NICU question

If your babies or baby is in the NICU after they are born when do they release you from the hospital?

When can you go up to see your babies?

Do you sleep at home at night and go all day during the day?

Re: NICU question

Okay here were the rules at good sam.....You could stay with the baby as long as you wanted except during nurse rotation which was twice a day. I was released and went to see my son throughout the day and night minus when I was sleeping or they were doing nursing rotation.

Re: NICU question

Message edited 10/10/2009 11:46:45 AM.

Re: NICU question

Message edited 10/10/2009 12:53:06 PM.

Re: NICU question

My DS was in the NICU at Winthrop. He was born at 10:59 pm and I saw him at about 2am on my way to my room. The next day I went down to see him at around 10am when DH got there. After that I went for every feeding while I was in the hospital.

When I went home I would go up pretty much on/off all day long. I tried to make it for all of his daytime feedings....starting at 11am til his 8pm bottle. Then I would go home to sleep. We would go out to eat around shift change or dr. rounds b/c they didn't allow you in during that.

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Re: NICU question

My nieces were in the NICU at Schneiders this past Spring. Mom & Dad could always be there except I think for a couple hours a day when they do things like change tubes and such that would be upsetting for family to witness. Also my SIL's parents were given bracelets and they could go in any time to see the babies. Anyone else had to go with either my SIL or her husband.

Re: NICU question

1 of my 3 was in the NICU at NSUH. I went home on day 4 after my Csection with 2 of the babies and had to leave one behind but she was home 3 days later. We were able to see her in the NICU any time of the day as long as the Dr.s werent doing rounds.

Re: NICU question

My DS and DD were in Schneider's for 105 days! I was released 3days after my CS. I tried fighting my Doc. for the 4th day but lost the battle (I didn't care about staying for myself but I didn't want to leave them.).

Visiting hours were I believe from 7 or 8 am till 7pm. And then again from 8pm-I think 11pm.
You definitely couldn't be there during rotations and procedures as another poster mentioned.

We were given 4 ID bands. 2 for the parents and 2 for whoever you wanted. Behind that we weren't allowed to have visitors. I think this is to cut down the risk of germs with too many people around, the rooms were also small so you couldn't have too many people. I believe too that you could only have 2 per bedside, unless it wasn't crowded and they didn't care.


I saw the babies about 8 hrs. after I had them but I think my situation was unique. They were very fragile at that time and needed a lot of TLC from the doctors and nurses.

We basically got in a routine and would do what we needed to in the morning and go to the hospital all day and occasionally some nights. It was grueling but well worth the wait!

Things could have changed a little now b/c they have done major renovations to the nicu but any questions please FM me.

Message edited 10/10/2009 2:41:40 PM.

Re: NICU question

Abby was a NICU baby at Schneider. I was there for 4 nights and she was there for 9. I live only 2 miles from LIJ so I was there every minute possible. They make you leave during shift changes but for the most part, you can stay. Security is tight. They also have a pumping room and lactation consultants there ALL the time.

You should also know that NO children of school age are permitted in the NICU at Schneider. Siblings can go if they have been prepared by a hospital liason who brings them in. They are taught how to wash their hands. Very often, there are babies there who are extremely ill with varying types of problems - it can be very hard to see.

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DD was born at Mercy and stayed for 21 long days. The 1st week I was there with her and was able to visit her all day and night except for nurse rotation. When I was discharged the hospital had volunteers who drove me M-F for the next 2 weeks to and from the hospital since I couldnt drive due to my C-section. DH came at night with my parents and 2 people at a time could be by her crib.

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DS ended up being discharged several hours after I was discharged. I had a c-section and was there for 4 nights. Originally, we were unsure whether he was going to be discharged. At our hospital (in CT), they have several rooms where families can stay overnight. Since I was EBFing, I reserved a room so I could BF DS during the night. Luckily, I didn't end up needing the room.

While I was at the hospital, I had a pass and could visit DS whenever I wanted. I also went down at least every 3 hours to feed him.

Re: NICU question