Rece actually handled it very very well. I was prepared to cry because of his reaction, but he wasn't afraid of anything int he room and he still sat with me, but he was also only 2. I was a little sad that he had to go home and I wouldn't be putting him to bed for 2 nights but really having the baby helps that, one because you are pretty tired and two because you ahve a new baby! It really will be ok and Ben won't remember the experience for too long.
 

Ryan did great when he visited the hospital. He came every day I was there. We had a big brother present from Lily for each day. One was a coloring book and crayons, another was bubble bath for when he got home with grandma and finally a tee shirt that was predecorated with "Big Brother Ryan" with a space to trace both kids' hands with the fabric marker I brought. We had similar gifts for Zach, but he didn't visit as much because he stayed with Jay's parents in Baltimore. I think he got his all at once.
He came in before Lily was born because my water broke and it was a long time before I was really in labor. I think I may have had an IV in then, but he didn't seem to notice or care about anything like that. He got up in the bed with me and acted like he normally does. When he saw Lily he was very loving and sweet. I spent some time with just him while my mom held Lily and sometimes he just played with his cars on the floor. He seemed fine to come and go. He was happy to have us home when we got there. It all went really well for us. Now that Lily can walk and get into his stuff...not as much.
 

PS I'm so jealous of your neighborhood. I wish I had neighbors like yours!
 

Jen, there are plenty of houses for sale! ;) (though you guys have already outgrown the townhouse phase, I suppose)
 

I too would love to hear good stories about this. Luke will be able to come see me but I will be in the hospital for 4 days!!! I have never been away from him for that long before. I plan on having my hasband take him to his grandparents each time he leaves so it will be easier on everyone. But I think I will cry more then Luke will : ( This is the one thing I am not looking forward too. I can handle the c-section, but leaving my little boy...heartbreaking.
 

Jenn, I am going to be a wreck, so you will be in good company. Plus the postpartum hormones are NOT going to help the situation.
 

Well let me know how it goes. Any suggestions are very welcome.
 

I posted about this a little while back.

My niece was insane and hyper when visiting my sis in the hospital and she had a slight regression in potty training afterwards. My nephew was scared of the hospital when visiting my SIL. He clung to my MIL, but got over it quickly. He was only 25 mos though.

I am worried about this too. If I have a shorter hospital stay, we may just introduce baby & Emily at home. Also b/c our hospital is far from the house. If I have a c-section, I may want to see Emily b/c 3-4 days is a long time to be away, but again, I'd be worried about her reaction to seeing Mommy in the hospital.

I guess I'll just prep her & see how it goes.

Know any good children's books on the subject?
 

When I had my daughter my son was already 6 years old, and had definitely been my "baby boy" all of his life. My daughter was born 6 1/2 weeks early and so she had to stay in the baby NICU for a week. The hospital very graciously allowed me to keep my hospital room even though I was officially checked out so that I could stay with my daughter around the clock.

Unfortunately, this left my 6 year old with a new sister which he could not even hold and could barely even visit, and a mom who was gone for an entire week. There were many tears every night when he came to visit me at the hospital and he was constantly begging me to come home with him after the third day.

But looking back at everything now, it was just a hard week out of all of our lives, I don't think it permanently traumatized him in any way, and all of the chaos was definitely worth the final result as he and his sister absolutely adore eachother.

I also think it was harder on me than it was on him. I wasn't prepared for how much I could love both of them with all of my heart, and want to be there with both of them 24/7. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my new helpless baby girl that needed her mommy so badly, and I couldn't bear the thought of not being there to hold my big boy who was so confused and missed his mommy and just wanted to cuddle with me on the couch and have his head rubbed. Four years later, I have learned that there are plenty of times were I have to balance my attention of affection and stretch my love as far as possible.

I just call it being the mom of two.

-Diana
 

Hannah was inlove with Gracie the first moment she saw her. I worried,but in the end it was good.
 

Mine handled it fine. They bounced in, bounced around the room, on me (ouch) and bounced out.haha No, really they were sad that I wasnt coming home, but I dont recall any big emotional outbursts from it. They gave hugs and kisses and off the went, it helped alot that they were staying with grandparents and cousins. I actually recall they had a harder time when we had to go back and Hudson had RSV...they didnt like mom and baby gone at all. We all had emotional tears over that one each time we said goodbye.
 

Isaac had no problems at all. Mike went and got him as soon as they stitched me up, and Isaac visited Jacob and I when Jacob was less than two hours old. He was a little weirded out that I couldn't get down from the hospital bed, but I invited him to crawl up with me and he did. I think we even read a book or two from up there. He was intrigued by Jacob and not jealous at all, though that came later.

I think it helped that we had talked about him constantly with the nurses while I was in labor. The nurses were just ga-ga over Isaac when he came and he soaked up the extra attention so well that he barely noticed the little squirming brother in the room.

We thought about getting him a big brother gift, but didn't. Meemaw came to help Mike take care of Isaac while I was in the hospital, though, and I'm sure there was lots in the realm of giftage from her.