With my recent bubba the midwife gave him to me after he had been in his cot for an hour cos his temp was low and encouraged us to snuggle (early hours of the morning and I just wanted a few hours sleep) - and then during the next morning before I went home I kept him pretty much on my chest so he could sleep and I could doze knowing he was fine and comfy - no-one said anything to me either.....
I did with all of mine, but with my first they would take him to the nursery nearly every night anyway, but during the day if I needed a sleep he slept with me. With Alister I co slept with him 100% of the time we were in there (5 days). I would get the odd cheeky *tsk tsk* and a grin from the midwives, but they were cool about it, just said something along the lines of "you know we aren't suppose to let you do that, but you know what you're doing by now"
I can understand the safety thing and hospital policy though because of the tiny chance that something did happen, like a baby falling off the bed etc and then the parents suing because no one told them not to kwim? (and it would happen too) but I think most people are sensible enough that when they do do it, they make sure the side of the bed is up or they have a pillow behind bubs etc.
I actually broached this at one of my first middie visits. My midwife (who actually trained me as a nurse lol) praised me and said I actually encourage it, good on you for asking!
Even if I'd wanted to I couldn't have co-slept with Brock. The bed was single & the rails would not have held him in. I tried positioning things just for when I was holding him & I just couldn't get things right. He also needed to sleep on his side due to all the gunk that he was bringing up. I kept him right next to my bed until they took him to SCU. If you are unlucky enough to have bub go in there you wont be able to sleep with bub at all until you get discharged to a bonding room.
I had DS in a public hospital and was encouraged to co-sleep the 2nd night as he wouldn't settle in his bassinet.. That's where the co-sleeping started he's co-slept ever since. he recently moved into his toddler bed but at some stage during the night he ends up with us
I know there is a large hospital in Brisbane that has a very strict no co-sleeping policy. They had a very sad incident there a few years back (baby was suffocated by sleeping mama) and since then they have been very vigilant.
It would definitely be best to check with your hospital as policies will vary.
I'd never ever thought about co-sleeping while in hospital with DS1, but with DS2 the first night after he was born the excellent male midwife I had encouraged me to co-sleep. It was awesome and the midwife was fabulous!
The other nights we didn't co-sleep cause I had so much after pain. I'm not sure if the other midwives would have let me though. No one ever mentioned it.
I was to co-slept with both my bubs. In fact, with DD the midwife came in and set the bed up for me by putting the rails up and propping up our pillows so that DD couldn't slip down or fall out. With DS I just did it and no one said a word.
I co slept with both of mine too, though a few of the midwives did tell me 'we arent' supposed to let you do that, it's hospital policy' or if I fed thim in bed, they would tell me not to sleep with them, knowing full well that I was. But they did let me anyway and gave me tips of how to do it safely. Some also told me the benefits of it too.
I think I did by accident because I fell asleep. I felt a bit uncomfortable about it because I did feel that there was some danger of him falling off in the bed I was in. But I did it again later with some barriers. Noone said anything to me about it. I was in a public hospital.
I have co-slept with all 3 of mine in the hosipital and one point or another. With my last one the midwifes pretty much left me to it as they were so busy I only sore them in the morn and at change over unless i asked them for stuff.
I did, and none of the midwives or nurses said anything about it. One of them actually came in and suggested we cuddle up together and she helped set up the bed so it was safer.
Did it with both my babies... more so my DD as she was a very clingy newborn, whereas my DS wasnt so much.. but still i did it and loved it. I believe it is so good with the bonding.... well for me anyways... that baby smell just made me feel euphoric! (s?)
with izzy one of the mw suggested that i co sleep as i was buggered and izzy would only settly on me... So mw came and checked on me through out the night and new that we were okay...
But then the morning staff came on and she FLIPPED to see izzy and me sleeping 2gether, but i set her straight lol!
And i will definitly be asking about it with this one since its a different hospital.
I had DS at the old RWH, and the midwife on duty actually encouraged co-sleeping as DS wouldn't settle in the cot. She even put a couple of rolled-up blankets down the side of the bed for safety, and helped position bubs to help feed lying down. We haven't looked back!
Well the first night i had cody i was exhausted so they took him into the nursery, but he would not settle in there so the midwife ended up bringing him back into me and put him in my arms next to me and he settled straight away and slept all night.
In hospitals i think that it depends on the nurse who is looking after you. One says one thing is ok and the next one says no its not. So i would like to say stick to your guns and do what ever makes you feel comfortable, its your baby!!
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