Opinions on taking newborn to visit family in hospital?

Joness11 · April 2016

so my mom just had surgery the other day. She had a bowel rupture a few months ago and had to have a colostomy, and they just did surgery to put everything back and undo the colostomy. I talked to my mom and told her I probably wouldn't be up to the hospital to visit because I was nervous bringing DS with me, he's 3 weeks old, because of the potential germs and sick people in the hospital. I'm not pumping yet and don't really feel comfortable being away from him for extended periods in case he gets hungry. Now my grandma is guilting me about not visiting, especially since I don't like bringing LO over to my mom's house since she smokes inside, and my mom won't be out and about for awhile after she gets home from the hospital most likely. Any opinions on whether it would be be a bad idea to being LO to visit my mom in the hospital? I definitely want to put his safety first since he's so new and little, so I'm thinking I'm not going to go just to be safe, but I just thought I'd see what other people's opinions were.

WiseUsagi · April 2016

I'm not really a germophobe or anything but I wouldn't risk it personally. Hospitals are just so gross and their little immune systems are so fragile.

mrstrax · April 2016

I say ultimately you need to do what makes you comfortable, but do take into account the part of the hospital you'll be visiting. Post-Op (like L&D) is a lot different illness-wise than ICU or ER.
When DD was 6 weeks old, DH had to have an emergency appendectomy. We all spent the night in the ER, surgery waiting and then another night in his recovery room. We made sure everyone used the hand sanitizer and kept her mostly covered (and sleeping) in her car seat to keep from touching much. Odds are, a trip to the hospital will be just fine, but if it makes you nervous then there's no guilt in not going.

AmadorRose · April 2016

I'm not at all a getmophobe and if it were my mom, I'd go as long as he wasn't coming down with anything, especially since your mom wasn't admitted for anything contagious. You won't be hanging out where people are sick with the flu, plus hospitals are sanitized with products that can kill HIV. Ultimately it's completely up to you and you should not let anyone bully you into doing something you don't want to, but just remember that exposure to germs isn't necessarily bad. He will be exposed everywhere he goes and it'll build his immune system, provided he doesn't have any other conditions.

Missingchampagne · April 2016

How long is she going to be there for? If your mom is local normally and you can see her when she gets home, I would visit her by myself without the baby, just to be safe. Not that it would be a huge deal to bring the baby, either... It would just be my preference.

helleebellee · April 2016

You might check hospital policy. Our hospital won't let anyone under 14 visit during flu season, October through May.

AnyaZM · April 2016

I would not take the newborn to the hosputal. I am sure my mom would understand. If not - sorry mom, but right now baby is a priority. He does not have anyone to protect him better but you right now.

Disneygeek77 · April 2016

I might do it saying she was in her own room and she understood the baby would be in a carrier or an infant seat the whole time.

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