I'm sure this will be happening across the country with the crazy flu season, but I can't help being upset. The hospital I'm supposed to deliver at implemented a new policy stating no visitors under age 14. That means my 2 1/2 yr old son won't be able to see me or his new baby brother while I'm in the hospital. This is seriously causing me so much stress! I've never been away from my son for more than a few hours! Any of you guys going through this now or have any words of advice?
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They usually let siblings.
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I would ask about siblings. Our hospital had the same rule; however, siblings were able to come. But, my brother and SIL had to leave my nieces and nephew home.
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I agree with PP...they usually allow siblings.
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The hospital I delivered at has the same policy (I think no visitors under 12), but siblings are allowed to visit.
My 2 and 6 year old nieces visited despite the rule. -
Can you maybe ask if there is a common area you could bring the baby to for them to meet? The cafeteria, gift shop, even just some chairs next to the elevator might work.
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We took my toddler (14 months at the time) to visit her new cousin when she was born. The first nurse was ok with her being there but the next nurse sent us home.
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According to the new moms I've talked to, they did not allow siblings.
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@T.H.O.U.: that's a great idea! I didn't even think of that.
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@ustechie: And even if they don't allow the baby to visit a common area, I'm sure you the mother could be wheeled to a common area if you wanted to see your son.
Again, not ideal, but an idea.
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not to be a downer, but there are hospitals that do have no child visitor policies & they are enforced. that said, some make exceptions for siblings. i'd call and speak with a manager or director and ask for clarification on their policy.
one other thought, do they allow mothers to leave the dept? is there an atrium or even a cafeteria where you could go while you leave the baby in the dept, either in the room with SO or in the nursery, that way you could still see LO briefly if you felt you needed to, but that he wasn't entering the dept?
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Another one, before freaking out double check about siblings Even when our NICU was on lockdown, siblings were allowed in.
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I'm sorry you're stressed. I was worried too beforehand about logistics of DD 1 meeting her new baby sister. But at the end of it we were only at the hospital for 24 hrs. She was at daycare for most of it so we opted not to bring her and expose her to hospital germs!
She met her baby sister at home, in her own turf, and it was still wonderful.
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@ustechie: my hospital has a policy like that but it excludes siblings. Are you sure siblings are included? If so that is just nuts, I would freak.
ETA: saw your response above and boo. I think @THOU has a great suggestion!
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@jetsa: I agree! I belong to a Utah mommy board on FB and asked this question when I saw the sign at my last OB visit, and they all said that siblings were not allowed. I'm hoping once I deliver and I'm in the room, I can talk to the nurses or even the charge nurse and come up with a plan. Just seems crazy to deny that.
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We had the same policy and honestly it was fine. My hospital stay was only one day and having the siblings meet at home was just fine. If anything I'd think of it as protecting your toddler from unnecessary hospital germs.
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@ustechie: My allows siblings but no other children under 13
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@T.H.O.U.: @ustechie: My hospital didn't let you OR the baby leave the maternity floor (on the hospital side). The babies have those lo-jack anklets on them so you can't even go into the waiting room on the same floor (because it was on the other side of the security doors) with the baby.
Best bet is to confirm with the hospital if siblings are allowed, or to ask your nurse the day of-- or, if you are REALLY in need of seeing LO #1 while in the hospital, maybe ask for forgiveness instead of permission?
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From another perspective it might make more sense for your older kid to meet the baby at home. Hospitals can be kind of intimidating for little ones. A home family reunion would be sweet!
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Just wondering...how long was everyone in the hospital? Last time I delivered in Ohio, I was there for 2 nights. Not sure I want to be there that long this time.
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@ustechie: I'm in the same state as you and our hospital has the same policy. We didn't bring our daughter last time and that was the first time I spent a night away from her (except overnight shifts). It was really hard, but really cool to come home to her and record her "first look" with the baby.
In Utah, standard of care is 48 hrs in hospital.
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In IL, they recommended two nights but I stayed one.
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We had a no visitor at all policy at our hospital when A was born. As in, each patient gets one visitor for the duration of their stay and no children at all (only exceptions made to the rule we're end of life situations). We opted for early release with our MW and I was home 3 hours after she was born.
I know it feels emotional, but it really is for LOs safety and health. -
My hospital was locked down due to rotavirus and NO ONE except DH was allowed to visit or be there when I was in labor. Kinda shitty, but not the end of the world. I was in for 6 days.
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@loveisstrange: its crappy isn't it? My friend had a preemie in the nicu for 39 days and no one but her or her hubby could come see the baby.
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@ustechie: In IL, I had the choice of 1 or 2 nights, I stayed 24 hours and a minute
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My hospital has the same policy, and when I toured, they specifically said my daughter won't be able to visit baby. He's going to the NICU after birth, though, and I think they are more strict about visitors there than in the maternity wing. She won't be able to see her baby brother at all until he is released from the hospital, except via Skype
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I was there for 2 nights.
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bummer about the rule, but it is for the health of the newbies. we stayed 2 nights, but that was because DD had jaundice. i was cleared to go home after a night. i appreciated staying the extra night in that case, but as long as everything is good whenever i give birth the second time, i will go home ASAP.
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Sucks, but at the same time it's for everyone's own good.
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