Important: to those wondering how to control visitors

AlwaysForgetful

Contact your L&D to double check!! My hospital has since changed their policy since my last and the nurses are NO LONGER ALLOWED to turn away visitors!

They also are no longer allowed to ask people to leave the room unless it is medically nessisary, there is an exam or something that falls under HIPPA, or the person is being aggressive/mother feels threatened. Or if it is past visiting hours.

I am up here for a NST and had inquired.

I was told my only choice was to be what he called a HIPPA and at check in request no info or my room be given out. This goes for your entire stay. Meaning you have to give out room number an so on . Still, once people know, they will not prevent people going to your room or "time limits" anymore. It is up to the parents.

BrittanyCupcakes

That sounds craptastic. Hopefully we don't have these problems, but it doesn't hurt to make a phone call to ask the policy. 

HFrizzle

My L&D and PP floors are locked down. You have to be buzzed in, you have to check in with the nurses and they all have to be cleared by DH or I.

skyla13

Wow my hospital is the opposite. They limit it to 2 visitors (but will wink at small groups who stay quiet) and the RN made it quite clear that if they are in the way, too loud, stressing mom out, etc... out they go.

kaswanson

HFrizzle said:

My L&D and PP floors are locked down. You have to be buzzed in, you have to check in with the nurses and they all have to be cleared by DH or I.

This for me, too.  I'm so glad!  I don't want many visitors till I get home.

yesthisiskim0401

That's really shitty.

MrsStuessyWI

Your hospital is bizarre. Mine is deft not like that. I can give them a list of any people you don't want to visit and they will give those people no info on you or baby and you have to ok visitors before they are allowed past the check in desk. There are no non-visiting hours though, which I am really thankful for. They have certain hours you need to be really quiet, but you can still have guests. 

sleepy33

Wow, that sounds like a big load of bullshit to me!

ETA: my hospital is also a locked down situation. Legally, hospitals are not allowed to even disclose to anyone that you are a patient there- that's what is protected by HIPAA.

pmarie33

This

skyla13 said:

Wow my hospital is the opposite. They limit it to 2 visitors (but will wink at small groups who stay quiet) and the RN made it quite clear that if they are in the way, too loud, stressing mom out, etc... out they go.

And this

sleepy33 said:

Wow, that sounds like a big load of bullshit to me!

ETA: my hospital is also a locked down situation. Legally, hospitals are not allowed to even disclose to anyone that you are a patient there- that's what is protected by HIPAA.

AlwaysForgetful

Just passing along what I was told a few minutes prior to posting. So figured maybe more hospitals are that way. The town the first 3 were born in, it was very controlled. Here they use to be more helpful and now aren't.

I would deliver elsewhere, but there is no other hospital close for a csection.

CarolinaGirl411

Out of the 2 people I know that have had LO's in the past 2 years at our hospital, as long as you know the room number you can approach the door.  I do not know if they have a way to keep people out that you don't want, but that's why we aren't telling people when we arrive, have him or until we are ready for them to show.  I don't know if it's any different for L&D than general hospital visits, but the front desk will give you the room number if you provide a name.  I image if there is a security issue the approach it differently.

germanpickle

Wow, that sounds really insecure if not dangerous to me. As a hospital administrator (which I am not, but still), I think I'd like to have a better feel of who is where, especially in regards to babies and children as patients. This seems like one hell of a lawsuit waiting to happen, a la: baby stolen or crazy relative attacks mother/baby.

Lilpoppy

We're just not planning on telling anyone that we don't want to visit that the baby has arrived.

CousinVicki

well in the L & D room, there are a limited # of visitors, maybe 3?   but in mother/baby room you can have as many as you want, literally, anyone during visiting hours.    

my question is, how many people do you really think are going to be clamoring to come see you, let alone weirdos?  and if someone comes in just tell them to leave? they also need to know your name to get in past front security and even get upstairs, and then be buzzed in by nurses in hall. i doubt people are running rampant through the hospital.   i think you are making a bigger deal out of this than there needs to be. 

