Those with another child at home

Are you not having your older child visit you in the hospital b/c of the fear of swine flu or other illnesses? I'm not having the baby till July - but DH is already saying he isn't sure he wants DD to come at all while I'm there b/c he's afraid she'll get sick while visiting me. I'm planning on having a c-section so that'll be 4 days w/o DD - I don't know how I'll deal without seeing her. She's not old enough to know a sibbling is coming so that's not a big deal (less than 15 months old by the time the baby is born). Is DH overreacting? I told him - Newborn's are most fragile and they are in the hospital. I want to say the hype is unwarranted, but then last time I was at my Pediatrician's office the receptionist made me leave w/o paying the co-pay and wouldn't say why - she just said "trust me, just go you shouldn't stay here" and she looked panicked. So who knows what was in that waiting room.

Re: Those with another child at home

All 3 of my kids will visit me both days I'm there. Their ages will be 9, 2, and 18 months. I never thought twice about it.

They will stay for a little while and then leave. We only live 10 minutes from the hospital and my MIL lives 2 minutes away.

Re: Those with another child at home

I am not due till Nov. but we plan on having DS come to the hospital for a little visit.

Re: Those with another child at home

DD will be 20 months when baby arrives and I plan to have her visit me in the hospital.

Re: Those with another child at home

Honestly i think you and the baby are more at risk for catching the swine flu while in the hospital than your other child.
My DD will be up at the hospital when they allow her to. If it wasn't safe for them to be there the hospital would change the visiting policy and hours.

Re: Those with another child at home

DS will probably come visit the first day... He is very excited about seeing his baby sister.

Re: Those with another child at home

i am due in July as well w/ a C, and i plan on being in the hospital for 2 nights and leaving first thing on the 3rd day...

you can leave when you want... a friend of mine stayed 1 night bc she had 3 other kids at home.

i do plan on having DS at the hospital a few hours of the day with his new sister.

as long as the C section goes well and you are walking a few hours after surgery you should be fine to go home.

Re: Those with another child at home

b/c Im having a c/s and will be there 4-5 days, I couldnt ever go that long w/o seeing my son. I think he will be fine.

Re: Those with another child at home

I never really put any thought into that.. but my plan was to have DD come up to the hospital after I delivered. We'll be dropping her off at my SIL's on the way to the hospital and then when DH leaves for the night (or however it works out) he'll get her and bring her home.

I really cant wait to have her come to the hospital and see the new baby We're big handwashers and she spent a lot of time at a hospital visiting her grandfather last year.. so Im not that worried about it.

Re: Those with another child at home

I'm planning on having DS come to the hospital. I couldn't go that long without seeing him!

Re: Those with another child at home

Oh god yes! I think it would be really hard on DS not to see me for 4 straight days and then I show up with a new baby he's never seen before? He'll be at the hospital. The mat ward is on a separate floor (in my hospital) and really, at the end of the day, he could catch it in stop n shop.

Re: Those with another child at home

i'm not worried at all. it's not like there will be people walking all over the maternity floor... let alone people who have the swine flu! and DS will be in my room, not around the rest of the floor or hospital. so i don't think it's a big deal.

Re: Those with another child at home

I guess I'm like your DH... I've always been paranoid with germs and getting sick.
It will be hard leaving DS home for the 3 days I'm at the hospital for my CS, I will miss him, but it will be good for my DH to see what I go threw every day being home with DS, lol..
I don't know, maybe once I'm in the hospital I might change my mind and ask DH to bring DS.

Re: Those with another child at home

Honestly, with the swine flu scare going around, now is probably the safest time to visit in a hospital. Everyone is more cautious and aware. There are diseases in a hospital every day. Most people go to a hospital because they are sick.... I brought our 3yo DS when DD was born.

Re: Those with another child at home

I would miss seeing my son. I want him to come and visit me. We have our sibling class at the hospital this week!

Message edited 6/1/2009 8:36:15 AM.

Re: Those with another child at home

How is the maternity ward at your hospital set up? Where I delivered my first, it's an entirely separate building. Separate entrance and everything. Really the only place I would be worried about is the main ER or regular patient floors. None of that is anywhere near where I delivered or was staying the first time, so I wouldn't be worried about having my DC visit me. And, I tend to be on the neurotic side. Recently my dad had to go to the hospital while my parents were watching the baby and I didn't want them to take the baby to the ER, or to the regular part when he was having surgery. But my labor and delivery section of the hospital is really cut off from everything else.

Re: Those with another child at home

I am not due till October but I am def. having Jack come visit me at the hospital. I couldn't imagine not seeing him for four days.

Re: Those with another child at home

Ds will be visiting me. I will never make it without seeing him. Plus I don't want him to be resentful that mommy disappeared for so long and came back with a new baby. He has to adjust to a lot. I want to make it as easy as possible.

Re: Those with another child at home

DD will be there for sure!! I'll have a private room, so I'm not worried about her being around any one other than me and family/friends.

Where there are days I would love to be away from her for 4 days I wouldn't want her to miss out on this for the world! She'll be a part of it as soon as she can

Re: Those with another child at home

we aren't due until December... so I suppose we will wait & see.

I don't know what I would do if I were due in June- there still is a lot of flu out there.. and in general- I don't like children going to the hospital ever anyway- it's a great place to pick up a germ!

Re: Those with another child at home

Posted by chelle

DD will be there for sure!! I'll have a private room, so I'm not worried about her being around any one other than me and family/friends.

Where there are days I would love to be away from her for 4 days I wouldn't want her to miss out on this for the world! She'll be a part of it as soon as she can

Re: Those with another child at home

From what I have heard you might not have a choice right now. I know for sure that LIJ and North Shore are not allowing children to visit (even siblings) b/c of the swine flu. So I guess he is not overreacting since the hospitals themselves have implemented this policy. It is so scary My second is due during flu season so I wonder if the same will be true then.

Re: Those with another child at home

My boys came to see me everyday. It was important for them to see me. I was in 4 days so that would have been a long time for them to go without seeing me. I think it was also important for them to see the baby. Makes the transition easier when the baby comes home.

Re: Those with another child at home

Re: Those with another child at home

Posted by itsbabytime

From what I have heard you might not have a choice right now. I know for sure that LIJ and North Shore are not allowing children to visit (even siblings) b/c of the swine flu. So I guess he is not overreacting since the hospitals themselves have implemented this policy. It is so scary My second is due during flu season so I wonder if the same will be true then.

Message edited 6/2/2009 1:28:18 PM.