I have to agree that Drive Through Surgical Births are awful! I think 
breastfeeding CAN be disrupted by intrusive staff, uneducated staff, and 
protocol which was written as AIM feeding as the norm, BUT, some mothers 
have had very long labors, have NO help at home, may have toddlers who also 
will be dumped in their (painful) laps as soon as they walk in the door, and pain 
issues. Some of these mothers, especially if they have a comprehensive birth 
plan, may actually do better with a few extra days in the hospital. (OK, I'm 
talking about myself here..... ;) but, I know many other women as well. ) 

First birth, 57 hour labor, 3+ second stage, C Birth. In this case I DID need to 
get out of that hospital (this was 1986) because nipple confusion and 
scheduling was interfering with my being able to learn to breastfeed for the 
first time. But, when I got home, the pain was awful, and I almost wished I 
had stayed the extra day they offered me. I was, that time, between a rock 
and a hard place.

Second birth, long labor, long second stage, and other C Birth. I had a birth 
plan, I had a private room. I became known as "that mom" (the nurses later 
told me they had a joke that "the mom in room 4004 has enough colostrum to 
feed all the babies in the nursery." "Bring them in," I joked, "The reason I have 
it is because I am not following that paper I was handed with the schedules 
and times on it, and we are nearly rooming in." They just laughed and one 
chalked it up to the fact that "she is Italian." I found out later, that years ago, 
supposedly, women of Italian Descent were often used as wet nurses in lying 
in hospitals  many years ago. I am not sure if this is really true, though.) I had 
virtually NO help at home, had a high need toddler, who I knew would no 
longer be in the care of someone else, the minute I returned home. (Despite 
the fact that this person could care for her well when I was hospitalized, and 
she was brought to see me twice a day while I was in the hospital.)  I also 
was assured of being FED, myself,  during the day, which might be difficult 
with a toddler, and a newborn, with movement being difficult, not 
being "allowed" to drive for 6 wks and a dh who only bought "dinner food" 
when he did go to the grocery store.) 

Third baby, very good birth plan. No problem rooming in. However, my baby, 
born at little over 5 lbs, 4 wks preterm, had lost more than 10% of her birth 
weight. The Ped was not concerned ("She's just getting rid of all that 
meconium, she'll be fine. But, she will need to be seen in 3 days, just to make 
sure she's OK.") Also, my incision was not healing well, being incised 3 times, 
(which would also require a 3 day visit for ME to the OB) and I NEEDED an 
other day and a half to put some weight on the baby and heal that incision. I 
need sleep and food, and quiet to heal, and even a roommate with what I can 
only describe as a TV Addiction was quieter than having to care for a house of 
five within minutes of walking in the door. 

So, I stayed. OB checked several times a day, to make sure the Birth Plan was 
being followed. The baby nursed and nursed, people brought me food. I SLEPT 
when the baby did, not having preteens to get off to school, and that baby 
gained several oz (enough to allow her a Ped Visit in 3 wks, instead of 3 days) 
healed up that incision, letting me Nest with the baby, rather than somehow 
get to the OB at 3 days (when dh went back to work the day after the baby 
and I arrived home) and it was worth taking every day the insurance allowed 
me to get well, be fed, put weight on the baby, without having to somehow 
get to the Ped as well, (again, not being "allowed" to drive for 3 wks this time) 
ect. 

I think, in some cases, if a Mother KNOWS what she is doing, if she is able to 
assert herself, if she is having no problem with breastfeeding, (or if the 
hospital has a very good, accessible Lactation Consultant) if her pain levels do 
require hospital care, if she has virtually NO help at home (and NO money for a 
Post Partum Doula) those extra days CAN make a difference. 

Pain can do some nasty things for one's ability to care for oneself. (with my 
second baby that PCA was a lifesaver)  So can worrying about the baby. Also, 
in cases where the baby may be Special Care, (even though she may be 
rooming in) it is certainly better to stay an extra day with the baby than to go 
home without the baby. Not to mention the hassle of having to get to TWO 
doctor's appointments only 3 days Post Partum, when all you want to do is 
nestle down with your newborn, and be left alone, once you get home. 

I certainly didn't mean to imply any disrespect for toddlers, but in some 
cases "mom at home" means "mom can now take care of everything" to SOME 
family members, (who might otherwise be more helpful when Mom is in the 
hospital) which may not be possible after a painful experience, at least for a 
few days. 

The View From Here.

Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLLL
Private Practice 

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