Amcdonnel1028

My hospital has been more than happy to turn away unwanted visitors

yesthisiskim0401

awwwpuddin said:

I need to check on this, because last time I visited my SIL we just walked right in, but since then, there was a murder/suicide on the mother-baby floor at the hospital I'm delivering in, so things might've changed.

Whaaaat? How horribly tragic.

babygiantquest

Our floor is locked down, also.  They have the rule of no more than three people in the labor and delivery room at a time; however, on the tour, the nurse mentioned that if we wanted them to explain to guests that only one or two was allowed, that they would do so to save us having trouble with nosy family members.  She also said that if we wanted them to, they would keep citing the three person rule as standard for the recovery room, even though it isn't.  "Let your family blame us instead of you; we don't have to see them again, but you do."  Takes a load off my mind, that's for sure.

MrsStuessyWI

CousinVicki said:  

my question is, how many people do you really think are going to be clamoring to come see you, let alone weirdos?  and if someone comes in just tell them to leave? they also need to know your name to get in past front security and even get upstairs, and then be buzzed in by nurses in hall. i doubt people are running rampant through the hospital.   i think you are making a bigger deal out of this than there needs to be. 

At my hospital no one keeps you from going upstairs. I actually just went up there a couple weeks ago because my sister came with me to an appointment and I wanted to show her where to go if she comes see my at the hospital. They just wouldn't let me go past the desk into the maternity hall. Yeah, there were actually 2 babies in the waiting room being held by family. 

LetsGoToDisney

Just make your requests in writing and file it with your pre-registration and keep a copy with your birth plan if you have one. Our paperwork includes a door hanger (our hospital has coded air locks between the hall and the birthing suite added after an attempted kidnapping) with names and photos of people allowed to visit. My medical team offered a code phrase to clear the room of all people except essential medical staff. I am sure the hospital wants you to have as little stress as possible so you can focus on a safe delivery, maybe ask if they have a patient advocate you can speak with. 

Note: It's HIPAA 

CousinVicki

LetsGoToDisney said:

Just make your requests in writing and file it with your pre-registration and keep a copy with your birth plan if you have one. Our paperwork includes a door hanger (our hospital has coded air locks between the hall and the birthing suite added after an attempted kidnapping) with names and photos of people allowed to visit. My medical team offered a code phrase to clear the room of all people except essential medical staff. I am sure the hospital wants you to have as little stress as possible so you can focus on a safe delivery, maybe ask if they have a patient advocate you can speak with. 

Note: It's HIPAA 

i don't get this 'code phrase' business. is this really necessary??  it's a bit 007.   why not just say "everyone except medical staff has to leave"  lol. wtf    

LetsGoToDisney

@cousinvicki It seems like a great offer. Just because you accept does not mean you need to use it, so why not have it as a back up? I'm just glad to have a drama-free way of telling everyone to GTFO without dealing with the "you don't mean me too" or "not me, I'm the ......." It is not just guests that get the boot, but also non-essential medical staff. 

Ajoyd

That's dumb! That's all I've got on that one.

Nikdayday

I know when I had DS as long as someone knew my name and room number they'd get buzzed in. This time the only person we don't want to come up is my MIL, we haven't spoken to her since Easter. We've asked my husband's great aunt who is out of state that when she sees someone post on Facebook that I'm in labor or anything to not tell my MIL till after we've already gone home because we have a feeling she'd try to come up there. If she does show up we'll just tell her to get out or buzz a nurse if necessary. 

hlb622

At our hospital, L&D is limited to three visitors at a time during visiting hours; everyone else has to wait their turn in the waiting room down the hall. And no kids under 12yo (that aren't siblings of the mama) are allowed in L&D at any time. Once you move to the Women & Newborn Dept., however, all bets are off. You just ask for the mama's room and they give you the number and point you in the general direction.

