i saw on the news this morning that st lukes hospital is changing it's rules cuz of the swine flu. no kids under age 14 allowed on the maternity ward. I'm already worried about being away from my 2 year old while at the hospital and I was planning on her visiting. Anyone know anything more about this new rule? I was at the dr yesterday and they didn't mention anything.
thanks for the responses everyone. I called the hospital and they said siblings would be allowed...as long as they are healthy. The healthy part obviously goes for any age. I agree and am fine with that...I just didn't want my daughter to not be able to visit JUST because she was under 14 and the swine flu is going around. Thanks for putting my mind at ease while waiting for a chance to call the hospital!
I believe it said the expception to the maternity ward was immediate family-I'ld just call and check :)
I believe it's no one under 14 UNLESS their parent is a patient at the hospital. Also, absolutely no visitors that have any cold and/or flu symptoms. So, your 2 year old should be able to visit as long as she's healthy. I'm sure you could call the hospital and verify just to be sure.
Good luck to you and congrats!
I am not aware of any rule changes, but I can speak from experience that if this is the case, it's only to protect you and the newborn from a serious illness - especially a newborn. When my son was born, our 4 year old daughter came up to visit him, and unbeknownst to us at the time, she had been exposed to RSV earlier in the week at preschool. Her symptoms appeared later that night. When he was just 8 days old, our son tested positive for RSV and it nearly killed him. I honestly can't say what I could have done differently to keep our son safe, but if there is even a sniffle from a potential visitor, it's best to ask them to hold off on visiting (even if it's your daughter). It's just not worth the risk of your newborn getting sick - please trust me on this. Newborns are just not strong enough to fight such illnesses as RSV and H1N1. Best of luck to you and your family!
Siblings only can still visit as long as illness free - just not cousins, friend's babies, etc. It is to protect babies on the unit who have limit immune systems from developing a very serious illness from visitors. Your two year old will be able to visit, as she is a sibling.
I would call the hospital or discuss it with your OB. If they won't let a 2 year old sibling visit you might consider switching hospitals. I probably should be watching where I am planning on delivering so I can switch if they put the ban in place. I know my 3 1/2 year old could not go to long without seeing me.
have heard of these rules before but usually friend visitors and not immediate family members. Most of the time hospitals will have different rules for family members as they realize these patients will be going home soon with those family members so they will be around whatever they have anyway. I have been to hospitals visiting that wouldn't let my kids go to the patients room because they were under 14 and we were not immediate family so the kids had to stay in the waiting room and usually a family member of the patient would want a break from the room and watch the kids for me and hang out in the waiting room, otherwise I usually have my Mom or another adult with me so we can switch visiting if we have the kids along. I would ask the labor and delivery.
