Laying In-How did it go?

[Marcimama]

I wanted to know how your laying in time went...if you did that. How long did you stay in your bed/room and what made it a good or not so good experience for you.

Here is what I did...
I truly stayed IN bed for about 2 days, then in my room or near my bed for about 4 more days. Two things made me know I needed it. 1. I lost a lot of blood and was much weaker than I have in the past. I did a lot of sleeping and nursing the first 2 days. Then 2. I had incentive to stay in bed and my room longer because everyone that was suppose to be taking care of me ended up with the stomach flu! Yuck! That was the last thing I wanted, so I treated them like they had the plague and stayed in my room, just going out to get food from the kitchen. That was a bit hard because it was lonely and boring. To keep from going batty I watched movies on the computer, read and enjoyed the baby. It was hard, but pretty refreshing in the end. It wasn't ideal, but it was what I needed and I think really helped me get up and back to normal the next week.

[heidirk]

Wow, I wish I'd had a laying in- with my first baby I had to- had a hemmorage.

This time I felt pretty good, I'd havebeen happy to lay in on the couch if it'd been an option!

[mama.rye]

I had no issues with my labor and delivery, but feel residual anger from my laying in. It didn't really happen. My mom and DH were all over the place, and in some moments much more focused on the baby than me, so I ended up getting up alot. I should have been more vocal about needing some help, and realized on day 4 or 5 that I needed to get back in bed because my recovery and pain was getting worse, not better. I kept forgetting to eat, and no one was reminding me.

I let my mom pressure me into leaving the house on day 8 to go to dinner with DH around the corner. I couldnt even sit in the restaurant I was in so much pain. It was nice to talk to my husband, but I was not ready to leave the baby at all... Mom wanted alone time with the baby, so she selfishly pushed me out the door. Next time, no visitors until my babymoon is over.

Bottom line - next time I will let everyone know that I care for the baby and they care for me, and that I am not leaving or doing anything I dont want. Its nobodys fault but mine....

Lesson Learned.

[Baby_Cakes]

I stayed in bed fully the first day. The 2nd day, I was sitting up in bed more, and I think I made it out to the couch for a little bit. I could barely walk though, my legs were pretty weak and I was so lightheaded and out of breath. The 3rd day, I was on the couch. Laying in didn't last too long for me!

[Amber Lion]

I was in bed skin to skin with Addie for the first 3 days until my milk came in. Then I was up infrequently to the couch for the next 2 days, went for our first outing (a walk) on day 6. Laying in was AWESOME for me. My Mom was here and totally got the point - she cooked and cleaned and waited on me and I did all the baby care/bonding. It helped that my midwives told her I wasn't to get out of bed for the first 3 days. I attribute this time I spent with Addie for how well our bfing relationship started - no issues with engorgement and she only lost 4 oz by day 3 and had gained 12 oz in the next 4 days. Also, I have a very intuitive knowledge of what's going on with her - I think the laying in also really helped with developing that.

My Mom is still here and while week 2 she's still been an incredible help, I'm starting to want to do things for myself and figure out my and Addie's routine. She's leaving on Tues and I'm actually looking forward to it though I'm incredibly grateful she's been here so long to cook and clean and wait on me.

[farmerjess]

I had planned to lay in for a few days and thought it would be a nice relaxing rest time, but it turned out to be a total necessity and was really painful and intense. I lost extra blood after the birth and passed out on the floor the first time I tried to go to the bathroom, so I didn't try that again (felt too weak and lightheaded) for a full 24 hours after the birth. I continued feeling dizzy for like 3 days. I also was so torn and bruised that I could not sit for a full week after the birth. Then I got a uterine infection from a retained clot that made me feel like total crap. So, basically, I stayed in bed for a full week and couldn't walk further than the bathroom. Luckily DH and my mom were completely awesome and took care of all my needs--they kept me really full and hydrated, did all of the diaper changes, and took the baby some so I could sleep. The baby loved all this time in bed with Mama, my milk came in on Day 2! and by that night he was had already gained back 2oz of the 5 that he lost. We also learned how to nurse side lying on Day 1, if we hadn't there was no way I could have breastfed successfully. I am very lucky that I had so much support, but I can't really imagine having another baby if the recovery is going to be that difficult and intense again.....

