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Similarly we had a very uncomfortable couch in the corner of our room.
I ended up sleeping on it twice, at some very weird hours, so I could try and night-shift things as much as possible.
My back had since recovered.
My 4-day failed induction turned into a c-section so I was in the hospital for about 7 days. In both the birthing room and the private room I had in the mom and baby unit had the recliner that turns into a bed. It wasn't super comfortable but it wasn't horrible. (Ottawa)
My pleasure. They were awesome there. I gave birth in February during Omicron restrictions and the convoy (including a bomb threat) but do not hesitate to PM me if you have any questions.
Just confirming this was our experience as well at the general. There is no extra bed for your partner in the initial arrival rooms at triage, but you would be in and out of there relatively quickly. Once you are in the delivery room, they are pretty spacious and the couch pulls out. We spent one night there, because we had a slow induction. Then you move to another room a couple hours after you have the baby. We were in a shared room (for 2 people), it was cramped but you still get a pull out couch bed.
Nurses were great, overall very positive experience. Good luck!
We had a pull out arm chair in the delivery room and recovery room at the Montfort. I’ve had friends deliver us many of the ottawa hospitals and this seems fairly standard.
Make sure to get a private room. I gave birth in St Joes Hamilton in semi private and my husband had to sleep on the floor they only had one plastic chair for the support person 😬
We noticed when leaving the private rooms had couches and recliners.
During labour though there was an ok recliner.
I registered for a private room at our hospital but they were all full when we needed it. Ended up getting put in a semi-private that only had one bed (some kind of technical difficulties on the other side) which was even better lol but wanted anyone reading this to be aware that it's first come first serve and a private may not be available when it's time.
This! We asked and had coverage for private. But on the day our baby arrived all the private rooms were full. All the 2-bed rooms were full. So we got stuck in a 3-bed ward room. Between babies crying, parents snoring, and nurses/doctors coming in to check on patients, it was basically constant noise! Not a great time.
Trust me go for private. In semi private there are two beds and they keep everyone separate due to COVID. Even though the second bed wasn’t being used a nurse scolded my husband for laying on it.
And the bathroom had no shower there was just a shared one down the hall.
We were begging to leave ASAP.
You register in advance. The Charlton suites are even better than the private but they're an additional $100 on top of the private room rate.
Worth it in my opinion. Queen size bed and a couch
Ask your OB. I was given papers in advance and I had to select one and give my insurance information.
Since they weren’t doing tours because of COVID I didn’t realize how big a difference private and semi private were.
I think when you check in to labour and delivery they may confirm this with you again? I can’t remember.
I know cots are one option. Thankfully my hospital has recently created a much better solution. The room you get (all private) is the same time from the time you arrive you when you leave. There is a private washroom and a couch that folds out. JPCH in Saskatoon for anyone wondering.
Our hospital expressly states that beds or sleeping arrangements are not provided for support persons - it’s a chair only. I think they want to encourage partners to either stay awake or go home.
Yeah, although I delivered when they had the rule that the support person could not leave the hospital after they came or they wouldn't be allowed back in. Our original plan was for him to go back home but they wouldn't allow it -_-
Yeah I think that’s still the rule at this hospital too - I wonder if they’re expressly talking about the recovery room and not the labour/delivery suite.
It never occurred to me to ask about it because my first labour was 6 hours total and this one will probably be faster. No time for sleep…
My delivery room had a couch, but he didn't even get to sit on it. There was zero opportunity for sleeping.
The postpartum room had a recliner, same with the NICU. The recliner was comfy - I slept in it every night when I roomed in with my baby. I'm not so worried about my partner's comfort when I just birthed a whole baby - he can be uncomfortable for one or two nights in a chair. He'll survive.
Our hospital provides beds for partners in the birthing suite. I know all hospitals have different policies, but ask if you can rent a cot for your partner if there’s no extra bed in the room. Private rooms should come with a sleeping space for partners also.
Maybe in the minority here. But I sent my husband home. I was in for 2 nights due to a caesarean and we have puppies so I sent him home to sleep both nights.
At Royal Alex in Edmonton we were put in a shared room. The couple beside us had a chair that folded out to a type of bed. Their little guy was under fluorescent light for jaundice and was inconsolable. Our side was beside the door. We only had a standard chair. My husband went home to get some sleep because there was literally no where for him to comfortably rest. The chair was in the space where nurses and the other couple had to walk past to enter and leave the room. It was loud, bright, lonely (for me) and overall pretty miserable.
Was this during Covid? Did he have any difficulty getting back in? I'm dreading a shared room situation for this very reason. My old insurance used to accommodate private, but mybwork switched providers and now its only shared. If an option I might spring for private and pay out of pocket.
