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Childbirth

What name is on baby's wristband/documents?

26 replies

tipillie · 28/06/2018 16:38

Hello,
Sorry this might seem a bit trivial..
When you have your baby, is it the case that the hospital use the mother's surname? I am divorced (4yrs) but kept my ex's surname for various reasons but don't intend to get married any time soon to my DP (with whom I'm having a baby in Oct). Freaking out now that my baby will start it's life with my ex's name and considering deed poll name change... Am I being ridiculous.. will the hosp let us use his surname??

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MagicFajita · 28/06/2018 16:41

It will say "baby" then your surname.

Change your name before the birth is my advice.

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Twickerhun · 28/06/2018 16:43

We were asked what name baby would have. That name was on its wrist band along with mine. Tell them what name your child is having

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MagicFajita · 28/06/2018 16:43

And no deed poll is needed. Get a passport in your maiden name then use it.

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Tomboytown · 28/06/2018 16:44

The hospital will use your surname unless you tell them otherwise.
What is on baby's wrist has no bearing on what will be on his birth certificate.

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Orangedaisy · 28/06/2018 16:44

Our hospital gave us an extra set of wristbands with the baby’s name on (ie not mine) and the paperwork all for it crossed out and right name written in once we were home. I would want baby and I to have same name in hospital whether or not it’s the baby’s correct name, it’s done on purpose to avoid mum and baby being separated.

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GinIsIn · 28/06/2018 16:49

What’s on the baby’s wrist is just used to make it match to your info should they need to take the baby away for any reason - it has no bearing on the baby’s name going forward.

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Thurlow · 28/06/2018 17:02

Your surname, I believe it is so they can tie the baby to you i.e. patient B belongs to patient A.

So yes, while it has no bearing to its name going forward because there's no "name" until you register the birth, for keepsakes and photos and the like it would say your ex's surname

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tipillie · 28/06/2018 17:38

Yes it's the photos/keepsakes thing I'm worried about... thanks ladies.. might do the deed poll thing as have been considering it anyway...

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jellyandsoup · 28/06/2018 17:40

The baby's wristband must match the name on yours and on you hospital notes so make sure you change your name in good time with the hospital too

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MagicFajita · 28/06/2018 18:47

There's really no need for a deed poll name change. It's your name , you just need some solid ID with that name on it to prove that you are using it.

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purywl · 28/06/2018 18:57

They also write it on the baby book the red one you get to record all the baby's measurements going forward so it's best to change your name

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StruggsToFunc · 28/06/2018 20:14

You could simply revert to your unmarried name with no need for a deed poll - I think your decree absolute is considered sufficient evidence.

I’m not sure why you’d change your surname to that of your DP without getting married?

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AJlove · 30/06/2018 10:53

Baby's wrist band matches mothers surname. My partner was a bit confused why he had my surname and asked them. When you get out of hosp the midwife will ask when doing his heal prick his surname

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Gemsie1984 · 01/07/2018 19:57

My sons said "infant of..." and then my name, his date and time of birth and his hospital number.

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laelti · 05/07/2018 23:01

All the hospital/ paperwork and wristband had him as Baby MySurname - including the front page of his red book which they filled in, though they left a massive space between his first name and my surname, and put it in brackets.

I assumed it was standard to use whatever name the mum was admitted under/on her notes to keep you tied together.

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BigCarrot · 05/07/2018 23:11

I got asked what name he was having then he had a tag on one foot with his name and one on other foot of my name, his name tag also had my name on too so I suppose they all do it differently. But they asked when filling out paperwork what name he will go by they don't just assume as plenty of people would use the fathers name on registration. Just be clear when they do his paperwork what name you would like on there.

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zerozerooneone · 05/07/2018 23:13

I've just checked DD's wristband. It was Baby girl of(my name).
If it's the same in your hospital then that's factually correct so shouldn't be a problem.

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dinosaurkisses · 07/07/2018 19:15

DD’s wristband said Infant A Mysurname - I didn’t change my name when married.

In the nicest possible way, don’t change your name to your DP’s by deedpoll for the sake of a memento which will be rarely looked at.

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katienana · 07/07/2018 19:19

Mine said Infant Male of My Name.

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Icklepickle101 · 07/07/2018 22:52

Mine said ‘baby boy of surname’ on his wristbands. Can’t remember the paperwork

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hoping2018 · 13/08/2018 11:11

Baby then your surname

My sisters baby was in NICU for a while and she had named the baby by them. so it was then baby name and then my sisters surname even though my sister repeatedly said the baby would have the father's surname - the hospital won't acknowledge that unless here is a birth certificate and officially registered.

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Cheesenacho123 · 13/08/2018 11:18

Whatever surname is on your medical records they will give as the baby’s surname until you keep or change at the registration of his birth.

It really annoyed me because my HV wrote in my sons red book and put my surname through out yet she didn’t ask if I had planned to give him his dads surname (not married) and so his red book is a mess of having to draw a line through my surname and write his dads surname next or above it because that’s what he’s legally known as now rather than my surname.

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MrsSnootyPants2018 · 13/08/2018 11:31

The hospital will match it to your surname so they can match the baby up to the parent if it has to be taken off for test etc.

You'll need to change you surname before or just accept it.

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MrsSnootyPants2018 · 13/08/2018 11:32

Also you don't have to use ex's surname on BC. It's just to match you up in hospital.

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AtticaRose · 17/08/2018 09:49

No need for a deed poll, just get a driving license or something in your maiden name if your ex's name bothers you.

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