AlwaysForgetful

CousinVicki said:

my question is, how many people do you really think are going to be clamoring to come see you, let alone weirdos?  and if someone comes in just tell them to leave? they also need to know your name to get in past front security and even get upstairs, and then be buzzed in by nurses in hall.

Actually, security is a joke here. It is a receptionist not security and she only talks to you if you address her. Been up to L&D several times and no one asked anything, even when I walked past the desk (I was in lala land). So yes, they can just walk in.

As far as people coming to see me... no one. They are there to see the baby. I am ignored. And well, DH family is very prolific. I know not everyone will come (Thank God, there are 100 local family members) but I know from last time to expect about 25 adults on and off plus their not always so darling kids. Sad when my 4 year old behaves better than a 12 year old (no special needs). That is DH's side. Luckily I do not have local people and my mother may or may not come up. I am sure many people just love visitors. Some of us don't. Ones I am close to are not an issue, except when they come and go whenever. I was raised that you let people know you are coming. Not just show up. I cannot say I enjoy some of the cousins that we see once a year coming up. Especially the heavy smokers and the few that have issues with remembering to bathe.

As far as crazy, umm.... have you seen some of DH's family? lol Yeah, they count as crazy. This is the same group that insists I am dying because of this baby. But I will not get into that here. Sad thing is, once one knew my room number, they all would. So even being unlisted like I am thinking will only work for part of the first day. Meh.

Yes, I can tell them to leave. And DH will tell me how I do not understand how it is with a big family and I am just to anal on my privacy. So they will stay. Then I would get pissed and send DH home at night because I am that way and don't need him anyway after a Csection. Hurts like hell, but a nurse can hand me the baby to feed.

Congrats to most of you that still have a nice security and nurses who will ask people to leave. Oh, and family who they do not mind visiting and understands that you prob don't want a room full.

AlwaysForgetful

NRyan55 said:

@alwaysforgetful do you guys live on a reservation?

 @NRyan55 Hahahaha....  You know, I was just teasing DH about a teepee tent on Amazon. You almost made me spit tea on tea on the computer. No, DH and the kids are all part Native American, but we live 2 hours from the reservation. Why? Are their hospitals like that? Or because there are so many local family members?

Favority

HFrizzle said:

My L&D and PP floors are locked down. You have to be buzzed in, you have to check in with the nurses and they all have to be cleared by DH or I.

This is my hospital too, thank goodness! It saved me from multiple members of DH's extended family hanging around. (After they were told prior to delivery that grqndparents were the only visitors allowed)

CousinVicki

Your L & D room and security

AlwaysForgetful

Well, there was 2 family farms (fathers side and mothers side). Both had something like 9 and 11 kids (kids being my FIL, MIL and their siblings). Each of them had 4+ kids with FILe  & MIL being the exception at only 2. FIL and MIL (well, MIL passed away before I came into the picture) were some of the younger siblings. So some of DH's cousins are already grandparents. Those who are semi close to DH's age (he is 7 years older than I) have 4-5 kids. The older cousins have 2+. So it all adds up fast. Which makes some of the comments the family makes about # of kids we are having even more strange. The only thing we can think of is, we are the last of that group of cousins having kids. And well, we are a one income family, all the others are 2. So maybe they are making assumptions?

Cousin Vicki, ..... You are going to hell with me for that! Hahahaha. I will show that to DH later. I am sure he will laugh. I demand more attendants though. I don't think 3 would cut it and I see no fry bread. Which I know fry bread could sound bad, but at every pow wow there is always fry bread and at all the family gatherings someone makes some.

That being said, DH has never managed to shoot a deer when he goes hunting. *sighs* Failure...

AlwaysForgetful

I know. Mmmm....

CousinVicki

NRyan55 said:

Your L & D room and security

my favorite GIF!!     and are you telling me that people don't live in teepees on indian reservations??  (lol)