Tell us the length of hospital stay when your offspring arrived?

[graciegirl]

I think it was five days after the birth that I stayed, just a routine stay back then, and Sweetie wasn't allowed to be with me for the actual birth. Nurses promoted bottle feeding too. You were either given a "spinal" that left you with a terrible headache if you didn't lie flat for a goodly amount of time after the birth, or an amnesiac like Scopalamine that did nothing for the pain but erased the memory. Episiotomies were routine, if I remember correctly. So many changes since then!

Gretchen was born at Riverside Hospital in Columbus and Helene at Coleman in Indianapolis. Coleman, part of Indiana University, was known for it's wonderful food. Coleman had hospital dietitian training and it was most enjoyable fine restaurant quality food.

[njgrann]

My first child was born at Dover Air Force Base. Two hours before he was born, they told my husband that I wasn't really in labor. I remember thinking that if that wasn't labor, I'd never make it through real labor. :-)

I guess I was in the hospital 4 or 5 days. They made us change our own baby's clothing, and we had to go into the hallway and get our babies out of these long carts of bassinets. They also brought us huge pile of diapers to fold while we weren't busy. No visitors were allowed except the fathers.

The next birth felt as though I was in a luxury hotel. :-)

My mother had to stay in the hospital for two weeks after our births. They didn't even let them out of bed. Can you imagine how tired you'd be after all that time.

[mom2five]

My first was born in 1980 and you stayed in hospital for 5 days. You were not allowed out of bed for 12 hours after but I was up in the first hour. Each day you were there you went to classes in baby care, like bathing changing feeding and they helped you with breast feeding as well. By 1988 when I had my youngest it was down to 48 hours stay which was great for me as I had lots of practice at caring for babies but I really felt the first time mothers lost out. I worried about some of those young women going home with those tiny babies with no clue of how to take care of them. I understand that they only allow most mothers 24 hours now after birth and I really think that is wrong. They need time to adjust and time to get comfortable with caring for an infant.

[graciegirl]

My first was born in 1980 and you stayed in hospital for 5 days. You were not allowed out of bed for 12 hours after but I was up in the first hour. Each day you were there you went to classes in baby care, like bathing changing feeding and they helped you with breast feeding as well. By 1988 when I had my youngest it was down to 48 hours stay which was great for me as I had lots of practice at caring for babies but I really felt the first time mothers lost out. I worried about some of those young women going home with those tiny babies with no clue of how to take care of them. I understand that they only allow most mothers 24 hours now after birth and I really think that is wrong. They need time to adjust and time to get comfortable with caring for an infant.

Jaundice occurs frequently to newborns after 24 hours too.

[Karen83]

I had c-sections and back in '73 they kept me for 7 days. Craig was brought to me every 4 hours for feeding (more often if I asked), and was on a very good schedule when we got home!

My last c-section was in '81 and what a change! They expected me to take care of David and I mean total care, while taking pain medication the same day he was born. They made me feel like the worst mother in the world when I asked for some help because I was quite groggy. I had all three with an epidural, but was "put under" after the birth. I was home in 4 days and glad to be out of there!

The best experience was in '75. Matt was born in Lafayette, Lousiana and those people are the best! We both recieved wonderful care. We were supposed to stay 5 days, but Matt became jaundiced and had to stay a little longer. In those days, Mom got to stay too!

We are now anxiously awaiting the birth of our 2nd grandchild, a boy, due in about 3 weeks. I hope she gets to at least stay overnight!

Wow GG, watch out when you get women talking about childbirth experiences...this could be a very long thread!!

Karen

[Boomer]

It was the 4th of July. I was 20 years old. Was watching fireworks the night before. Had to leave for the hospital. 4 hours into the 4th. Slip. Drop. Get up and go plow the field.

Actually, I did get up and walked down the hall to take a shower. The nurse came running in, panicked. "I thought you had jumped out the window!!!" she yelled.

