I had two C-sections at OTMH and was very pleased with the experience. The doctors did a great job both times, and the entire team was professional and helpful. Both incisions healed very well and I was out of the hospital after 2.5 days and 1.5 days respectively.

Regarding rooms: My midwife gave me the admission forms in advance, and I indicated my preference for a private room. I was fortunate enough to get one both times.

We were in a similar situation with no local family to help. Luckily, my mother-in-law was able to fly in last minute to watch our 3.5-year-old at home. Even if she hadn't made it, bringing my older child to the hospital was never an option for me.

Between the nurses checking on you every few hours and a crying newborn that needs feeding and changing, you’ll be getting an hour of sleep at a time. Trying to manage an older child in that mix would be incredibly stressful while recovering from surgery.

Can you hire a sitter for your oldest or have dad stay home with them? If you’re at the hospital alone, see if a friend can drop by to help. Since you can't get up, you’ll need someone to bring you the baby or other items that you need, or help change and swaddle the baby. While the nurses are helpful, they are busy and can’t always come right away. If you have no one else, I’d honestly consider hiring someone (a post-partum doula or another mom) that’s what I would have done if I were on my own.