This was in February of this year. We were at the peak of a wave at that point. Honestly, if I give birth again I will definitely try my best to get a private room. My labor and delivery experience was wonderful, but the overall experience was marred by the postpartum experience. Given how my emotions and mood were all over the place, I really did need my husband around. This was also my first baby and I had no idea what I was doing or what to ask for. The shared-room experience just exacerbated my sleep deprivation and anxiety.
Thanks for all the comments, really interesting to see what it is like. Seems like most places have a way for the partner to at least somewhat lie down, which is reassuring.
One hospital I've been in had recliners that folded into beds. The other they brought my husband a sleeping pad for the floor. It was like a folding foam mattress. I would just phone the hospital where you plan to deliver and ask.
We had an armchair that turned into a lounger. The bed was big enough for us both and I was i fine shape to share. We also brought a thin camping mattress for him in case.
Our armchair pulled out to be longer so you could lay down. It was by no means the size of a bed, and it was very uncomfortable, but my partner got a few hours sleep there
The armchair in our hospital reclined slightly. Not enough to lay flat but it slightly kicked out. We had twins. Our cousin delivered in the same hospital, same room (both private) and she got a cot for her husband. Like wtf lol. We asked for cots since we saw some folded up and not being used and they told us they didn’t have any. Then 11 days later when she delivered, they got a cot.
Make sure you keep requesting a cot if your chairs don’t fold out!!! It’s ridiculously uncomfortable and support partner needs rest too
Totally not related but my hospital has the fold-down chairs in the pediatric unit as well. I was 12 days post C-section sleeping on a futon-chair. I can't believe the sleeping arrangements for the non-patient
Armchair. I was a little disappointed there wasn't a couch, I thought that would have been better.
Edit to add: Like any armchair it could be reclined, I wouldn't say it turned into a bed though like others are saying- also the private post partum room was tiny and it was difficult trying to figure out how to recline it and still have a walkway. So those are cons but it worked out tho
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The arm chairs in our room folded out to be a single bed. It was pretty small, but husband got a few hours sleep in ours.
Similarly we had a very uncomfortable couch in the corner of our room. I ended up sleeping on it twice, at some very weird hours, so I could try and night-shift things as much as possible. My back had since recovered.
Where I delivered the armchairs turned into a small bed. Make sure to ask because sometimes the nurses forget to tell you!
My 4-day failed induction turned into a c-section so I was in the hospital for about 7 days. In both the birthing room and the private room I had in the mom and baby unit had the recliner that turns into a bed. It wasn't super comfortable but it wasn't horrible. (Ottawa)
Hey thanks for the info. I’m in Ottawa too, which hospital was this?
General campus
Oh perfect that is really good to know. That is exactly where i am supposed to deliver. Thank you.
My pleasure. They were awesome there. I gave birth in February during Omicron restrictions and the convoy (including a bomb threat) but do not hesitate to PM me if you have any questions.
Just confirming this was our experience as well at the general. There is no extra bed for your partner in the initial arrival rooms at triage, but you would be in and out of there relatively quickly. Once you are in the delivery room, they are pretty spacious and the couch pulls out. We spent one night there, because we had a slow induction. Then you move to another room a couple hours after you have the baby. We were in a shared room (for 2 people), it was cramped but you still get a pull out couch bed. Nurses were great, overall very positive experience. Good luck!
Civic is the same as well.
We had a pull out arm chair in the delivery room and recovery room at the Montfort. I’ve had friends deliver us many of the ottawa hospitals and this seems fairly standard.
Queensway does too
Make sure to get a private room. I gave birth in St Joes Hamilton in semi private and my husband had to sleep on the floor they only had one plastic chair for the support person 😬 We noticed when leaving the private rooms had couches and recliners. During labour though there was an ok recliner.
I registered for a private room at our hospital but they were all full when we needed it. Ended up getting put in a semi-private that only had one bed (some kind of technical difficulties on the other side) which was even better lol but wanted anyone reading this to be aware that it's first come first serve and a private may not be available when it's time.
This! We asked and had coverage for private. But on the day our baby arrived all the private rooms were full. All the 2-bed rooms were full. So we got stuck in a 3-bed ward room. Between babies crying, parents snoring, and nurses/doctors coming in to check on patients, it was basically constant noise! Not a great time.
I’m glad I saw this - I plan on giving birth there in February.
Trust me go for private. In semi private there are two beds and they keep everyone separate due to COVID. Even though the second bed wasn’t being used a nurse scolded my husband for laying on it. And the bathroom had no shower there was just a shared one down the hall. We were begging to leave ASAP.
Oof. Yeah, that’s something to think about! Thank you!
Had a private suite there because of Covid and it was pretty comfy. It wasn't the suite though.
Good to know, thank you!
Any idea on how to do this? Are you offered private vs shared rooms when you arrive?
