How are you handling hospital visitors?

babyrichsmama · March 2010

Our hospital has a policy that no children 12 and under are allowed to visit (except for siblings of the new baby). I'm just wondering how this has gone for others who have the same hospital policy? We have explained it to SIL and while she seemed to take it well, we have received the occasional "jab" like the policy was somehow just our idea or made up. What have you all done to "prepare" family or are you just not worrying about it?

megdrew1218 · March 2010

If they can't deal with the rules, the nurse can take care of them for you. :-) Also, at my hospital, they have mom and baby naptime. The doors are shut with a sign from 1pm to 3pm. You can also tell your nurse if you're not up for visitors (or certain ones) and they can screen them for you.

I'm hoping most people just don't show up to the hospital or if they do, it's just a quick pop in to say hi, see the baby and leave. I can only hope, right? I only visit moms in the hospital if they specifically call or text and invite me and tell me what time. Then I don't stay long. I must be an abnormal visitor?

skiwic8 · March 2010

As this is hospital policy there isn't anything you can do so don't stress yourself about it. Honestly I wish our hospital had the same policy. I love my nephews and niece but I would be fine if they didn't meet the baby until we are home...they just have more energy than I or our new LO will be prepared for.

Qmommy · March 2010

My hospital has the same policy but when my SIL delivered her baby (Feb 17th) I noticed that this policy was not enforced at all. We sat in the waiting room for 4 hours and watched a number of times when little kids (3, 4, 5 year olds) went in and out with mom and dad to visit someone.

naylon511 · March 2010

Not worrying about it / haven't thought about it.

Now that you mention though, a policy like that is very common and I don't think any of my siblings would try to bring their kids knowing that.

jacse007 · March 2010

DH's family is coming up, which consists of his mom, dad, and at least one niece (she lives with them) who is 14. His other niece is 10 but not sure if she'll get to come. I called MIL and told her no one 14 and under could come to the room, but DH can take LO to nursery and show her through the window (she'll be in the room all the time). I'm kind of glad because I don't need the whole "preteen drama." It gets on my nerves when young girls try to act like an adult and say adult stuff like "she's so precious, I'm gonna cry!" MIL was cool with that, she said, "Oh well, that's the policy so she'll have to deal with it!" MIL is just excited her baby is having his first baby!

k.martell · March 2010

My hospital has a restricted visitation policy. I'm only allowed 2 visitors during my entire stay, and it can only be the same 2 people. Otherwise everyone can wait in the waiting room and peek into the nursery.

danandkelly · March 2010

I'm not worrying about it, if they want to attempt to visit and get turned away that's their problem.

bmb10 · March 2010

That's a bummer that your SIL is taking it personally. Just be sure to remind her that it is the hospital's policy, not yours (regardless of whether you want your them there or not!). As for me, I don't want ANY hospital visitors aside from my parents and maybe my brother/sister-in-law. I have made it very clear to everyone else they will have to wait a couple days until after we are settled at home. It is fitting with my personality (I'm a very private person), so everyone has been understanding.

missyjg · March 2010

Our hospital has the following policy:

DH/SO: Anytime

Grandparents: Between 10am and 7pm

Immediate Family/Friends: Only between the hours of 10-2 and then 5-7.

No visitors under the age of 12, even siblings (due to the flu) but I'm hoping they lift that.

Obviously no person with a cough, cold or fever (but I hope people aren't that dumb)

jacquelinethorne · March 2010

If our hospital has started restricting visitors by age our family will just have to deal with it. It's not like there's anything we can do to change it. With that said, we don't mind visitors. The more the merrier!

Mrs.katie_love · March 2010

k.martell:
My hospital has a restricted visitation policy. I'm only allowed 2 visitors during my entire stay, and it can only be the same 2 people. Otherwise everyone can wait in the waiting room and peek into the nursery.

OMG I'm so jealous. I'm not sure of the poilicy yet but I know it's not this strict.

MWoodside · March 2010

k.martell:
My hospital has a restricted visitation policy. I'm only allowed 2 visitors during my entire stay, and it can only be the same 2 people. Otherwise everyone can wait in the waiting room and peek into the nursery.

