When you walked out of the hospital for the first time ...

[sloane]

i walked out, DP carried DS & my dad carried the rest of the stuff (he had to come to drive my car which had the car seat cos it's a manual & DP drives an auto hehe). i think i was carrying DS but i needed to go to the toilet before we left so i handed him over. we walked out to the car in the car park, but it wasn't that far.

i'd been waiting in the waiting room for an hour or so before they arrived (last minute installation of the car seat) & i think the hospital had forgotten i even existed by that time!

[Cassius2]

we walked out! small maternity hospital so no lifts/stairs or massive carparks to traipse around...

pity that we didnt know how to use the car capsule though LOL! we fumbled around for a good 10 minutes trying to get the straps the right length for her LOL! (she was a tiny bub)...

[Indadhanu]

Oh, yeah Sarah thats a good point... I might replace the word "walk" with the word "shuffle"... that was more like what I did!

Clare, we spent a good 15-20 minutes trying to get the straps right too! It was frustrating and at one point I remember Shel something something along the lines of "we'll you'll just have to live here because I can't get this right!"

[Olive]

i walked out both times with bubs in my arms, was the best feeling i also love the smiles everyone gave us, i walked to the car with DH

[smiles4u]

... i remember walking out dressed like a Queen with a beautiful black winter coat as it was freezing weather with my sparkly diamenete brooch and all makeup on & hair looking fab, i did it thinking both my old-fashioned grandmothers & my very poshy Auntie whom all had passed away would have been so proud to see me dressed like i was a Queen, LOL

I walked out with DD wrapped in a beautiful baby shawl in my arms with DP walking in front carrying everything & i felt the most beautiful feeling like i was floating on air (but then that might have been lake of sleep too, LOL) ... to the carpark at the front of the hospital ... and then of all of the people who happened to walk behind me moments before was approached our car was one on the beautiful midwives whom saw me throughout my pregnancy ... she being there while putting DD in car was an added bonus to a wonderful & very special day

(for me it was easier walking out as had vag birth so need for wheelchair here !!)

[JCE0810]

DF did a few trips to the car before coming back to get DD & I, I walked from my room on the maternity ward to the car (using the lift to get downstairs) and DF carried DD in the baby capsule he was so proud. The car was close to the exit so i didnt have far to walk. MIL was visiting at the time and she kept asking me if i was ok.

[Jas]

Ds1, I walked out with Noah in the pram, Phil had parked it a pick up zone so not far to walk.

DS2, I walked, I think I carried Spence, or maybe it was dh?

Both times I have also walked from the Birth room to my room in the ward

[~Saram~]

first time with DS we had DS in the pram - it was already there as they encouraged people to take walks with bub and family in the grounds while we were in hospital. We also have to take out a LOT of stuff as I was in over Christmas and everyone came and had Christmas morning in the hospital with us (and yes I do mean everyone - MIL, mum, me and DH, my two SIL and their families - I think even great grandma was there???)

With DD she went home in the wrap/sling - I felt so good being able to pop her in there and walk out.

As for walking out to the car and being horrified I walked myself out of the birthing suite with bub and my bags and went and sat in the waiting area as they left me in the birthing room and it was freezing, mind you that was after a VB not a c-sec.

[Fruit Tingles]

I walked out, holding DD. All the oldish ladies were all wanting a look, and I was more than happy to show off my bundle. I was released 22 hours after giving birth.
I didn't get offered a wheel chair I don't think. I did get wheeled out of the deliver suite to my room in a wheel chair, but I was still doped up on Pethidene.

[Lisa]

DS1 - Walked out with him in the capsule. That was 4 days after his birth.
DD1 - Walked out with her in the capsule. That was 12hrs after her birth.
DS2 - Walked out holding him. That was 1 day after his birth.
DD2 - Walked out wheeling DD in the baby crib at the hospital. That was 4 hrs after her birth.

All my births were VBs.

[rufalina]

Interesting question...

Hospital policy was that we had to wheel the baby in the bassinet thing to the door, but I wheeled him to the car that DH brought right up to the door where they have a maternity drop off / pick up point. At no point was a wheelchair offered to me, despite my c-sect 3 days prior...

[Liviam]

With DD I walked out and DH carried DD. With DS I walked out and we had a capsule so DH carried DS too. I really wanted to carry them but DH kinda bet me to it so I let him as I'd been in hospital with them for days and had heaps more cuddles than he had.

[~clover~]

Hospital policy was that we had to wheel the baby in the bassinet thing to the door...

The hospital I had DS in we weren't allowed to carry baby at all. Hospital policy. Not until release so that we couldn't sue if we tripped over something & hurt baby I think.

[*TripleJ*]

i carried DS to the car and had to unwrap him to put him in it was cold i was ok if i walked really slow but the car ride was not gentle lol it was a tad painful i tore so i had stiches it hurt more when i left that was 2 days after he was born probably coz i'd been taking panadol every 4 hours and panadeine forte once a day

[MrsB26]

We werent allowed to carry our bub in the hospital either (outside your room that is) so DS was wheeled outside in his plastic bed thingy and dh had parked the car just near the door. We had a little family picture taken by the nurse that came with us out the front - by this stage i had ds in my arms then we put him straight in the car and off we went. I walked myself but i also had a vag birth so it was fine - i wasnt offered a wheel chair. I did have my first ride in a wheel chair when i was moved from the birthing suite to my room though, i thought this was odd at the time and i felt like everyone was staring at me - but i hadnt really thought past the whole birth thing and onto how yu got to your room

[Lolli]

Ds was wheeled out in the hosiptal crib after a stern lecture from a mw about not carrying babies around in the hopsital But I did get picked up in a limo!

Dd, I carried her. And yep,it was awesome

[DaintreeDream]

I had a CS with DD1. She was in NICU so unfortunatly I walked out alone, but yes I walked, they did not even think of offering to help, I was discharged 4 days post birth though.

I was up and walking 12 hours after her birth and within 16 hours I was walking about 120 metres to the nursey and back, with no assistance as there were no wheelchairs available and I was determind to see my baby, they never tried to stop me (although I am glad of this).

[briggsy's girl]

i walked out pushing dd in the pram with the capsule attachment on it. we knew we'd have to adjust it around her. DH had done a few trips out to the car already so we went out and he bought the car up. it was ater 5pm, so dark (start of june) and the entry to the hospital is on a very steep hill. DD was asleep before we got to the car - and stayed that way until we got home over 45 mins later. we stopped on the way home to make sure she was ok lol.

no offer of a wheelie for me though - she was born early fri and we didn't leave til late tues as she had lost too much weight - so i felt no dramas from the cs and only got the meds they recommended to have them at home just in case