I can't imagine that they are going to prevent you feeding the baby during that 8hrs. That seems all a little unreasonable?
I would be trying to find out a little more. You may find that as Sherie says they bring the baby into your regularly for feeding, or even the obs are completed with you around!
Rest is good - but maybe for the first 8hrs or so they can come and check on you with the baby, and do the temps and everything there.
Looking back the whole time I was in hossy with Jenna they checked her temp regulary, checked her feeding and her outputs, so obs are carried out in every hospital - its just the manner in which they do them I spose?