I don't have a lot of information, but I do know what was done at both
hospitals in which I gave birth. At the first, the LC came in to help
me while I was asleep, with Lexie in bed with me. She was latched on
and nursing and asleep too. She didn't wake me, but instead, returned
the next day. I was annoyed because I really wanted to speak to her
that day, not the next one. Her attitude and those of the nurses
indicated no problem with cosleeping, even though I had just had a
csection.
With my second baby, in a different hospital, also after a c-section,
the nurses were all a bit, well, afraid isn't the right word, but
unsettled by me. My after birth care plan was very strict (baby was to
be with a family member at all time, even during heal sticks (I had
GD). Baby didn't get most of after birth care like a bath or vit d
shot, etc.) and it also indicated I wanted full access for my three year
old to come nurse. Only one nurse gave me a hard time. It was early
one morning, like 6:00am, and she came in all brustly, and said
something like "I tried to take your baby in the middle of the night to
get her stats, but she was sleeping on you and I didn't want to wake
you." I asked her if she really would have taken my baby, without my
permission, from my room, if the baby had been sleeping in the bassinet
thing. She said yes. I reminded her that we had forbidden anyone to
take our baby without an immediate family member with the baby at all
times, and she turned it around and told me rudely that the hospital
doesn't approve of letting moms and babies sleep together. I told her I
didn't exactly care what the hospital thought of cosleeping, if I had to
stay one more night in the hospital I would sleep with my baby not only
because it was where she was meant to be but also to keep nurses like
her from removing babies without permission from their mothers! She
left and another nurse came back to check Janene's stats, and I asked
that the first nurse not return.
Finally, when Lexie was almost three, she was hospitalized for five
days, after abdominal surguery. They immediately brought in a "crib"
for her. I insisted on a regular hospital bed so we could sleep with
her. I had to sign a waver indicating I would not hold the hospital
responsible if she fell out. I signed it without issue, and spent a
great deal of the next five days next to Lexie in that bed. Initially,
we were told that she'd be in the hospital for 7-10 days, so she got out
early. Her surgeon said that her early release and quick recovery was
likely because of the parenting style and the breastmilk. Another
nurse, who was the grief coordinator, said I did more to teach the
nurses and other doctors about the value of extended nursing and family
bedding and gentle parenting, than any lecture or session or pamplet she
could have given them to read. All of the hospital staff commented on
how well Lexie handled the situation, and how quickly she healed!
So those are my experiences with sleeping with baby (and child) in a
hospital.
Joylyn
Naomi Bar-Yam wrote:
>> However I was wondering if anybody could
>> privately email me their guidelines for co-sleeping (either pro or
>> against)
>> and any references you may have that supports or refutes this practice.
>
>
> I'm sure I'm not the only one who would also be interested in research
> and protocols on safe co-sleeping in hospital. Seems appropriate to
> post to the group as a whole.
> Thanks,
> Naomi Bar-Yam
> --------------------------------
> Naomi Bar-Yam Ph.D.
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Researcher, Writer, Educator
> in Maternal and Child Health
> --------------------------------
>
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