Worried how ds will cope while I'm in hospital.

[AwesomeFoursome]

I'm really really worried how ds will cope while I'm in hospital. He will only be 18 months when the baby is born. He is a real mummy's boy especially at night. I have to put him to sleep, he goes to sleep in his bed and wakes up about 1am and co-sleeps with us for the rest of the night. I have to settle him back to sleep during the night, he settles straight away for me but he just screams for dh until he gets me. He has been very very clingy lately and if he can't get to me when he wants me he goes hysterical. He also will only eat for me, dh can't get him to eat anything and he tries often. He loves playing with dh, going for drives and walks. But for sleeping, eating, if he is upset, sick or hurts himself he just wants me. I don't know what to do. I hate seeing my baby upset .

[~Serenity~]

ummm,

well on the plus your dh will really apreciate everything you do when you get home

when im expecting a bub i tend to be a lil harder on the older ones to make sure they have there sleep ,eating etc down good because when the new one arrives it will make it way harder and more stressful if you have to deal with that as well,dont know what parenting style you do but i tend to be more of the tough love kinda girl because in the long run it makes life easier for everyone,apart from that no real advice....
wishing you the best of luck though

[bronners]

Does your hospital have early discharge? I had the same concerns about my son and ended up coming home about 8 hours after giving birth and had midwives visit me for 3 days post partum. It was fantastic and so nice to be home in my own bed too.
all the best!

[Rivlas]

Do you have parents/family nearby? If so get him used to sleeping there during the day then do an over nighter and build from there.

My GS was 19 months when his brother was born and he slept fine at our house. It also made the change over better as he was used to us around. He stayed with us until the baby came home and I visited often over the next few days, even though his dad was there, just to spent time with him.

Not sure if you have the option that bronners suggested. It will also depend on how you feel afterwards.

[Erin_25]

I really don't have any helpful suggestions, but was wondering have you left him with DH before?

I was wondering how our DS would be when he was younger, as I had to leave him overnight with DH a couple of times...it's amazing how different they actually are when you are not around. They do play on it if you are there at the time, but often not a fuss when you are not.

Also just wondering if you could work on DH doing some of these things each night til bubs is born, atm you DS is still very young so you should be able to change the habits. Just a thought.

[AwesomeFoursome]

Thanks for the replies.
Heavenly - We have been doing gentle parenting with ds. Ds works himself up very quickly, so much that he vomits.
Bronners - I have an appointment with the hospital on the 16 June. We will ask them at the appointment. With DS I was in there two nights then signed myself out against doctors advice, I couldn't stand the place any longer. I don't if they wanted me to stay longer because it was my first baby.
Rivlas - We got no family nearby who can mind him, its just me and dh. I don't even know who I will get to mind him while I'm having the baby .
Erin_25 - Dh hasn't really had him at home by himself, they go out together heaps but I don't go out much without them. We will start trying to get dh to put him to sleep at night and see if that works.