looking for your opinions

d2a0n0i9

So, yesterday DH and I were talking about having people hold our LO the first few days after shes born. Since this is my parents first grandkid, and they are driving 2 hours to be there when it happens, I want them to hold her. DH disagreed and said he doesn't feel right having so manypeople  touching/holding her. I did explain that everyone will be told to wash their hands and they probably wont hold her any longer than say maybe, 5 minutes at a time.

What are you thoughts on people being around/holding your LO the first few days in the hospital?

catycombs

I would see how I felt once she comes. I think it's too early to worry about it.

goldenleaves

I honestly don't mind, but I certainly plan on telling every single person who touches him to wash their hands.

dionnemd10

at the hospital i held my dd, dh did, 4 nurses and a dr.  all within her first 6 hours!   then my parents and sister.   i don't care who holds my child as long as i get to the most!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JLG95

I'm ok with family holding the baby.  DH and I are expecting my dad and stepmom to come to the birth center for the delivery.

NathsPrncssD

I will definitely let people hold them! Especially since I assume only people close to me will come to the hospital! I expect to be a bit overprotective of my lo, but I have a feeling that once he or she is born that I will want to show them off and have everyone hold them! I am sure your family will expect to hold the baby and it might be a bit odd to tell them no. Good luck with everything!

Meli0604

I plan on telling everyone to wash their hands and to PLEASE refrain from kissing or putting their face too close to the baby's face. My baby will be here in February so I dont want anyone passing around a winter cold Other than that, I dont care about the number of people who hold the baby.

amjmp

Well, speaking from a recent experience when SIL had her baby a few months ago, I really see nothing wrong with having those close to you hold the baby.  There were 8 of us total: MIL/FIL, DH, myself, plus SIL's DH and his parents, sister.  We all got a few moments to hold the baby and took tons of pictures.  I plan on doing the exact same thing.  We really want to share this moment with those closest to us.  As long as everyone washes their hands, I think it's perfectly fine.  Most hospitals have Purell hanging on the wall in the halls and in every room, so there's no reason why you wont have clean hands.

tnd1218

as long as theyre old enough to hold LO properly and not sick, by all means hold my LO. My family is so excited for LO to get here I wouldnt think of telling them other wise, all I ask is for clean hands.

getnmarried910

We let people come to the hospital, and they can hold him/her there.  They must wash hands first, and if they have been sick at all within the past week or so (DH and I haven't settled on one or two weeks-I want two), they don't get to come period.  We have a two week rule at home that no visitors are allowed at home for the first two weeks so we can be together as a family and rest.  We've done that with both previous children and it's worked very well.  We also got a sign to hang from our carseat handle that says "Please wash your hands before touching mine" from mytinyhands.com.  Church people are the worst about touching and I think a red stop sign will help.

axr8111

I couldn't imagine not letting people hold my LO. Even #1 who was in the NICU was held by any visitor who came to see us. The nurses were absolutely ok with this and even said that being held is very important in the early weeks of life. Everyone of course had to wash hand and wear a gown (with opening in back), so maybe steal a couple of gowns from the hospital when you're there and have people put those on after washing hands and before they hold the baby. Then you will know that you are up to even NICU standards. Although if my baby is healthy enough to leave the hospital this time, all visitors who wash hands are not sick and are above the age of 15(kids just tend to carry more germs) will be allowed to hold him. Also, if you plan on nursing, remember that breast milk offers an added barrier/immunity to their fragile immune system.

aegrimm

goldenleaves:

I honestly don't mind, but I certainly plan on telling every single person who touches him to wash their hands.

This. It is a baby and their grandchild. I took EVERY precaution against germs and wouldn't let ANYONE touch him without washing their hands twice. He STILL got RSV and was hospitalized for a week. Germs happen. But, so does love. I guaranty our parents never told our grandparents "You can't hold her, she's too new."

Man, I feel snarky today.....I apologize ladies.... 

mrswags05

Snarky or not, I can imagine ever telling grandparents they couldn't hold their new grandchild.  Seriously?!?  I think that's ridiculous.  (Sorry - but I do.)

Yes, they can hold our baby.  And anyone else that comes to visit is welcome to as well, for that matter.  I admit I'm pretty comfortable with my kiddos being passed around, though, and I know not everyone is as comfortable with that.  So I understand wanting to keep some people at a distance, at first.  But with grandparents and immediate family...no way.  And even if I wanted to, it wouldn't fly in my family!  LOL.

adam+katie

Just my parents will be coming to the hospital.  It is not so much a germ thing for us, more of a privacy thing.

meghann0409

For some guidance, I'd talk to your OB/Ped about what they advise.

Assuming there is no reason to be more careful than normal:

1) Not sick (I trust my family and friends to decide this on their own and don't feel a need to set a time frame.)

2) Wash hands/use hand sanitizer.

As PP said, germs happen - and truly not all germs are bad. We will all learn with parenting - you do what you can, but things will happen no matter how careful you are!!