Plans for pets?

[Belfa]

Hi

I have dogs and horses at home. The horses will just need someone to check they're still alive (!) as they have plenty of grass and access to water. However, I am trying to plan what to do with my dogs when I go in to labour and then when we get back from hospital.

At the moment I'm thinking of giving my parents a key to my house so they can pick the dogs up when I go in to labour or getting DH to take them round to their house. They are well used to my parents and their house as we just moved out after living there for a year!

I thought this would be better so that they can get some attention and they won't be distressed by my moaning and groaning nor will I loose patience when they want to play tug of war or fetch every 5 mins.

I'm thinking that it may be best for them to stay with my parents a couple of days after birth too. They are good and not too demanding but I'd feel sorry for them if I lost my temper when I get that hormone rush when my milk comes in!

What are your plans? x

 

[Bethyboo87]

Our dog will go to our in laws while we're at hospital or before then if he's too much for me to cope with in early labour - he's there every day while we're at work (they have his brother). I'd like him to come home with us when we bring baby back to have his first sussing out of his new brother or sister, but again, if he's too much he can go to our in laws for the day. We're quite lucky that we have that option and we live so close by and they're both retired xx

 

[Lulu90]

My brother will be looking after my 3! I want them at home when I get back from the hospital though. I don't want them to feel like they're being pushed aside, the last thing I need is 3 big dogs feeling jealous. I know they'll be fine, I'm excited for them to meet their new baby brother/sister xx

 

[Orion]

My dog will be picked up by my parents and taken to their house once I'm admitted to hospital. I know sometimes you get sent home and the first stage can last days and days, so only when I'm admitted will the dog go to his holiday home he's used to their house. His bag is packed with a weeks worth of food and supplies, and parents know where it is.

That was the plan. But it looks like I'm going to be induced on Monday. If that's the case we'll drop him off like we do when we're going on holiday and he won't know any different until he comes home and there's an extra person here.

Either way, when we're home and ready for dog to come back, hubby will pick him up so we can introduce baby to dog in a controlled, quiet and calm setting without visitors - who will have to wait at least a day before I'm letting them visit.

 

[Belfa]

My dog will be picked up by my parents and taken to their house once I'm admitted to hospital. I know sometimes you get sent home and the first stage can last days and days, so only when I'm admitted will the dog go to his holiday home he's used to their house. His bag is packed with a weeks worth of food and supplies, and parents know where it is.

That was the plan. But it looks like I'm going to be induced on Monday. If that's the case we'll drop him off like we do when we're going on holiday and he won't know any different until he comes home and there's an extra person here.

Either way, when we're home and ready for dog to come back, hubby will pick him up so we can introduce baby to dog in a controlled, quiet and calm setting without visitors - who will have to wait at least a day before I'm letting them visit.

That's what I'm thinking too. My dogs are very small so don't really get in the way and two are older so tend to take themselves off for a snooze but one is only just turned one and still a puppy really so if I end up with an emergency section or something I don't want him jumping on me and then not understanding when I scream!

My parents live in the same village too so that's an advantage x

 

[Orion]

I think whatever recovery you end up with you won't want a dog jumping on you. Behaviours like that ideally should be addressed during or before pregnancy. My dog won't jump up, but for more control will be kept on lead greeting me for the first time after hospital, and meeting baby. Just so he doesn't lick baby's face or decide to randomly jump up at me, which I doubt, but you never know.

It's good to have plans in place for every eventuality.

 

[Lucyboo]

We have a cat and while we are at the hospital we have one of those timer feeders so will set that to see her through, when we get home we might buy a pet gate (slightly higher and thinner) if she comes into the nursery. She knows she isn't allowed in certain rooms.

 

[kumber]

We have cats who already don't have access to two of the rooms. They clear baby gates easily so we just shut the doors. They're all very gentle so will be staying at home, we will probably arrange for a relative to feed them while we are in hospital.

 

[Natalie_reid]

A friend has a key to ours and he has a dog. He would take our dog anytime so if need be im sure he would come take him for us when needed xx

 

[MrsS143]

Cats will just get extra treats when we leave
The dog will go to my mums 5 min drive away
I can see the hospital from my house its only about a mile away lol

 

[girly2007]

Ours went to the inlaws. We had pre arranged for inlaws to pick her up but for some unknown reason after the emergency "its 3am get back to the hospital the baby is coming RIGHT NOW" call, my husband decided he would drive her round there himself instead. I was 8 cm dilated when he FINALLY strolled in, so make sure your other halves are clear on your plan xxx

 

[Kiagirl]

Ours stayed at home, OH was popping back and feeding/walking them. I was in for 5 days, 3 days pre baby 2 dsys post baby. My labour was slow but midwife did seem shocked when Oh asked if he had time to go and walk dogs lol. The day we got home from hospital we all walked them to the stables so I could check the horse lol. Then on I walked the 2 of them and the baby twice a day. I figured start the routine straight away although I did wait 5 days to poo pick the field lol.

 

[Belfa]

Ours stayed at home, OH was popping back and feeding/walking them. I was in for 5 days, 3 days pre baby 2 dsys post baby. My labour was slow but midwife did seem shocked when Oh asked if he had time to go and walk dogs lol. The day we got home from hospital we all walked them to the stables so I could check the horse lol. Then on I walked the 2 of them and the baby twice a day. I figured start the routine straight away although I did wait 5 days to poo pick the field lol.

Argh poo picking! My least favourite lol x

 

[Bubbles22]

My mum in law is coming to stay with my dog as I don't want to put him out of routine. I want to keep him as normal as possible, if there is such a thing in the coming months lol x

 

[Bubbles22]

Also I'm planning on hubby taking baby grow home from hospital to get the dog used to smell. Anyone any other tips? X

 

[Shelly1812]

Bubbles ive heard of some people playing crying baby sounds about a month before baby is due to try and get dog use to it, thats what i'll be doing with mine (plus the bringing baby grow home).

Think ours will stay in the house with combination of friends/relatives popping in and feeding/walking sitting with him x

 

[Bethyboo87]

We played a baby crying thing on YouTube for our dog, bless him, he looked so shocked at confused! He met a couple of little babies over the weekend, and had no interest whatsoever, so I'm quite pleased xx

 

[Belfa]

Our older two are in their own world and hang out by themselves in the house. The young dog loves the sound of children which is quite bizarre as we don't know any! When adverts with babies come on he gets quite excited and intrigued so I played a few youtube videos to him and he loves it! We're hoping he becomes one of these dogs that is very good with children, that will keep the older two dogs happy too x

 

[julies4gems]

When I had my first daughter, we had a cat and it went very odd indeed after she was born. It used to get in her pram and cot if I turned my back for a minute. I would find cat hair and know it had been in and I got so sick of having to close doors all the time / and having to try to remember to close doors all the time! In the end, said cat went to live with my parents on a permanent basis!
I have dogs now and they have been fine with my five year old daughter. My only concept is that the older dog, barks whenever anyone walks anywhere near the gate or past the house! How will that work with a sleeping baby I wonder!
My folks will sort dogs while we are at the hospital x

 

[xjdx]

I thinking of getting my dog a girlfriend to preoccupy him, before the baby comes. We have three children already and my dog is my baby, he goes everywhere with me. I don't want him to think I've rejected him xc