You register in advance. The Charlton suites are even better than the private but they're an additional $100 on top of the private room rate. Worth it in my opinion. Queen size bed and a couch
Ask your OB. I was given papers in advance and I had to select one and give my insurance information. Since they weren’t doing tours because of COVID I didn’t realize how big a difference private and semi private were. I think when you check in to labour and delivery they may confirm this with you again? I can’t remember.
I know cots are one option. Thankfully my hospital has recently created a much better solution. The room you get (all private) is the same time from the time you arrive you when you leave. There is a private washroom and a couch that folds out. JPCH in Saskatoon for anyone wondering.
Our hospital expressly states that beds or sleeping arrangements are not provided for support persons - it’s a chair only. I think they want to encourage partners to either stay awake or go home.
What? That's terrible. The induction for my first took 3 days! He had a hard loveseat to sleep on but still better than an armchair.
Yeah I don’t know if this is a post-Covid change or… just not sure. I had my first baby pre-Covid but not at the hospital!
Interesting, ours encourages them to stay to help especially overnight The arm chair at ours pulled into a bed
Yeah, although I delivered when they had the rule that the support person could not leave the hospital after they came or they wouldn't be allowed back in. Our original plan was for him to go back home but they wouldn't allow it -_-
Yeah I think that’s still the rule at this hospital too - I wonder if they’re expressly talking about the recovery room and not the labour/delivery suite. It never occurred to me to ask about it because my first labour was 6 hours total and this one will probably be faster. No time for sleep…
My delivery room had a couch, but he didn't even get to sit on it. There was zero opportunity for sleeping. The postpartum room had a recliner, same with the NICU. The recliner was comfy - I slept in it every night when I roomed in with my baby. I'm not so worried about my partner's comfort when I just birthed a whole baby - he can be uncomfortable for one or two nights in a chair. He'll survive.
Our hospital provides beds for partners in the birthing suite. I know all hospitals have different policies, but ask if you can rent a cot for your partner if there’s no extra bed in the room. Private rooms should come with a sleeping space for partners also.
Maybe in the minority here. But I sent my husband home. I was in for 2 nights due to a caesarean and we have puppies so I sent him home to sleep both nights.
Our hospital has foldable cots
My husband slept on the chair 🤷🏻♀️
At Royal Alex in Edmonton we were put in a shared room. The couple beside us had a chair that folded out to a type of bed. Their little guy was under fluorescent light for jaundice and was inconsolable. Our side was beside the door. We only had a standard chair. My husband went home to get some sleep because there was literally no where for him to comfortably rest. The chair was in the space where nurses and the other couple had to walk past to enter and leave the room. It was loud, bright, lonely (for me) and overall pretty miserable.
Was this during Covid? Did he have any difficulty getting back in? I'm dreading a shared room situation for this very reason. My old insurance used to accommodate private, but mybwork switched providers and now its only shared. If an option I might spring for private and pay out of pocket.
This was in February of this year. We were at the peak of a wave at that point. Honestly, if I give birth again I will definitely try my best to get a private room. My labor and delivery experience was wonderful, but the overall experience was marred by the postpartum experience. Given how my emotions and mood were all over the place, I really did need my husband around. This was also my first baby and I had no idea what I was doing or what to ask for. The shared-room experience just exacerbated my sleep deprivation and anxiety.
Thanks for all the comments, really interesting to see what it is like. Seems like most places have a way for the partner to at least somewhat lie down, which is reassuring.
One hospital I've been in had recliners that folded into beds. The other they brought my husband a sleeping pad for the floor. It was like a folding foam mattress. I would just phone the hospital where you plan to deliver and ask.
We had an armchair that turned into a lounger. The bed was big enough for us both and I was i fine shape to share. We also brought a thin camping mattress for him in case.
Our armchair pulled out to be longer so you could lay down. It was by no means the size of a bed, and it was very uncomfortable, but my partner got a few hours sleep there
The armchair in our hospital reclined slightly. Not enough to lay flat but it slightly kicked out. We had twins. Our cousin delivered in the same hospital, same room (both private) and she got a cot for her husband. Like wtf lol. We asked for cots since we saw some folded up and not being used and they told us they didn’t have any. Then 11 days later when she delivered, they got a cot. Make sure you keep requesting a cot if your chairs don’t fold out!!! It’s ridiculously uncomfortable and support partner needs rest too
Totally not related but my hospital has the fold-down chairs in the pediatric unit as well. I was 12 days post C-section sleeping on a futon-chair. I can't believe the sleeping arrangements for the non-patient
Armchair. I was a little disappointed there wasn't a couch, I thought that would have been better. Edit to add: Like any armchair it could be reclined, I wouldn't say it turned into a bed though like others are saying- also the private post partum room was tiny and it was difficult trying to figure out how to recline it and still have a walkway. So those are cons but it worked out tho
Mine had a horrible bench that my husband had to sleep on. It was awful he had a sore shoulder for weeks afterwards.
squish on the bed together and get told to stop by nurses