This happened at the hospital where DS was born!

Useonfire · July 2010

Thoughts?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/27/AR2010072705976.html?hpid=artslot

BigSar1 · July 2010

that is crazy!!! When I saw the episode of the office where Pam fed the wrong baby I thought it was crazy and that no one in real life could do that but I guess I was wrong!

MrsPatterson · July 2010

Well, I'm not really sure how I feel. To me, the larger issue is that the mix-up happened in the first place, not so much the breast feeding issue. I mean, I know it could have been really bad, but it wasn't and there's nothing that can be done to un-do the feeding. But, there is certainly something that can be done about the mix-ups, and I think the hospital is taking every effort to ensure it doesn't happen again.

I guess I'm a little jaded in general because I'm so tired of people getting sue-happy and trying to get money from every error a hospital or medical practitioner makes. I know this woman has a legitimate claim, but it all ended well, and if I were her, I'd just plan to never deliver at that hospital again. But maybe I'm being too laid back.

Useonfire · July 2010

MrsPatterson:
Well, I'm not really sure how I feel. To me, the larger issue is that the mix-up happened in the first place, not so much the breast feeding issue. I mean, I know it could have been really bad, but it wasn't and there's nothing that can be done to un-do the feeding. But, there is certainly something that can be done about the mix-ups, and I think the hospital is taking every effort to ensure it doesn't happen again.
I guess I'm a little jaded in general because I'm so tired of people getting sue-happy and trying to get money from every error a hospital or medical practitioner makes. I know this woman has a legitimate claim, but it all ended well, and if I were her, I'd just plan to never deliver at that hospital again. But maybe I'm being too laid back.

I'm inclined to say I agree in that no one was harmed, but I am not sure how I'd feel if I were in the situation. But you're right - we live in a society where if someone looks at you the wrong way, you can sue them for emotional damages... ok, not really but you know what I mean.

blondie223 · July 2010

MrsPatterson:

Well, I'm not really sure how I feel. To me, the larger issue is that the mix-up happened in the first place, not so much the breast feeding issue. I mean, I know it could have been really bad, but it wasn't and there's nothing that can be done to un-do the feeding. But, there is certainly something that can be done about the mix-ups, and I think the hospital is taking every effort to ensure it doesn't happen again.

I guess I'm a little jaded in general because I'm so tired of people getting sue-happy and trying to get money from every error a hospital or medical practitioner makes. I know this woman has a legitimate claim, but it all ended well, and if I were her, I'd just plan to never deliver at that hospital again. But maybe I'm being too laid back.

I agree with this. Maybe I'm too laid back too, but I'm just tired of hearing stories about people suing and we wonder why prices go up for everything. I believe too that this hospital needs to really fix their errors and make sure this never happens again.

I know at the hospital I was at when they brought the baby to my room they wouldn't even lift her out of the baby cart until they knew my # matched DD's.

yellowcar · July 2010

Makes me glad my hospital uses the Hugs and Kisses system. I had a wristband and DS had an ankle band that would play a lullaby when held together--but it wouldn't work if it was someone else's baby. In that case, an alarm would go off.

The only downside was that I could never go into the nursery if there were other babies in there. Since I had my wristband on, there would be alarms going off left and right.

This is scary. I would have been frantic as well.

eas15905 · July 2010

I'm sorry but there are several crazy things here. First, that aid should have checked the bracelets. Second, the woman who BF the baby - didn't she notice that it wasn't her baby and when she entered her feeding onto the log didn't she notice that none of the other entries were in her handwriting??

Also, I know everything turned out ok in the end but lets face it, there are a million people who live in this area. Who knows what medication they're on, etc. Also, the thought of someone else (a stranger, not a wet nurse that you hired, no less) is completely disgusting to me.

If I were the baby's mother I'm sure I would still have this thought in my head that someone could have walked out with my baby. I think that data needs to be made readily available and I'm glad it's plastered all over the Washington Post. If were planning on delivering there I would change my plans as a result of this.

blondie223 · July 2010

yellowcar:

Makes me glad my hospital uses the Hugs and Kisses system. I had a wristband and DS had an ankle band that would play a lullaby when held together--but it wouldn't work if it was someone else's baby. In that case, an alarm would go off.

The only downside was that I could never go into the nursery if there were other babies in there. Since I had my wristband on, there would be alarms going off left and right.

This is scary. I would have been frantic as well.

That is very cool! Wristbands that match then play a lullaby. I have never heard of that before.

phoebecar · July 2010

This makes me really ill. I also had DD at this hospital. While I don't think I would sue, I would want (in writing) all of the verbal assurances they gave me regarding the diseases my child could have been subjected to. But in reading (and I could have misread) it appears that they haven't submitted anything in writing or any toxicology reports to the family. While I don't believe it should have the other woman's name on any of the documentation, I do believe it's incumbant upon VA Hospital Center to provide the mother the written documentation that the other lady is disease free which is what they told her.

While I'd like to believe I'd think 'no harm, no foul" I do believe that VA Hospital Center needs to make every assurance they are giving the correct baby to the correct mother. there were times they dropped off DD without asking for my arm band number. This really makes me rethink where I'll have number 2.

jen-dale · July 2010

That is scary. Our hospital used the hugs and kisses system too, which could be a pain, but it is nice it's there. What I really want to know is how did this woman not realize she had the wrong baby?

TheEnglishgirl · July 2010

Oh boy, that isn't good at all. I delivered in Alexendria and there wasn't one time that they didn't match our bracelets up.

Not good at all.

erinkate23 · July 2010

So glad my hospital practiced rooming in. Except for his very brief hearing test (which DH took him to), he never left my sight.

I agree with PP, I am less concerned with another mom BFing - although that certainly is pretty terrifying - than the fact that babies weren't carefully watched!

Want a personalized experience?

This happened at the hospital where DS was born!

Re: This happened at the hospital where DS was born!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards