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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