"Huh?" said I. "I just felt like I needed a shower." (Heck, I was 20. And of sturdy peasant stock. There were fields to be plowed.)

And I still remember it was fried chicken and mashed potatoes for lunch that day. And a little American flag on my tray. The 4th of July!

"Why am I so starved?" I remember asking the nurse.

"Honey," she said, "you have just done some serious hard work."

And they tried to keep me for 7 DAYS! It was a very long time ago.

I begged them to let me go home. Finally, after 5 days they grew weary of me and sprung me.

I never did it again.

I always say that I got it right the first time.

But when Boomette gave birth to our grandchildren, Boomlette and her brother Boomster, it was practically a drive-by birthing.

Boomer

[Peachie]

Boomer, you've read "The Good Earth", (another great book), haven't you?

Our firstborn son wasn't an easy pregnancy and was delivered one week after due date at 4 lbs 10 oz. I required surgery and a transfusion of 2 pints of blood from complications after his birth. Frightening for me because my grandmother hemorrhaged to death after the birth of my uncle, my Dad was two at the time and had no recollection of his mother. Son is terrific and worth the trouble. I came home in five days, he remained hospitalized until he reached 5 lbs.

Second son arrived 2 wks late, 10 lbs 4 oz, delivered with spinal and huge headache from spinal to follow. We were both sent home in 4 days. This son is 6'5" now and worth the huge headache that ensued delivery. (This son just sustained a very unusual hand injury last Saturday that gives his mother another huge headache).

Third son arrived 2 wks early, 9 lbs 3 oz, posterior delivery which required some gas anesthesia for completion. He was worth the extra effort required for delivery. We both went home in four days but he was one of the very last deliveries in the old hospital which was being closed for a newer hospital built in an outlying area, at the time. To celebrate the history of the old hospital Mr. Peachie and I were served a surf and turf dinner by candlelight. Lovely!! This was a December birth so New Year's Eve was celebrated at home.

The "family" slot machine had delivered three sons and we felt we were winners. Quit playing those slots and enjoyed our winnings, no more children after that.

[graciegirl]

bump

[Boomer]

[QUOTE=Peachie;172168]Boomer, you've read "The Good Earth", (another great book), haven't you?......



Peachie,

Yes, I have read it.

(And, now, right here.....imagine that you are hearing that music from "The Twilight Zone.")

Peachie! Honest! I was thinking about that scene in that book when I wrote that post here yesterday morning!

(deeee-doooo-doo-dah-deeee-doooo-doo-dahhhh) - That's me singing that "Twilight Zone" theme.

Anyway, I think it so funny that often you seem to think like me. Or maybe I think like you. Oh, who knows? It is funny though.

I think I told you that one time when I was reading one of your posts, Mr. Boomer was reading over my shoulder and he said, "Did you write that?" I had to tell him that my name is Boomer, not Peachie. (I really like your name though.)

So anyway, Peachie, I just had to let you know that we must have been on the same wavelength again, yesterday morning. I really was thinking about "The Good Earth."

Boomer

[Peachie]

Excuse us for a moment, GG, but I as long as this is about childbirth, I wanted to mention to Boomer that I think anyone whom has read the exceptional book by Pearl S. Buck, "The Good Earth", would automatically think of this literary gold when discussing the delivery of children. Now that was a description of childbirth efficiency, don't you think Boomer?

[Rokinronda]

OK girls, you can hate me.
I was never sick, and loved being pregnant.
Baby due on 10th......nothing....decided to have 1 drink with my Aunt for her birthday and about 2 AM woke with a tummy ache.
3 hours of cramps. 15 minutes of hard labor while I waited for the doctor to get to the hospital. When the doc arrived and said push, he literally had to 'catch' Jessica. 1 push and DONE! Au natural birth. Ed by my side both times and pictures taken. Jess was 8 lbs. 2 oz. and came home on Valentines day.
4 years later our son, even quicker. 10 minutes at hospital and plop. Matthew was 6lbs 2 oz. He was 22 inches long and so thin that I cried. He is now 6'2"!! He was born on fathers day.
Spent 3 days in the hospital each time.
I was then 'fixed' . Dr. did not want to 'fix' me. He said I was a baby machine! many years later I offered to carry an in vitro child for my cousin and her husband who were having problems. We almost went through with it. Then at the 11th hour a call came for a baby girl from Guatamala that needed a home and they opted for adoption. Giana Rose, such a beautiful happy girl with wonderful parents.

