Hospital visitor restrictions - need ideas/input

northernvabride

We're delivering DC#2 at Reston in May.  I asked my OB today what visitor restrictions were in place right now (isn't flu season over soon?) and she said spouse/partner and grandparents were the only visitors allowed at this point.  So no kids.  Not sure how this will change as we approach May, but if DD is not allowed to visit, how should I approach this in terms of keeping in touch with her (she will be 20 months old)?  Is it out of sight out of mind, so I shouldn't worry about it - knowing that she has never gone a day without seeing me.  Should I send home a video with DH each day when he goes to check on her and my MIL?  Not sure if she would be confused as to what I was wearing and if we would want to show her the new baby this way.  Not sure if anyone has had a similar experience (voluntary or otherwise) where their kids couldn't visit them at the hospital. 

Temp769118375005138

Well, that sucks.  I'll be delivering there in May, too.

MrsKLS just had her DS there and she said they have wifi now (yay!), so you could bring your laptop and Skype with her.  I did that with DS when I went away on business for two weeks.  He was only 13 months and it definitely was not out-of-sight, out-of-mind!

I would bring a regular shirt that you can wear if you think that it's going to weird DD out by wearing the hospital gown.  And I wouldn't introduce the baby to her unless it's in person.  She might feel like you left and replaced her.

Drats.  I was really hoping to have DS come to the hospital.

Sofka

wow I had no idea restrictions were still in place! Please let us know if you hear any news, I'm delivering at Reston in June and was counting on DD being able to visit!

GrayPumpkin

I'm delivering at Shady Grove in October and was curious and apparently Montgomery County lifted their flu season visitor restrictions as of 3/5/10. So, maybe yours will be soon, too!

I've traveled for work and Skype is great. DD doesn't forget me when I'm gone...I've been gone as long as a week for work.

amh_navyblue

I had DD#2 in January at INOVA when the restrictions were still in place, so DD#1 could not come to visit...a few thoughts on the topic:

 1. I think regardless of whether DD#1 can come to see you or not, it is going to be hard for DD.  For us, the hardest time was bedtime.  My mom was taking care of DD (who is 3) and they get along really well,but when it came to bedtime both nights that I was in the hospital, DD was really upset and wouldn't go to bed without DH there (fortunately we live next to the hospital, so that wasn't too big of a deal).  DH did take pictures of me and the baby to show DD#1 and she seemed to enjoy that and I talked to her on the phone a couple of times, so I would plan on doing something like that.

2.  In some ways I was glad that DD#1 couldn't come to the hospital--it gave me some time to get used to the new LO and not worry about trying to give both of them attention.  I've also heard some parents say that it was a disaster having the older sibling come to the hospital and that it's more manageable and calm to do the big introduction when you get home.

So I guess what I'm saying is that if the restrictions are still in place when you deliver, it won't necessarily be the worst thing in the world if DD can't see you...you'll definitely miss her and she'll miss you, but it could work out for the best in the end.

GL!

MrsKLS

Sorry, they have not lifted the restrictions at Reston. And actually the nurses are kind of annoyedd by that..as most other hospitals have already lifted it. By the sounds of it, it seems like sometime in April is the plan but I am not certain of the date. Right now only spouse and grandparents can visit. It was very hard not being able to see DD - esp becuase I ended up with an emergency c-sec so I was in the hospital even longer. My mom and sister took turns staying at the house to help out so my DH could be at the hosptal with me. I also left a few gift bags for DD so that she could open one each day I wasn't there so she knew I was thinking about her (books, little teddy bear, that type of thing). So she looked forward to opening her bag each night. She was also able to call me whenever she wanted to...so i tried to talk to her as often as I could. It helped that she was in pre-school all day so that was a nice distraction for her.