just 14 days! 2 weeks from today I'll be heading to a different part of the hospital than my OB's office and checking in!

At today's doctor's appointment everything looked good. I'm not dilated at all, so a planned c-section seems the way to go for sure. My weight hasn't gone up but half a pound since last week. So I'm at 156.5 lbs. Total weight gain to date is coming in at 25 lbs. And honestly folks, it's not from trying to eat healthy or exercise. I have been consuming enough McDonalds, ice cream and grilled meat (read hot dogs and hamburgers) to offset any veggies and fruits I consume. I've also found that chasing after a toddler and cleaning the entire house twice a week for showings is really good exercise. By 9:30pm I'm usually one my way to bed...completely exhausted. And yes, I know, I should be greatful for the full night of sleep because in just 14 days...

Week 36 - Less Than 1 Month to Go!

The week's appointment with the doctor was uneventful. We talked about the planned c-section, especially about the anesthesia... "let's just make sure everyone in the OR knows that under no circumstances are they to administer Ketamine or another form of hallucinogen for that matter." Sounds like a planned c-section should go much more smoothly than one following 21 hours of labor and a worn off epidural.

Weight update (that toddler keeps me too active!): current weight is 156 pounds. Total weight gain = 24 lbs.

Week 34 - Ooops

Oh yeah, the OB appointments are every 2 weeks now. I guess I should have been paying closer attention to my calendar. Do you think the Dr's office will mind if I just don't come in until week 36? Maybe I should call them back.

Week 32 - How Many Weeks Am I?

Is it bad to ask your doctor how many weeks along you are at an appointment? I just haven't been good at keeping track this time around. Turns out I'm 32 weeks :) At this point in the pregnancy I'm noticing some more differences between pregnancy #1 and pregnancy #2. First off, my weight gain is less. And most noticeably at this point, I don't have the swelling like I did the first time. My wedding ring still fits and I am not afraid to show my ankles in public (they are not grotesquely swollen like last time). I am extremely grateful for this since I'm doing the end of my pregnancy during the summer. Not that it has felt like summer very much yet here in Chicago, but someday soon maybe it will warm all the way up.

Current weight = 154 lbs, total weight gain to date is ~22 lbs.

We also had an ultrasound at this appointment which went well. Everything with baby looks good and measures correctly. Here is a grainy pic. Sorry if you can't tell what on earth you're looking at...it's the baby, I promise. She's looking up in profile. Top of her head is to the right of the shot. Her arm is coming up from the left of the shot and her hand is in front of her mouth. We saw her swallow and move her arm around during the ultrasound.

Every 2 Weeks

I guess with your first pregnancy it gets kinda fun when your appointments switch to every 2 weeks...it makes you feel like things are really getting going, especially that first time they check your cervix and tell you that you are 1 cm dilated. Well, maybe it's just me, but with #2, I am really peeved to have to go in every 2 weeks just to pee in a cup and have them take a few measurements. Honestly...I have to take a toddler downtown and mess with a parking garage and validation and elevators and all that for a 10 min doctor appointment. Can't I just mail in some pee?

My current weight is 150.5 lbs. I guess I've been exercising too much (read: chasing, hauling and dragging around a 30lb toddler) and last night's peanut M&M binge didn't do enough to tip the scale. Current weight gain to date is still ~19lbs.

Week 29 - Glucose Test

This time at the OB I enjoyed taking the glucose test. The use of the word enjoyed is sarcasm. Most women hate the orange flavored suggary drink you have to take down in 5 minutes. This is probably bad to admit, but I am fond enough of sugar that it doesn't bother me that much. I'm as surprised as you, especially since I don't care for anything orange flavored (even oranges the fruit are pretty low on my list of favorite fruits). I also don't drink soda so this type of drink is way out of my zone. Long story short, I passed my test and therefore don't have gestational diabetes. Good thing. I really like me some sugar. Boston Creme donuts are still one the menu!