[sschuler1]

I had many complications with my pregnancy. I hemmoraged so bad that I passed out at home and was taken to the emergency room by ambulance. They decided the baby was too much in distress and wheeled me into the operating room for an emergency c-section. She was born 6 weeks early at 5 lbs. 8 oz. I had complications that kept me in ICU overnight, and in a regular ward for another day. They didn't move me to maternity until she was 2 days old, and I still hadn't seen her. I got out of bed as soon as they got me there and walked to NICU to see her for the first time. They weren't sure if she would survive (she was born without a heart beat), so they didn't put me in a room with a mom with a healthy baby so I wouldn't be jealous. They put me in a room with a woman that was pregnant and hadn't been able to keep down any food. Seriously, she would vomit if they even gave her water to drink!!! I got out of there as soon as I could, which was 6 days. Jennifer had to stay another 2 weeks in NICU. She came home from the hospital on my birthday. Decided pregnancy wasn't for me and didn't try again!!!!!

[graciegirl]

OK girls, you can hate me.
I was never sick, and loved being pregnant.
Baby due on 10th......nothing....decided to have 1 drink with my Aunt for her birthday and about 2 AM woke with a tummy ache.
3 hours of cramps. 15 minutes of hard labor while I waited for the doctor to get to the hospital. When the doc arrived and said push, he literally had to 'catch' Jessica. 1 push and DONE! Au natural birth. Ed by my side both times and pictures taken. Jess was 8 lbs. 2 oz.
4 years later our son, even quicker. 10 minutes at hospital and plop. Matthew was 6lbs 2 oz. He was 22 inches long and so thin that I cried. He is now 6'2"!!
Spent 3 days in the hospital each time.
I was then 'fixed' . Dr. did not want to 'fix' me. He said I was a baby machine! many years later I offered to carry an in vitro child for my cousin and her husband who were having problems. We almost went through with it. Then at the 11th hour a call came for a baby girl from Guatamala that needed a home and they opted for adoption. Giana Rose, such a beautiful happy girl with wonderful parents.


Rhonda, You and Boomer are the girls from The GOOD EARTH. I constantly remind Gretchen that I was in labor with her for THREE days and I too required two units of blood, Peachie.

Things are so easy nowadays Henry and I are considering another little bundle from heaven..............:evil6:

[islandgal]

Although I was married at 23, we waited to have children. My first was born one month before my 30th birthday. After 23 hours of labor, I had a c-section with the mid line incision that is no longer done.
Had two more sections at 32 and 34 and then was "fixed"!
This was during the 60's and I had to stay in the hospital 7 days with each one and not allowed to breast feed.

I am convinced that the current in-one day and out-the-next hospital births have a lot to do with the postpartum sad stories we hear about.

[JanfromJersey]

Rhonda,

I had a cousin like that. Her labors got quicker and quicker. I always hoped that genes would prevail, but it didn't work out that way for me. Thankfully, though my births were not so bad - nothing dire ever happened.

The worse was my son (who was the last birth). I had a pretty uncomfortable time laboring with him. They were pushing me to the delivery room when my husband arrived. They asked if I wanted to stop and visit with him. Yeh - right. All I wanted to do was get in that delivery room and get it done.