I kind of secretly wish our hospital had this policy. I am not looking forward to being bombarded as soon as LO is born. I told DH I think we should take 2 hours to ourselves after the birth w/ the baby.

babyrichsmama · March 2010

I just wish that DH's siblings and mine were like that! haha Not that we don't adore our nieces and nephews...I just know them all. As soon as they're allowed in, they will want to come in and bring their lively brood...and for some reason I just don't see myself being up for that Wink

mrstarawalsh · March 2010

I don't have any children coming by so its no big deal. However when I had DS I lived closer to my mom who has two young kids. I wish my hospital had had such a policy, I would have had an excuse to barr my youngest bro from the room.

dstar · March 2010

Not sure if my hospital has the policy or not. One friend has 2 kids that I really don't want visiting at the hospital or seeing my child at all. She thinks it is ok for her kids to kiss the baby on the mouth. I don't think so and don't want added germs. She mentioned coming to see me and said something about her 2 year old coming. I told her straight out, the hospital doesn't allow kids to visit. He will have to stay down in the lobby.

lite-bright · March 2010

We won't have many, I'm sure. My mom is coming from OOT to watch DD1 and will surely come at some point; there might be another friend or two who stops by, but the ones I think are most likely don't have kids anyway.

My hospital just recently lifted their restrictions on age (it was no visitors under 18 during flu season), so DD1 will be able to come.

xtencornfield · March 2010

I'm pretty sure our hospital is still on H1N1 lockdown, so no one under 18 yo (it might be 16), only 3 visitors at a time during specified hours (DH can be there whenever he wants and he counts towards the 3), and everyone who comes to the post-partum floor has to have a brief physical (temp taken and answer several health-related questions).

mrs.w0706 · March 2010

Make sure the nurses know your preferences because when I had DS they had the same policy about kids and they said no more than 2 people at a time, only during certain hours, etc. However DHs enormous and irritating family invaded before visiting hours and filled the whole room.

One thing I learned is never give out your room number when you call the family, just tell them what hospital and floor that way they have to go to the nurses station to get the info, (it makes it easier for the nurses to screen for you). GL!

yourmomwreckedmybike · March 2010

I don't really mind who comes to visit me and baby. Our hospital allows anyone during 6 and 8 PM. So I have let my family and inlaws know that. The nurses are very strict about those times. DH, my parents and his parents are allowed ANYTIME, and I know some people are annoyed with that, but tough sh*t. I didn't make the rules. I am not worrying about it. The nurses said they don't care if people have just travelled 24 hours, they will not let anyone in the maternity ward at any other time.

jifer · March 2010

I don't know what my hospital's policy is (we have our tour in a month so we will find out then). Howerver, we have told family and friends we will let them know when we are ready for visitors and to make sure to call ahead before visiting. Everybody seems to be responding well to this at least to our face that is.

justinlovesme · March 2010

MWoodside:
k.martell:
My hospital has a restricted visitation policy. I'm only allowed 2 visitors during my entire stay, and it can only be the same 2 people. Otherwise everyone can wait in the waiting room and peek into the nursery.

I kind of secretly wish our hospital had this policy. I am not looking forward to being bombarded as soon as LO is born. I told DH I think we should take 2 hours to ourselves after the birth w/ the baby.

This exactly. It took a lot of convincing, but I think my DH agrees that will be best. I'm still worried about how well it will be enforced, however.

edit for wording

VampyAuthor · March 2010

I told them all if they can't handle the rules or my wishes they can speak with the charge nurse.

KBabySmiles · March 2010

We live too far away from anyone we know for hospital visitors to be an issue...some days I feel like that's a good thing, and others not so much

teelaman · March 2010

I'm handling visitors like this:

If they're IL's....I'm telling them the wrong room number.

Kidding. There aren't really any "restrictions" on age (at least, when my nieces and nephews were born, little kids were in and out all the time.) Plus...I figure if they get turned away for having the little buggers around....it's not like I'm going to turn them away from my home. They can come see me at home when I get there if they have to. I figure that right now, I don't care so much....but once I get there, and after I have her, I might feel a bit differently, and if I do...I'll tell the nurse then.

southernbelle82 · March 2010

Since this is our second, I haven't even checked on the rules. I'm not worried about it though...I figure the nurses will take care of it.

lovinfall · March 2010

I think you've already handled the situation. You told them the policy and addressing any backhanded comments will somehow give them the impression that their opinion is important when in reality it's not.

creed612 · March 2010

Since the swine flu started, my hospital has instituted a rule that there are no visitors allowed under the age of 18, regardless of family relationship. The first hour after delivery is reserved for mom, dad and baby. Then baby is taken for bloodwork, etc while I move to my postpartum room. Basically nobody gets to see LO for the first 2.5 hours or so, which is just fine with me I'm not worrying about it at all, the nurses seem fine with running interference. They will even kick people out when its time to BF if you want them to

bedebum13 · March 2010

Our hospital has the same policy. I'm not concerned about it at all - I told SIL and she was dissapointed (her sons) but she'll have to deal. I am not worried about that kind of thing in the least...

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