Today's weight 151lbs. Total weight gain = 19lbs.

So this isn't turning out to be a weekly thing...

I guess I'm not really going to manage to post something to this blog every week. I'm sure other moms out there are not surprised. I had my 24 week appointment with the OB a few weeks ago and everything is great. It was one of those quickie appointments... pee in the cup, hop on the scale, check for the heartbeat, measure the belly and book the next one. I'm so glad they validate parking because the parking garage at Northwestern Hospital is not cheap.

Details from the appointment: the OB said I'm measuring slightly big (are we surprised?). My weight gain is a total of 11 pounds. I'm showing like a first pregnancy... in other words, my belly is not sticking out as far as most do for a second pregnancy. What can I say? The abs still have some fight in them. We'll see how things measure up at the next appointment. Getting our condo on the market has triggered some serious stress eating (pudding snacks or ice cream anyone? how about pudding on top of ice cream - seriously). Hopefully I pass the glucose test at my next appointment, I'd hate to get diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Third Trimester - Call It Official

Since I'm going to be having a repeat c-section with this one, baby number 2, we already have the delivery date booked. Today marks the 3 months before baby is here date, so I'm calling it official, I'm now in my third trimester.

Week 20 - It's a GIRL!

I'm thrilled to have found out today that I'm expecting a girl. She was being very coy during the ultrasound and kept that bit of information private for as long as possible. The nurse had to ask me to get off the table and walk around for a few minutes to get the baby to move into a favorable position. Hopefully she'll carry her modesty with her for life :)

What's up with baby: She was active during the ultrasound and everything looked and measured perfect. Her weight is up to about 9 ounces.

What's up with mom: So this will be girl number two. I'm really excited about that. I didn't have a sister, so I'm curious to see how my daughters will relate to each other. I feel really good. The only complaint I have is how tiring it is to lift and carry an almost 30lb toddler. She is getting to walk and climb stairs a lot more on her own these days. My official weight gain so far: 6 pounds.

Week 19 - Here We Come Florida

What's up with baby: baby is almost 6 inches (crown to rump). Baby weighs about 7 ounces. I'm looking forward to finding out if baby is a boy or a girl next week!

What's up with mom: this week I'm heading to Florida with my daughter to visit my parents. We're all planning on soaking up the sun and getting plenty of beach time. I am also planning on getting plenty of sleep and rest. My parent's spoil me and I love it! And I'm looking forward to enjoying all the great food...I'm into that glorious part of my second trimester where I can eat whatever I want without feeling full too fast. I've had a nagging cough for the last few weeks. Hopefully the sun will bake any illness out of me for good.

Week 18 - Learned Something New

What's up with baby: baby has put on some more length and measures about 5 - 5.5 inches. Weight is about 5.25 ounces. I recently read something that I hadn't taken note of with the first pregnancy: there is no direct connection with mom's blood and baby's blood. The placenta takes oxygen and nutrients from the mom's blood and then transfers them into the baby's blood through the umbilical cord. It's a protective measure for both mom and baby.

What's up with mom: my uterus is the size of a cantaloupe. I can feel it below my belly button. As predicted, I am feeling less tired and have a more normal appetite back.

Week 17 - Feel the Love

What's up with baby: baby is still about the same length (4.5 inches) but she is putting on weight more rapidly. Baby is about the size of your hand spread wide open.

What's up with mom: I can finally feel the baby moving. This being the second time around, I thought I'd feel it sooner, but here it is right on time. It's as neat as I remembered. The tiny little taps and flutters are pretty amazing. Happy Valentines day baby, I love you.

Week 16 - Tired

What's up with baby: baby is about 4.5 inches long (crown to rump) and only weighs several ounces. The baby has fingernails.

What's up with mom: Not sure I mentioned this yet, but this pregnancy has me pooped. I'm still dealing with it too, but I can see that the end is in sight. Not every night do I want to fall asleep at 7pm on the dot. I bet my husband will appreciate it when I get back to helping with our toddlers bath and bedtime again.