[mamanurse]

I essentially layed in for a full week and still consider myself out of commission for duty After we got home, I was more comfortable nursing in our recliner chair in the living room. Since dd1 was at school for the first 3 days home, I just hung out a lot there and in bed. We had nobody over, save for my sisters and parents who only came by to bring us food. I did have a lactation appointment outside of the house on day 5 postpartum that I felt we truly needed. Dh came with us and was a big help.

I hemorrhaged on day 9 postpartum, had a d&c with short admission back to L&D, and kinda restarted my babymoon over. Today, I went to the grocery store to develop some pictures with the babe and that's really all I've done other than one short errand to pick up a KKAFP from a good buddy.

This week will be busy with the baby's first pedi appointment, my follow-up with the OB, and a tour of dd1's new (possibly) preschool. Hopefully there will be time for at least 1 afternoon nap each day. We'll see
If there is a next time, I'll see about having a lactation appt in my own home if I feel there is a need.

[trimestersdoula]

I was in the hospital 3 days after I had Calli. The day I went home we stopped and had to grab some things at the grocery store. I stayed in the truck as walking was still very painful from the c/s. I stayed home until 8 days postpartum. The day we went out, we took Calli and went for a short drive and came home. I wish I could have stayed in bed but we had to set up a makeshift nursery in the living room and I had to sleep in the recliner for the first week.

This past weekend 16-17 days postpartum we had a busy couple of days. We had DH's grandparents 60th wedding anniversary Saturday afternoon and then supper Saturday evening. Then after supper we had a friends wedding dance to attend. We only stayed at that for a few minutes to congratulate them. Today we went to our friends son's 1st birthday party.

I am glad the weekend. My poor daughter got pretty passed around and now she is SOOOO clingy. She has only had one decent sleep today when she was laying on my chest. She is just really out of sorts and I feel so bad.

[janasmama]

I stayed in bed the first two days. After that I was on the couch for the most part but I didn't do much at all for about 4 days. I believe it's really important to take the time to heal to avoid hemhorraging and DH agrees.

[Celticqueen]

Ugh. Lying in. I wish I didn't have to but I SO NEED to. Thanks for reminding me how important it is for some women! My pelvis is really sore from pushing him out. Still not walking very well...

Anyway, so far not good I've been cleaning like a mad person. My husband got after me for it- I'm trying to do way too much for no other reason than me just being antsy.

Speaking of rest- better go do that now...

-Caitrin

[audsma]

Seeing as how I refused help from all but DH, it went great. Dh concentrated on DD, I on the baby. He changed a few diapers in the first 24 hours, and then after that, I found myself unloading the dishwasher, doing a bit of laundry, etc. I wouldn't have it much different if I had to do it over, although, I would have liked to have been served a little more food instead of having to prep some of my own meals. All was frozen, and just needed to be reheated, but I would have liked for him to make my breakfast without my having to ask.

The best part: I got to babymoon for a week without visitors!!!!!

[Skrimpy]

Laying in went pretty well for me. Galen and I just stayed upstairs and DH took care of the big kids and *everything* else. He was truly wonderful. After the first week we moved our base of operations to the recliner in the den and I was up and more active, taking walks and such, but DH still handled everything.

This is week 3 and DH is back at work, but my mom is here now. I'm handling the food and DD's major school lessons - but my mom is doing lots of crafts and stuff with the big kids, and I'm cooking the meals I froze before Galen was born. So I'm still getting a lot of time to rest. I got a lovely 2.5 hour nap this afternoon with the baby (thanks to my wonderful mom!) Mom is here for 2 weeks and I have enough freezer meals for a month. So I'm really enjoying a pretty nice lying in period this time around with a gradual move back to "normal life!"