What To Do With Daughter While Giving Birth?

Question

We would really like to wait until after we have had our baby to call family and friends to give myself, husband and our daughter (3 years old) some family time but what do we do with her while I am in surgery? I am scheduled for a C Section. Has anyone ever had a sibling join them in the room? Is it even allowed?

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

this happened to us. i was having a c section with my second child but we didn't know what to do with our 1 year old. well...we left our son with my in-laws. my husband was in the OR with me and then I had the baby. After I was out of the recovery room and in my maternity suite I took a nap and my husband went to pick up my son so that we could introduce him to his new brother and so we could have some nice quiet family time. My family came to visit later that night because we explained to them how crazy and hectic it was going to be. They understood and came later on that evening. My husband's family was offended on the other hand and didn't end up coming to visit the baby till the last day I was in the hospital. And you know what....that's on them...they were the ones missing out.
I think you should get a close friend or family member to watch your 3 year old while your husband is with you in surgery. When he's ready to pick her up he can come back to the hospital alone with your child and if no one likes it that's their problem...they'll get over it...trust me...you can't make everyone happy...so just try to make you and your husband as happy as you can on this special occasion. You, your husband, and your two kids are YOUR family now everyone else comes second.

Good luck hun and stand your ground!!

Answer 2

Since the C-section is scheduled then could you schedule a babysitter for that time? I don't believe a hospital will allow a 3 year old in an operating room. I watch a lot of those birthing TV shows and never seen such a thing. Whomever is babysitting can bring her to you when your done with surgery. Ask the hospital when the earliest time after surgery that your daughter can come see her new brother/sister.

Obviously this babysitter would have to control her/his urge not to contact friends and relatives until you are done with your more "immediate family time". Look at the bright side you have time to choose a sitter. Women in labor sometimes have to find a sitter at 2 am when potential babysitters are sleeping and leaving their voicemails on too. I wish I was able to plan a sitter like that. I would have had less anxiety when I was in labor.

Answer 3

Depending on the hospital, your daughter might be able to be there... but for a moment think about how she will feel. Scary men with masks on will be cutting mommy open with a knife. That doesn't sound very pleasant for a child to see. Most likely the doctors will not want a 3 year old in the OR.

Perhaps ask a friend who will respect your desire to have family time right after birth watch your daughter while you and your husband have alone time during surgery.

Answer 4

They are allowed, in some hospitals, for natural birth. But not in the surgery room, no.

I asked my mother to come out a week before the c-section date. I made it clear to her what I wanted. I wanted someone to help with the housework while I was huge, someone to handle chores so I could spend time with my 2-year-old before the baby came. And that she's be there and my daughter would be comfortable with her when my husband and I were delivering, and when I was in the hosp. And she could stick around for 2 days after I got home. And then I wanted her to leave so the family could be together.

And you know what? She understood completely.
And I was glad I did. I went into early labor, and they had to do the surgery.
Things went wrong, and if my husband hadn't been there to help, I wouldn't be here today.

My son was in the neonatal unit, I was at the other end of the floor, and walking there every two hours. My husband spent most of the 5 days with me. Every time he left, the nurses would do something messed up. They wouldn't tell me what was wrong with the baby. (Turns out, there was nothing wrong with him. He was breathing too fast when he was first born, and was fine within 12 hours. But the hospital "has a policy".) They wanted me to leave without him.
My husband had to be there to fight for us when I was too exausted and sleep-deprived and worried about my baby to do anything but get up and down that hallway.

Get someone out there to be with you. Have them on call for a few weeks before, even. Your daughter will be fine with an aunt or grandma around. You and your husband will need the freedom to be in the hospital those first few days. Then after you get home you can bond.

Answer 5

I don't think they allow young children in the surgery room. You need to have someone that you trust and your daughter likes, on call when you go to have your c-section. My daughter went to her grandparents house for 3 days and then my family and friends came to my house to see the new baby. You can have your daughter in your room after you had your baby. Good luck and Congrats

Answer 6

Children 12 years old and younger aren't allowed to watch births and birth-related surgeries in most hospitals, simply because they often become frightened, run around and interfere with the surgery by being fidgety and loud.

Besides, even if your daughter was allowed to be in the room, would you really like your 3-year-old to see this? She could easily become scared, disoriented or plain freaked out by the noises and sights.

This is important to your husband, so don't send him out with her...have Grandma or a trusted neighbor babysit your daughter.

Good luck!

Answer 7

They almost definitely will not allow a child in the OR.

Perhaps you could just pick one trusted family member or friend to be babysitter at the hospital - you'll only be in the OR for about an hour, and recovery for about another two hours. There are plenty of family lounges around for them to wait in in the meantime. Just tell this one person that you don't want anyone to come visiting until YOU call them.

Good luck, and congrats!

Answer 8

I don't know if a child can go in for a c-section. But my 4.5 year old little boy went in with me and my husband to deliver his little brother. There was a friend there to remove him if things got bad, like his mother screaming! However that never happened and everything went great! He seen a little more than I intended but doesn't remember it really now. He was also so excited as soon as Weston was out. He couldn't believe it finally happened.
I highly recommend the siblings to be there, it was a great experience for him. It also makes them feel like part of the whole thing.
You would have to find out about the c-section thing though.
Good Luck!

Answer 9

have a close friend watch your daughter or have a sitter come and watch her while you have the surgery. then once you are out of surgery and have had some time alone with your husband and your new arrival have who ever is watching your daughter bring her to the hospital to see you and the baby before everyone else gets there and she loses out on that time with her mom.

Answer 10

We had my sister and mom come and sit with our 3 year old little girl. They brought her up a couple of hours after my c-section to see her little sister. Yes, it was not just family time for me and my husband and daughters. But she was the first one that got to hold her and kiss on her before her nana and Aunt. But I didn't want my daughter to see me after I came out of my c-section I wanted to be comfortable and not scare her. Maybe you could ask someone and just let them know that you want family time before you call and let everyone know if they would mind not to telling anyone. Good Luck!!