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3rd Trimester
LittleLotero
member
starting tomorrow no minors allowed in the maternity ward at my hospital.
LittleLotero
member
and about 30 others in the state. i called and they said this rule was going to be strictly enforced, so to "prepare" my family now.
they say they are doing this to help ward off swine flu, or at least the spread of it. i have a sister in law who is 17 and literally started crying when i told her she would have to wait until i got home to meet her niece. sad thing is, i heard about it on the news luck... can you imagine the chaos at the hospital in the next few months?!?
anyone else know of hospitals doing this?
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Re: starting tomorrow no minors allowed in the maternity ward at my hospital.
Good thing I'm not in North Carolina, I wouldn't be able to birth my baby in the hospital!
That's kind of ridiculous if you ask me, they shouldn't let babies or children in the hospital. But teenagers? Come on now..
i understand the reasoning for it, but its pretty extreme.
aaaaaaand, manda.... your comment made me literally lol. its not like a 18yr old would be magically cured of the swine flu [if they had it] just bc they are not a minor anymore.
pretty ridiculous.
Unless the rationale is simply to lower the number of people allowed there, I don't see how this helps. What difference does it make to the flu whether you're 17 or 18? Or 15 for that matter? Is a 17 year old any more contagious? Less likely to cough/blow their nose into a tissue? Worse at handwashing?
I can see restricting children under a lower age...12 or so. I understand not wanting snotty, sick 5 year olds running around a bunch of newborns. My son has a cold right now, and keeping his face snot free has become an epic battle. I just don't really see the same problem with high school kids, lol!
The rationale is that people in those age ranges are exposed to the germs because they are in school. ?(Its not?necessarily?the best rationale). ?Most hospitals that I know of usually have a flu restriction during regular flu season on those age groups anyways. ?This year I think it will just be longer due to h1n1.
Our hospital is doing this as well. My own daughter won't be able to come see her sister. I seriously think siblings should be an exception but they are not making any under 18 excections at our hospital. Also, visiting hours are limited to two separate 2 hour blocks with no more than 2 visitors at a time and they will most likely have to wear masks.
It is a little disappointing especially since my daughter can't come but the first time around I found visitors annoying while trying to recover from a c/s. You get enough interruption from dr's, nurses and feedings that when people did come you're so exhausted. Also, as much as I love my sister and SIL, I wouldn't want them bringing their kids with them when they come to visit. It's more of a distraction and a nuisance while trying to heal.. IMO.
Three Girls: Bits 2/08 Biscuit 10/09 & Sweet Chuck 2/12
One Favorite son: Suishy Smalls 6/14
And another Princess coming 7/16
good, at least nc is not the only wacky state!
Oh, me too! For real! I have enough anxiety without them around.
My hubby and I were personally restricting visitors on our own before we had heard about this. However, I haven't called my L&D to find out yet but most of the hospitals in the area plus a few hrs away are all seeming to be announcing this policy.
The one in my hometown (not mine) actually restricted all visitation to L&D. No adults either, just birthing partner and the one giving birth...
I was told about this in July when I did my hospital tour. I actually think it's a great rule. Both of my children are under 18, one being a teenager. But they will just have to wait until I get home in a couple of days to meet baby, they have waited 9 months, they can wait a couple of more days.
When my dd was 2mos she contracted chicken pox from her older brother. It was a very mild case, but still he was a carrier and passed it on making his very young sibling sick. Multiply this scenario by the number of newborn babies and potential visiting family members.
Think outside of yourself. We know babies can be very vulnerable due to immature immune systems. If you are not concerned about your own baby's health, think of the health of the other babies in the same ward. How would you feel if your baby picked up something from the neighbor's visiting children?
As far as the age limit, teenagers are not all that hygenic, trust me I have to remind my son on a constant basis to wash his hands and I work at a junior high and those kids aren't that hygenic either. In addition, they are around hundreds of other kids on a daily basis and so who knows what they are carrying around. They should also be more mature and better understanding about the reasoning behind this rule. I can better understand younger ones not understanding why they can't see mommy/baby for several days. Teenagers will quickly get over it.
This is a very standard practice in Children's Hospitals around the country during flu and RSV seasons and has been in place for years. I understand it can be a pain for parents to find sitters, disappointing for young visitors, etc., but it is really for safety. And safety is a two way street! Plenty of wee visitors bring in nasty germs and then roam the halls, play in the patients play rooms and give the patients new illnesses. And plenty of visitors catch things from the patients (and of course then pass it through their families at home). Inconvenient in many ways, but a best practice.
Also remember many pediatricians are recommending that family members over 30 get a pertusis (whooping cough) booster before being around our soon to be new wee ones this season since the immunity is failing and cases are rising.
I am in Hot Springs, AR and both hospitals here in town have implemented that policy for the duration of the flu season.
Or you could have a home birth and have whomever you want there AND have the added plus of not having to worry about germs from other patients and the visitors they have.
Seriously though, I don't understand why people are freaking out because their nephew or their neighbor or their older child can't come to the hospital. You'll be home in two days and can have anyone you want at your house.
Meredith, 6-1-06 and Alex, 11-5-09
I will call my hospital tomorrow to find out their policy. If my 19 month old DS is not allowed to come visit his brother (or his mother, who will be incredibly home sick for him), I'm going to be livid. I am a SAHM and DS doesn't go to daycare. My soon to be newborn and I would be more likely to get sick from the adults who want to come see us at the hospital. DH is a teacher, for crying out loud!
I guess I can understand this, but siblings should be an exception.
These are my thoughts exactly. I wonder if they consider how many mothers with other children will push for an earlier discharge to unite their families.