I have to ask a L&D question, if you don't mind.

[Jalapeñomel]

I asked on GP, but I thought I would ask over here as well.  

The hospital I am delivering at offers semi-private recovery rooms, but I can upgrade to a private room for about $500 and they are only available on a first come, first serve basis. 

Did you have a private recovery room?  Would you upgrade?  Am I going to regret having to share a recovery room with a stranger?

[Yankees21]

I didn't see that you knew how much it would be..for $500, I would upgrade for sure.

[muffin0]

I had a private room both times. I didn't have to upgrade, but if I had to choose I would pay in a heart beat.

[Deleted]

If you can swing it, yes. If not, don't stress too much.

We all got our own rooms AND they were nice enough to put me in a corner room so we could fit both bassinet things in there.

[roo54]

I enjoyed having my own room, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable sharing a room with trying to learn to nurse.

[iamgrace]

If you can, upgrade. I can't imagine sharing a room.

[mnirishgirl]

Our hospital had private rooms only. We weren't even in it that much (as our son was in the NICU so we were there as much as possible). I still would spring for the private room. Labor/Recovery messes with you and you don't know what hours you'll be awake vs asleep. Plus, parts of it are just gross and I just prefer to have my own space when dealing with that and answering questions to the nurses. I also think my husband would have been uncomfortable staying overnight with me (they had a futon for him) if it had been a shared room.

[cuddlyevil]

The hospital where I delivered has both shared and private rooms, you get what you get based on availability but (I think) generally you'll be in a room all by yourself. The weekend I had DS #1 was *the* weekend for having babies but even still, I ended up all by myself in a double room. It was nice. But they have an L&D floor where you deliver, then the Mom & Baby unit is upstairs.

[waitstopdont]

My first pregnancy I had a shared room. Recovering from a c-section in that room was terrible. I couldn't rest well and the other woman never sent the baby to the nursery, on top of visitors going in and out. Second pregnancy c-section recovery was way better. Private room, I could control visitors, not sharing a bathroom. For $500 I would totally splurge and enjoy my recovery!

[Muddled]

Do it.

[Deleted]

Oct 3, 2013 11:26:03 GMT -5 pagas said:

One of the reasons I chose my hospital was that they only had private rooms. Worth it to me.

Same here, take the upgrade.

[weelass24]

We didn't and it was fine. Where are you delivering? (PM if you like)

[alzi]

I didn't get dressed until the day I left. Privacy was key.

[junebug]

I had a private room. I would definitely go for the upgrade.

[VeryViolet]

I have to pay for it too at my hospital it is $600. I am definitely doing it because I think it will be more comfortable but also because my husband would only be allowed at the hospital during visiting hours if I was sharing a room.

[eddy]

I had a private and yes I would upgrade.

[styme46]

All our L&D rooms are private so yes, I had a private room. I would definitely upgrade! I can't even imagine how it would've been either time if I would've had a roommate.

[junebug]

Oct 3, 2013 11:40:37 GMT -5 alzi said:

I didn't get dressed until the day I left. Privacy was key.

This was me too. My boobs were out the entire time I was in the hospital.

[rupertpenny]

I would probably upgrade, especially if my H couldn't stay in a shared room (I don't know if that's an issue). I was so hot after delivery I spent the whole day wearing only mesh panties. I didn't need random strangers seeing that (well, besides the 1000 random strangers employed by the hospital that were in and out of my room all day).

[Jalapeñomel]

Oct 3, 2013 11:51:23 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

I would probably upgrade, especially if my H couldn't stay in a shared room (I don't know if that's an issue). I was so hot after delivery I spent the whole day wearing only mesh panties. I didn't need random strangers seeing that (well, besides the 1000 random strangers employed by the hospital that were in and out of my room all day).

I'm not normally modest, so I don't know if this would bother me or not.  

