Monday, April 26, 2010
Texting while laboring
For the past few weeks when we bid adieu to friends they say please send a mass text out when you have the baby so we can come by the hospital to visit you. While incredibly sweet this is surprising. It never occurred to us that friends visited at the hospital. We figured you visited once the family was home. Our plan was to e-mail everyone with an announcement and pictures once Sunflower came and invite people to come visit. I'm planning to order these Hershey bar announcements to give people when they came but obviously can't give them out at the hospital. I can tell my friends are sincere and really would want to come to the hospital so that leaves me confused since we didn't think anyone would ask. When asked we just say yeah for sure if we can remember to do that in the moment. I make a joke about my pregnancy brain and move on, but I guess I'm trying to figure out if you would want (or did you have) friends visiting while at the hospital? If you asked someone to let you know when you went into labor, and then they didn't tell you until later once you were home and the baby was born- would you be hurt?
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I can't give you an answer from experience, however I believe that you should do whatever work best for you.
ReplyDelete~stopping by for ICLW #126
I had one friend (who lives 4 blocks from the hospital) visit me there. Other than tht, I wouldn't have wanted anyone else - was half-naked for skin-to-skin while BF, and my nether regions were super tender.
ReplyDeleteI could see posting FB updates: "Think I'm in labour" "Sunflower here - will let you know when we're home and ready for visitors". The initial days are for you and DH +/- immediate family, as far as I'm concerned.
We had our two best friends (who are more family at this point after 15 years) they are our boys' aunties, so they came to visit. But no-one else. For us, we had no idea how we were going to react after his birth so we didnt want to make arrangements with anyone. Other friends who had babies I am aware had tons of friends come in to see them.
ReplyDeleteIts personal choice at the end of the day - yours...not theirs!!!
I'm probably not a good one to ask...one motivation for changing hospitals from the one that employs me was to avoid the 1,000 visitors scenario. I really don't want visitors at all...but will do the obligatory family thing. They've all agreed not to wait annoyingly in the lobby during the entire labor, but I did promise they could visit when all was said and done. Maybe I'm a bit more of a hermit, though. ;-) I just think I'll be tired and have my boobs exposed a LOT.
ReplyDeleteThe hospital where we are having little Tony has two hours for visiting per day and two visitors allowed at a time. It just wouldn't accomodate friends as well as family as if everything goes smoothly we'll only be in one night. I plan to text and let people know what's happening, it will give a 5 min distraction from contractions. Our families can split visiting time between them and friends can come when we are settled back at home.
ReplyDeleteI guess it could happen for either of us any time now. So I'll just wish you the best of luck sweetie, i've really enjoyed reading your blog as our pregnancies have progressed simultaneously. I hope Sunflower comes soon, but if he comes before our Little Tony I will be a bit jealous! You'll be a fab Mum I'm sure. xx
We aren't there, yet, but the plan so far is no friends at the hospital. Only immediate family. Also, only AFTER the birth. We don't want people hanging around the waiting room during. I think that we're going to want some just us bonding time.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Kate. It's really important that you get that family time, just the three of you. I felt I had to please everyone when I had SS, and it was not what was best for me or her. Of course, everyone is different, but me...I'd be keeping it to family only. Heck, my family is big and rowdy enough...adding friends to the mix would be chaos!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the Facebook update. Or send an email when you go to the hospital, letting folks know that you will let peole know when they can come. Also, consider having a good freind set up a care calednar for you (google it) and that will make sure that people don't all coem at once, and they space out their visits. and they bring you dinner!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHA, yeah right, i'm sure that will be the first thing on your mind when you go into labor, to send out a mass text!! i think people will understand if you don't send out an announcement until you get home or until whenever you feel comfortable doing it and/or having visitors. i think my husband updated his facebook status a few times while i was in labor though, he had a LOT of times on his hands.
ReplyDelete