Have a Lovely Labor Day

Making Requests and Asking Questions

Make the Nurses Feel Appreciated

Nursing staff can be so overloaded these days that at times, it may be difficult to get their attention. Become a favorite patient by being polite from the get-go. Cluster your requests for acetaminophen, juice, and baby advice. And a little buttering up never hurts: Have a candy dish in your room, or deliver a nice box of chocolates to the nursing station. You could also preorder a basket of fruit and enclose a card from you and the baby. That's what Sara Abbott, a mother of two who lives outside of Boston, did before the birth of her second child: "My husband and I actually chose to spend Thanksgiving at the hospital when I could have been released early," she remembers. "It was like being in a hotel with a bunch of sweet grandmothers."

When in Doubt, Ask

Your postpartum hospital stay is pretty much the only time you'll be surrounded by so many baby-care experts at once, so don't be shy. "Many problems can be prevented or easily solved by simply asking a few things," Dr. Kline says. "There are really never any stupid questions!"

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