However, I will have to ask them about DH staying overnight, because this could actually be a deal breaker.  I may want him to go home, but only if we choose that. lol

[luckyval]

Definitely upgrade

Being topless, trying to figue out what to do with a newborn, having people in and out of your room (and then add the traffic from the other person)...you want as much privacy as possible

[Deleted]

dude, you want to be alone. or, as alone as you can get in a goddamned hospital where they come into your room every 45 seconds to monitor something. ugh.

like, what if your roommate has a shitty mil or something? or cries a lot? or YOU want to cry a lot and she's all beatific like "oh, giving bright was a breeze!"

i'll be honest, my mom met her bff for lyfe sharing a hospital room after i was born. but they were both new to the area with family exclusively out of town and my mom's bff is such an extraordinary person that she HAS to be the exception that proves the rule here.

anyway, upgrade!

[Jalapeñomel]

Apparently, I read it wrong, it would be about $500 per night.

[TrudyCampbell]

You're in New York, right?

I delivered at NYU and we paid the upgrade fee for the private room, it was WELL worth it. However, every single other person I know who delivered in NYC never got the opportunity to upgrade because the private rooms were all full, so I'd unfortunately go into it assuming you'll have to share.

[VeryViolet]

Oct 3, 2013 12:05:40 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Apparently, I read it wrong, it would be about $500 per night.

I got all of this answered on my hospital tour but you can also ask how many private and shared rooms they have. Where I am delivering I believe they only have 4 shared rooms. It is kind of a double edged sword though they have so few shared because the overwhelming majority of people pay for the private. But if you have 8 people who are there and didn't want to pay the supplement you get the private room by default. 

Definitely ask about the rules for Dad too this was the big deciding factor for me. They seemed pretty strict at my hospital and said even if you are in a shared room with no roommate they won't let dad stay in case they need to bring someone in overnight. 

[TrudyCampbell]

I'm not sure about the other NY hospitals but I do know that at NYU your husband can stay with you in the shared room.

The downside to that is that the other person's husband can too, so there are 4 adults and 2 newborns in a tiny ass room.

[Jalapeñomel]

Oct 3, 2013 12:12:02 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

You're in New York, right?

I delivered at NYU and we paid the upgrade fee for the private room, it was WELL worth it. However, every single other person I know who delivered in NYC never got the opportunity to upgrade because the private rooms were all full, so I'd unfortunately go into it assuming you'll have to share.

Yes.  I am thinking it is more of the norm here to have to share a room.  I'm sure I will be fine either way, but I get oddly obsessed about weird things in this pregnancy. 

[Deleted]

The hospital I used had private birthing suites (so you gave birth and recovered in the same room). But if they didn't, I would absolutely spring for a private room. You'll need to get your sleep after delivering to help you get back on your feet faster.

[IrishBelle]

For my first I had an unscheduled C-section in the middle of the night. The maternity ward was full so after I was able to leave recovery, I got put into a ward room around 5:30 am. I'm sure the other two new moms in there were not happy to see (or hear) me. I had general anesthesia which wears off suddenly so I was in a lot of pain. DD2 was delivered by C-section at another hospital which only had private rooms so that time wasn't an issue.

If you can afford it, I would go for the private room. It would definitely be worth it.

[TrudyCampbell]

Oct 3, 2013 12:16:37 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Oct 3, 2013 12:12:02 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

You're in New York, right?

I delivered at NYU and we paid the upgrade fee for the private room, it was WELL worth it. However, every single other person I know who delivered in NYC never got the opportunity to upgrade because the private rooms were all full, so I'd unfortunately go into it assuming you'll have to share.

Yes.  I am thinking it is more of the norm here to have to share a room.  I'm sure I will be fine either way, but I get oddly obsessed about weird things in this pregnancy. 

I was OBSESSED with getting a private room. The minute I delivered I was like "get us on the list for the private room!!". I ended up having post partum complications so I spent the first night in the room I delivered (very unusual) and then by the 2nd night a private room had opened up, so we lucked out. I'm due in the end of March and I just know we won't get that lucky again. I'm trying to mentally prepare.