Week 15 - Starting To Show

It depends on what I'm wearing, but I am starting to show. We won't talk about where I do carry extra weight on my body, but it isn't my stomach, so for me to have a "pooch" is considered showing. Why is it that real 'maternity' clothes make you look more preggers than regular clothes? I put on one of my favorite maternity sweaters this past weekend (the first maternity item I've donned) and asked my husband if it made me look pregnant. Affirmative. We better take a picture soon or there won't be a 'before' picture.

What's up with baby: According to the pregnancy book I own, it's still too early to feel the baby move, but I think there have been a few times this week I've felt something. Based on how active the baby was during last weeks ultrasound, maybe Jr. is down there rocking my entire uterus and I do think I'd feel that.

What's up with mom: Also according to the pregnancy book, I'm supposed to stop sleeping on my back and stomach. Grrr. Those are my two most comfortable positions of course. I'm going to try to work on it and see how I do. With my first pregnancy I think I used a pillow to keep me from rolling onto my back. That was mainly out of fear...the book warns that back sleeping can reduce some of the blood supply.

Week 14 - First Ultrasound

Isn't she/he quite the looker! What you are seeing is the ultrasound of our second baby. On the left of the picture is the head - you mostly see skeleton showing up in white...from right to left: cranium, cheek bones and jaw. The roundish blob to the right of that is the torso...I think you can see spine at the top or maybe ribs. We got to see the heart beating and watch the baby squirm around as the doctor tried to get a good look.

Based on the measurements of the baby and the relative uncertainty of the date of my last period, we think the baby is actually 14 weeks. I am down with that. It moves my due date into July (out of August) and since it will most likely be another c-section delivery, my doctor said she'd probably opt to deliver 1 week before my due date.

As for the summary of the doctor visit, everything looks great. Oh, and in case you wanted even more personal information...I thought I'd be 100% honest about my weight gain with this one and see what we end up with. So you can start the counter at my normal non-pregnancy weight of 132.5 (I range between 130-135, so let's split the difference). As of 14 weeks I am at 131. I guess all that barfing on Christmas Eve lost me a few pounds...it sure felt like it ;) I am also going to try to get some pictures of the belly as it expands. I better snap a 'before' picture quick because right now I look like I'm showing after I eat a meal.

Week 13 - Will the Doctor See You Now?

I had an interesting conversation with an office assistant at the Obgyn. practice where I'm trying to get an appointment. She said she couldn't simply schedule me for an appointment since I was further along than most patients when they come in for a first visit. My laziness is coming back to haunt me. She said they like to do first blood work at week 9 and that she'd have to talk to the doctor before scheduling my first appointment to figure out what they would want to do at that appointment since I'm already 13 weeks. Ooops.

Update: got a call back. I'm all good. The doctor will see me, and we're all set for this Friday. And we get an ultrasound!! Can't wait to see you baby.

Weeks 6 - 12 Too Laid Back

So I've been really laid back with this pregnancy. It's my second. I've already done this. I'm not freaked out by the changes in my body or my moods. I'm busy chasing around a toddler. But I think I'm being a little too laid back. I haven't made an appointment with my doctor yet. I've started. I called and left a message. I filled out the new patient form online. I listened to the voicemail they left me. I called back. I left a voicemail for them. We're getting there.

What's up with baby in week 12: the baby is the size of a large lime. For more on weeks 6 -12 specifically check with my notes from the first pregnancy (too lazy - I know).

What's up with mom: I'm doing well. Still not really any nausea. I think I'm out of the woods on that for this pregnancy. Many friends suspect it's a boy since I'm having a different experience. As for me, I don't have boy or girl feelings either way yet. It is a different thing being pregnant at home (as a stay at home mom) versus in the office like with my first. It's easier to get to things to eat and drink all day. But it's more physically demanding. My 20 mo old weighs over 28 pounds - probably not a weigh my doctor would want me lifting up and carrying around again and again like I do all day. We'll have to see about that when I finally get in for my first visit.