Jan

[conn8757]

Ok - I want to get in on this -
First son (1972), my back hurt-I had been to the doctor the day before and he said see you next week. It was 2 weeks before due date. After 4 hours of back pain, we went into doctor's office, another doctor examined me and said "don't even go home, go right to the hospital". He was born 45 minutes after we got there. I stayed 3 days at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. (He weighed a little over 10 lbs.)
Son #2 born in 1974 - three weeks early - 8 1/2 lbs- stayed 2 days at Northside Hospital in Atlanta.
1980- trying once more for a little girl. Twin boys born 7 weeks early @Ft. Hamilton Hughes in Hamilton, Ohio. They had hyaline membrane disease and were taken to Childrens' Hospital in Cincinnati. Checked myself out of the hospital the next day and followed them. One came home at 3 weeks and the other on his due date 7 weeks after his birth. We thought God had a great sense of humor adding two more boys to the 2 sons we already had. Now I know he does, since I have 5 grandchildren - all girls.

[graciegirl]

Ok - I want to get in on this -
First son (1972), my back hurt-I had been to the doctor the day before and he said see you next week. It was 2 weeks before due date. After 4 hours of back pain, we went into doctor's office, another doctor examined me and said "don't even go home, go right to the hospital". He was born 45 minutes after we got there. I stayed 3 days at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. (He weighed a little over 10 lbs.)
Son #2 born in 1974 - three weeks early - 8 1/2 lbs- stayed 2 days at Northside Hospital in Atlanta.
1980- trying once more for a little girl. Twin boys born 7 weeks early @Ft. Hamilton Hughes in Hamilton, Ohio. They had hyaline membrane disease and were taken to Childrens' Hospital in Cincinnati. Checked myself out of the hospital the next day and followed them. One came home at 3 weeks and the other on his due date 7 weeks after his birth. We thought God had a great sense of humor adding two more boys to the 2 sons we already had. Now I know he does, since I have 5 grandchildren - all girls.

What a heartwarming finale! You must have lived VERY close to me if you delivered at Fort Hamilton Hughes. We have spent the last 34 Years in West Chester, Ohio. Little boys and little girls. Funny, they are always exactly what we wanted!

[faithfulfrank]

Jane always came home the next day from the hospital......was always eager to get home.
Although our three boys were delivered in the hospital, I delivered them myself.

I made a deal with the doctor.....just be a lifeguard, as long as all is going well, let me do everything......I'll catch the baby, suction, cut the cord, etc,etc.
You just stand there and watch and get paid, and jump in if any complications arise.

I'm a true do it yourselfer, built my own house, delivered my own boys. I figure any guy could start the job, a real man finishes it. ;)

Jane always felt more comfortable with me then any doctor anyway. My youngest is 19, so that was many years ago.

Frank D.

[graciegirl]

Jane always came home the next day from the hospital......was always eager to get home.
Although our three boys were delivered in the hospital, I delivered them myself.

I made a deal with the doctor.....just be a lifeguard, as long as all is going well, let me do everything......I'll catch the baby, suction, cut the cord, etc,etc.
You just stand there and watch and get paid, and jump in if any complications arise.

I'm a true do it yourselfer, built my own house, delivered my own boys. I figure any guy could start the job, a real man finishes it. ;)

Jane always felt more comfortable with me then any doctor anyway. My youngest is 19, so that was many years ago.

Frank D.


FRANK. YOU are the baby. My youngest is 43.

[faithfulfrank]

FRANK. YOU are the baby. My youngest is 43.

That's funny. I don't feel like a baby.....I turned 50 this summer! That is one thing I like about Florida.....up here I feel old....down there I feel like a kid!!

Frank D.

[Blondie]

Gracie,
Wow..you and Henry considering having another little bundle from heaven....I am truly in awe of you two. :faint: I would love to give you a shower since I bet you don't have any of the necessities for a baby. Oh, and I would also like to offer you my services (psychological) free of charge for both you and Henry. :1rotfl::duck:

[graciegirl]

You laugh. But you just might be surprised Blondie Marie.;)

Dr. B...Would that be for us now, later, or both?

[Blondie]

If you and Henry come through with the bundle.....you have standing weekly appointments for as long as we all shall live. ;)