My wife just gave birth and it was my first multi-night hospital stay. The midnight pokes and checks were infuriating. It also doesn’t help that dads aren’t the patient after a birth, so they aren’t fed or given a bed. Constant nurse changes were difficult too.
On the plus side, I was surprised at the decent quality of food given to my wife. Steamed vegetables and mid grade proteins with every meal.
After two nights we made the case to be discharged. Everyone, including nurses and family, thought we were crazy to leave so early. Best decision we made and my wife recovered great. With the built in iOS medication reminder app and a blood pressure monitor I was able to manage her just fine.
> After two nights we made the case to be discharged. Everyone, including nurses and family, thought we were crazy to leave so early.
In my country you don't even stay a single night if everything goes fine. There is no medical need for parents and child to stay at any hospital if there were no complications
Congratulations! We just went through the same thing and decided to leave after one night in post-partum. It's much better to be at home if there's nothing concerning that needs medical attention.
Side note: it was surprising how well the "dad chair" served as a place to sleep after being awake for 24 hours.
> It also doesn’t help that dads aren’t the patient after a birth, so they aren’t fed or given a bed.
Yes, and? You're free to go to the cafeteria and buy food or leave and go buy food. And there's usually at least a chair. What do you expect, a Marriott?
The father is the wife (and baby's) advocate in the hospital, and should leave as little as possible. You need to be there for every test and consultation.
So yah, they should be bringing the father food, and there should be a bed for him because the father is critical in having good care for the wife.
On the plus side, I was surprised at the decent quality of food given to my wife. Steamed vegetables and mid grade proteins with every meal.
After two nights we made the case to be discharged. Everyone, including nurses and family, thought we were crazy to leave so early. Best decision we made and my wife recovered great. With the built in iOS medication reminder app and a blood pressure monitor I was able to manage her just fine.