Advice For Your Hospital Stay

If you have found yourself on this page, I am so very sorry. I wanted to take the time to give a little loving advice as you spend time in the hospital with your sweet baby. I know you may be feeling a range of emotions that can feel impossible to navigate such as confusion, shock, sadness, and anger, or you may even feel some happiness and joy mixed in due to meeting your baby. Regardless of how you're feeling, know you're not alone and everything you feel is totally normal. Please take what speaks to you from this list, as I know everyone is different and has unique preferences. During this time where it's not possible to think clearly, may this list help guide you. 

• Take ALL the pictures possible with your phones. Include the little details such as a close-up of baby's toes or hands. Include parents, and if there are siblings then include them as well. Take videos too! Videos are one thing that many parents forget to do. Although taking pictures and videos may feel like the last thing you want to do right now, trust me that you will never regret taking "too many". If it's tough for you to go back and look at them for awhile, understand that is totally normal and you may have the desire to look at them later on.

• Keep everything your sweet baby touches. Blankets, hats, their diaper, clothes they wear, etc. If baby has hair, ask a medical staff member for help snipping a little hair lock to keep.

• Is there anything specific you want to do with your baby? Some parents want to give baby a bath or wash their hair. Maybe there is a special song you want to sing or listen to. If you brought a special outfit for baby, dress them in it and take pictures. Don't forget that the most important thing is just being there and being in the moment with your baby. Holding them, kissing them, and snuggling is always enough.

• Take multiple hand and footprints. Ask a medical staff member for help, or for extra kits so that you can get more prints than the standard amount that hospitals give. 

• Your hospital should have access to a "Cuddle Cot" or a cooling bed, which will allow you a longer amount of precious time with your baby while you're recovering. If they don't have access to this, then ask a medical staff member to place ice packs in baby's bed underneath a thin blanket. The ice packs will need replaced every 4 hours or so, but they produce a similar effect to an actual cooling bed.