Prisoner!

[crazybutkind]

So I had a baby on Tuesday evening and I am still currently in hospital. We are ok baby's temp is just a little low but they have ruled out anything serious.

As you can imagine nobody wants to be in hospital on their own with a newborn at the minute but I have been in the same room now since 7:30pm on Tuesday. I'm not allowed to open the window because they don't want baby getting cold, I'm not allowed the fan on because of the same reason and I'm not allowed to go to leave the ward for some fresh air because of covid.

It's absolutely roasting outside, i am just stewing in my own sweat at the minute. All I want is 5 minutes of fresh air.

It's been 36 hours now and I feel ill.

I just want to go and stand at the entrance for 5 mins AIBU?

Well seeing as it could harm you/your child then yes you are being unreasonable.

Can you talk to a nurse and say you are feeling ill? Can you have a cool shower?

Op maybe they can bring in a fan? Wouldn't hurt to ask.

It surely IS harming her and her child! It’s absolutely boiling!

Can you have a cool bath /shower?

Maybe ask a nurse or someone if they have got a hand held fan you could use? worth asking, is the baby not in a hot cot if their temperature is low?

Sounds grim OP, but I'm sure it won't be for much longer. Congratulations by the way

Yeah baby is in an incubator, Iv asked for a hand held fan seen as I can't turn the fan on which is plugged in the room they said no and I'm not allowed window open. I asked If I could step outside for 5 mins and got told no.

What do you mean you asked to step outside for 5 minutes and they said no? What reason did they give. Also, where is your babydaddy can he not come and relieve you for an hour for you to get some fresh air/

I think you tell them you are going to be sick (like you are physically going to vomit like really stress the point)and then there will be a clean up operation needed. Say if it’s an issue with having a hand held fan then surely someone can escort you (2m behind you) to the entrance to collect one from a relative at the boundary line and come back in. Are you on something designated a Covid ward though? Might explain the entire shoot downs on any movement.

Just open the window. Baby won't get cold, it's 29 degrees outside.

Baby daddy? Where did this come from?

Ugh I had this 8 weeks ago when I had my daughter. "That fan will be making her cold" oh yes look at that freezing cold baby happily sleeping wrapped up in a blanket with a hat on. I've only had 4 babies, what would I know about keeping them warm 🙄🙄 the postnatal ward stuff seem to be a different beast to those on delivery. Quite mad.
Just open the window. If they tell you off, ignore them.

YANBU. I don't normally get stroppy at HCPs, but having no fresh air for two days in this weather is completely unacceptable. Unless you are on a covid ward I'd be inclined to tell them (rather than ask) that I was going to the entrance for some fresh air while the child's father is minding the baby.

In our trust at the moment, fans and AC are banned throughout due to them spreading air particles and therefore possibly spreading covid. This might explain why it's so bad. Sorry though, it would drive me mad too

@LochJessMonster

Well seeing as it could harm you/your child then yes you are being unreasonable.

Can you talk to a nurse and say you are feeling ill? Can you have a cool shower?

Yeah, you're a mum now - you no longer have any rights.

Babydaddy, yuck, are they 15 year olds?
Congratulatuons op. If the conditions are making you unwell please make sure you tell someone quickly.

Hey op,

I was in the same situation 3.5 weeks ago when the heatwave struck. You can use the fan just don't aim it at baby. Also have a lukewarm shower. I missed the outside world so much when I was in there and I was in for 5 days without seeing the outside world or any friends or family. It was very hard so you have my sympathies with the heatwave on top.

Also make sure you drink loads of water

They can't stop you going to the entrance for a few minutes. Even if your babys temperature is low how will a hand held fan affect them?
As others have said if you are allowed a visitor then leave the baby with them or see if one of the nicer staff will look after your baby for 10 minutes . (I don't think they're supposed to really but quite often they will if they can see how upset you are).
I know it's horrible I was stuck in hospital last week but I would tell them the heat is making you sick.

Well you're not a prisoner so just TELL them you are going out to get some fresh air.

To pp who said Babydaddy, please never say that again 🤣

Babies dad got sent home an hour after birth and is not allowed back until we are discharged. I have opened the window several times and the staff just keep closing it. I only realised after the 4th time that they were closing it so I asked why and they said to keep baby warm. It's not a covid ward I am on my own in a side room. I asked why I can't go stand at the entrance they said "due to covid" I am really hungry and thirsty. I got offered toast this morn (one slice) and a cup of tea/coffee. I was given a sandwich at 11:30 and my tea is a hot meal around 6pm but they aren't my greedy size just has a baby potions. I asked if my partner could drop off some cordial and snacks because I have run out and they said yes tomorrow between 10am-12pm. I asked if possible for some ice in my water because due to the heatwave it's constantly warm, they don't have any ice. I just think it's really against human rights to expect someone to sit in a non ventilated room for 3 days with pitiful meals and warm water to drink, with a newborn on your own.

You are not a prisoner. Tell them you need to cool off or you’re seriously going to vomit. Tell them to leave your window alone. Baby is in an incubator and protected from the elements.

Congrats on the baby OP, but that sounds awful. How could the window being open harm the baby?

I said earlier this morning "baby is fed and changed and gone down so am I ok to leave the door open and nip to the entrance (which is right in front of my window) I got told "no sorry you are not allowed to leave the ward" so I headed back to my room and a member of staff stopped me within a metre of my door and said "were are you off to?" So I said "I was trying to go out for 5 mins to get some fresh air" and she replied "well have you been told you can? I will have to raise this with the coordinator" at which point the nurse who had just told me no said "don't worry Iv already said no".

So I'm just sat watching all these people taking their babies home happy and smiling in the sunshine. I can't stop crying so no doubt they will be trying to pull me next for PND

Is there a reason they are keeping baby in? As in an actual medical need? I can see baby’s temp is a little low, but if there’s nothing seriously wrong, what’s stopping you from discharging yourself and baby?

Open the window
If they close it
Open the window
Etc

They can't keep you penned in