Hospital Visitors

Swine Flu and Newborn Babies
Health and Fitness

Would You Limit Hospital Visitors Due to Swine Flu?

Check those germs at the door!
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Check those germs at the door! While the nation's schools and doctors' offices prepare for the flu season to begin, hospitals around the country are weighing the possibility of limiting visitors to the maternity ward.

The two largest hospital networks in Des Moines, IA are considering limiting new parents' visitors to immediate family over the age of 14. The proposed rules would exclude young children, grandparents and friends from celebrating with recovering mamas in the hours and days immediately following a wee one's birth.

The Centers for Disease Control have deemed expectant moms and newborns to be most at risk for contracting the H1N1 virus, and this move would provide the two groups with added levels of protection. Would you support a ban on hospital visitors to reduce your chance of contracting the virus?

Traveling to Meet Baby
Travel

How Did Your Relatives Plan to Greet the New Arrival?

Your bags are packed and you're ready to go, but how soon can you get there?
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Your bags are packed and you're ready to go, but how soon can you get there? The birth of a first child is a momentous occasion that friends and family are eager to share with a new mom and pop. While some mamas would prefer to limit their hospital well-wishers, others are happy to spend their lil one's first few days surrounded by celebratory visitors. For close relatives that do not live near the mama-to-be, planning to be present for the birth of the baby is much like a game of chess – strategic planning and all.

A friend on the East Coast is trying to figure out just how quickly she can get across the country once her sister-in-law goes into labor. Not knowing exactly when the baby will begin its decent, she is not sure if she should book a trip based on the babe's due date and just hang around waiting for the arrival, or if she should just plan on paying full-fare and purchasing her ticket when the contraction begins. How did your long-distance supporters plan their visits to greet your new arrival?

Why Some Moms Don't Want Hospital Visitors After Labor
Pregnancy

8 Reasons Mom Doesn't Want Visitors

While many women welcome visitors to meet their newborn family member, there are some that opt out of the hospital hoopla.
by babysugar
Why Some Moms Don't Want Hospital Visitors After Labor

While many women welcome visitors to meet their newborn family member, there are some that opt out of the hospital hoopla. And, mama's wish should be everyone else's command. Here are some reasons why mommy may want to limit her inpatient visits to a select few and invite others for home visits.

It's time to... It might be uncomfortable to... The catheter bag hanging... Germaphobes... Tired moms... A trash can full of... A painful recovery...
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Hospital Stay After Labor
Baby

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Rest Is Not For the Weary

In preparing a friend of mine for her first hospital childbirth experience, I warned her of the entourage that typically barrages a new mother — nurses in and out checking bleeding and other bodily fluids, taking temperatures, administering pain relief pills, and monitoring baby.
by babysugar

In preparing a friend of mine for her first hospital childbirth experience, I warned her of the entourage that typically barrages a new mother — nurses in and out checking bleeding and other bodily fluids, taking temperatures, administering pain relief pills, and monitoring baby. In between the medical staff's necessary and appreciated visits, I was surprised by the other people who came a-knockin' on my door. When it wasn't the nurses, it was the birth certificate people, official hospital baby photographer, housekeeping, room service, and other visitors peeping in. Parents expecting to rest after an arduous labor may need to reevaluate their situation.

Baby number two, however, was a different story. Perhaps the photo people assumed a second-time mom wouldn't care to have her every move documented so they never showed up. It wasn't until weeks after leaving the hospital that we realized the birth certificate people also never bothered to swing by the room, so we ended up filing for it on our own. As for visitors, there were very few. If I had my druthers, I'd opt for the second round every time as it allowed us more bonding time with our son and more sleep for beat up mum.
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Alternatives to Cigars
Hospital Visitors

Hold the Cigars: Alternatives For Birth Celebrations

The days of passing around a box of cigars in the waiting room may be long gone (due to bans and cancer risks), but that doesn't mean there's no room for celebration when babe makes his debut!
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The days of passing around a box of cigars in the waiting room may be long gone (due to bans and cancer risks), but that doesn't mean there's no room for celebration when babe makes his debut! Fathers, grandparents, and friends who have gathered to wait on the big news — not to mention the doctors, midwives, and nurses who helped the laboring mama along the way — will enjoy a trinket to signify the momentous occasion. From golf tees and bracelets to little bags of candy and lollipops, take a look at some of our modern-day cigar alternatives to tuck in your hospital bag!

Family Ties: Who's In?
Family Ties

Family Ties: Who's In?

Leading up to my due date, friends asked which hospital we were going to and if I would have my phone so they could come visit and meet the newest member of our family.
by babysugar

Leading up to my due date, friends asked which hospital we were going to and if I would have my phone so they could come visit and meet the newest member of our family. I was all for it until my husband put the kabash on it.

We really did not see eye to eye on hospital visits. He thought that those first few days should be spent entirely alone with just us and the baby. I love his sensitive and thoughtful side, but I had always imagined family members and friends flooding the room with balloons, flowers and teddy bears.

So I was really bummed when we couldn't come to an agreement. I fought my point of view stating that my whole family always ran to the bedside of family newborns. Since a teary pregnant wife trumps a sensitive husband, I finally got my way. Well at least partially. Friends were banned from the hospital, but family was welcomed by all three sets of our open arms.

In retrospect, I think my husband was right about keeping it small. I'm glad we had our family there, but think it might have been exhausting to have more than that. It's a three ring circus at the hospital with lactation consultants, nurses, doctors, birth certificate people and nursing bra specialists. Most importantly, it gave us time to get to know our lil one before having to share her with the rest of the world.

How do you feel about visitors after giving birth?

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