Weeks 1 - 5 Who Knew?

Most pregnancies start out this way, for the first official 4 weeks, no one knows you're pregnant, not even you! Then you miss a period and it gets fun. You wonder if you are. You take a test (or if you're anything like my friends you take 4-8 tests). You tell your spouse. You tell your mom. You tell your best friends. You get busted at a party when you refuse to drink any wine or coffee. That brings us up to week 5. My parents and most of my friends knew.

What's up with baby in week 5: there is a beating heart, and little buds of arms and legs. So much work is going on in there.

What's up with mom: not puking. Amazing if you compare it to my first pregnancy! With one exception. On Christmas Eve, I starting by getting sick at 10 am and then couldn't keep anything down. I didn't get anything done that day that I needed to... didn't clean the house, didn't go to the grocery store, didn't cook anything to eat for Christmas dinner the next day... nothing. It was so bad, my husband had to come home from work early to help care for our daughter (who saw way to much TV that day). And for Christmas day, I mostly laid on the couch recovering and we ate pizza. But since then, no sickness! What I am is tired. I usually go to bed shortly after our toddler does.

How We Shared the News With My In-Laws

This is a fun story. For a week after new years, we headed out to visit all the in-laws. We hadn't told them yet because we knew this trip was coming up and wanted to tell them in person. Our daughter (20 mo.) is very verbal and so we decided to see if we could get her to be the one to share the news. We worked for several weeks on this question and response...
Daddy says: What's new with us?
She responds: There's a baby in mommy's belly.

All was going smoothly. She said it correctly almost every time. But then the last day before we left, she decided to start saying: There's a baby in my belly. And patting her own tummy. This could be a challenge. We worked on it, but to no avail.

With massive numbers of family all in one big room, we announced that our daughter had a special trick to show everyone. Daddy asked: What's new with us? And, you guessed it, she responded: There's a baby in my belly! She said this very loudly and clearly - well done - but it was confusing. I simply said: No, there's a baby in my belly. And after a few seconds most people figured it out!

How Far Along Am I?

The first problem I encountered was trying to remember when I had my last period. I just couldn't. I looked back at the end of October, for clues on the calendar that might remind me...was I on my period at Monica's party? at our Halloween party? I still can't quite remember so I'm going to guess and say that Oct. 26 was the first day of my last period. It's as good a day as any. I also figured out why we weren't getting pregnant in those months before our Turkey trip. I probably ovulate really close to the end of my period. This was true of our first conception, and is true of this second one. I wonder what my doctors will make of that. Does it matter if my baby is 1 week ahead in existence from a normal pregnancy?

How I Found Out I Was Pregnant

This past Thanksgiving (2008), my husband and I decided to take a trip to the country of Turkey with our church. We had been trying to conceive for several (about 6) months prior to this trip and needed a break and some time alone. We left our daughter at home with my parents and headed abroad. I planned on getting my period during the trip. But then I didn't. I also was pretty weepy and a little picky about the food, but I figured this could be attributed to missing my daughter and being in a foreign place. We got home from the trip when I was a good week past when I should have gotten my period. That night my husband picked up some pregnancy tests. Thanks to jet lag, I woke up at 3am that next morning and figured it was as good a time as any to pee on a stick. So I took the test, and yes it was positive. I woke my husband up and he some something to the affect of: yes, I already knew you were pregnant (like last time) can we go back to sleep. Really, he was thrilled! Me too. We got to tell my parents in person the next day before they headed home.

Expecting Again!!

Yes! Our first, daughter Lauren, is 20 months old. After several months of trying, we are pregnant with number two. I've been super lazy and haven't gotten into the doctor yet. I have new insurance so I need to switch doctors. I've been gathering and screening suggestions from friends and am finally just getting around to it. Let's hope I don't get much of a lecture when I roll in there for my first appointment and I'm already 12 weeks :)