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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Maternity Unit Bans Children

85 replies

mrstgrlvr · 06/05/2012 23:39

No really!!

Has anyone else come across this in their area?

My sister is about to give birth in a Glasgow hospital and it turns out that only sibling children are allowed to visit her and her baby in hospital. All other children are refused. It's their policy and its on their website!

It's causing us some upset in our family as I'll be looking after my sister's (now) 11 year old while she's in hospital having the baby. My neice is understandably keen to see her mum and first sibling as soon as possible, but I have a 2 year old of my own and most of the time have no one else I can leave her with. If we show up, my neice will get in but I'll have to wait outside with a (probably cranky) 2 year old after the 40 mile drive from my house to the hospital. So much for getting out the video camera to capture this special moment in our family.

The policy has never been mentioned in the course of my sister's care either. How many other unsuspecting families travel a distance with their kids, buy gifts etc, to visit a new member of the family and are refused entry?

Can anyone fathom what justification a maternity unit could have for such an anti-family and discriminatory policy? We're talking about family members visiting other healthy family members - not holding a creche in an intensive care unit! I'm really very grumpy about the whole thing.

Wondered if anyone can relate / explain..?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

5madthings · 07/05/2012 20:16

its the same at my hospital in norwich, when i had ds2 a friend came to see me and had to bring her bfed baby, about 4mths, i simply met her at the door to the ward and we went a little side room, so it wasnt a problem :)

MrsHeffley · 07/05/2012 20:16

Thank god,the last thing I'd want exhausted after giving birth and with a newborn is hoards of children.Siblings fair enough but sorry thats enough,it's a hospital and people are recovering.Could you not get somebody to mind your dd just this once?

Meglet · 07/05/2012 20:16

It's fair IMO.

Maternity wards are bad enough without extra visitors. I'd ban all visitors if I had it my way.

MerylStrop · 07/05/2012 20:18

Sounds about right to me.

I can see it is moderately inconvenient for you OP

But I recall being 12 hours post CS on a ward when the woman-in-the-next-cubicle's extended family arrived, and the eight of them stayed for HOURS with small dc occasionally poking their head round or under the curtain as I attempted to bf. Was awful.

Mostly they kick you out within 5 hours of a normal delivery anyway, so maybe she'l be home before her daughter's out of school

submarine · 07/05/2012 20:58

sounds a good idea, but im sure they would undestand and make an exception if you exolain your situation, after all a sibling has as much chance of being infectios as any other child but i guess the policy minimises the risk as much as poss.

BikeRunSki · 07/05/2012 21:07

Yep, in Barnsley too (waves at Opener of Jars). I was in a 6 bed room, between 2 ladies who had 3 or 4 older DC. The constant noise of 7 or 8 other older children around was not relaxing. Goodness, if they'd bought there cousins in aswell.....

babyicebean · 07/05/2012 21:32

It was the same when I had the eldest - mothers own children and family but no kids.I had my DD and when my dad came to visit with his wife and my half sister the Midwives allowed my dad and his wife but refused to let my 12 year old sister onto the ward.Talking to them was no good as the Midwife was sticking to the rules and there would be no exceptions as she was under 16 she was classed as a child.Had she been 16 she would have been permitted to visit.

Dad came in and sis and stepmother sat in the corridor as they didnt want to leave her.I howled as I wanted to see my baby sister as she had been so excited throughout and she was the first to guess I was pregnant.

They had no problem with DH taking the baby out to see sis and Stepmom in the corridor.

Livingmagicallyagain · 07/05/2012 21:47

Good to see most people agreeing with the rule, makes perfect sense for the new mum. Forget other people's convenience.

KitCat26 · 07/05/2012 22:29

Its the same here too (Suffolk). And very sensible.

Thats the last thing I would have wanted after either of my DDs were born when I was extremely tired and feeling very fragile.

Siblings yes, random other children running about/getting excited and being noisy no.

MarySA · 07/05/2012 22:34

I think that's quite fair enough. Friends of ours brought in their 'lively' daughter who charged up and down the ward yelling at the top of her voice. I was more exhausted a the end of the visit than after giving birth. (Not really!)

outtolunchagain · 07/05/2012 22:35

This was the case at our hospital 16 years ago when ds2 was born so not new

ilovevenice · 07/05/2012 22:35

When I had DS3 just over a year ago, the hospital had a no children at all rule (ie not even siblings) because of swine flu. Which was particularly irritating as my older two had both been vaccinated and my obstetrician hadn't (hadn't "got round to it" apparently). Still makes me cross/sad not to have those meet your younger brother photos...

Kayano · 07/05/2012 22:36

My neices aged 6 and 9 were left out in the rain in early feb! It's standard I think!

lockets · 07/05/2012 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BenedictsCumberbitch · 07/05/2012 22:53

Yep, kids other than siblings banned from my unit too and no exceptions made. Kids are grubby and full of germs and actually much as most people like their nieces and nephews at a few hours postnatal they aren't too fussed about seeing them. Tbh I'd ban all visitors other than partners and siblings as they get in the way far too much, interfere with breastfeeding becoming established and stop new mothers from getting much needed rest. You wouldn't believe the amount of women who ask us to stop visitors at the door, so that they aren't the bad guys who tell them not to visit. It'd be so much easier to have a blanket ban.

tigerbear · 07/05/2012 23:02

I'm totally in agreement with this rule becaus of the noise and chaos lots of younger children can create. When I gave birth a year ago it was often chaos on the ward as LOADS of kids were running round, banging in to things and generally being a nuisance. Not the relaxing environment you need after giving birth! The nurses were going spare at the families who didn't adhere to the rules (and who also overstayed after visiting hours had ended).

ChocolateIsAFoodGroup · 07/05/2012 23:03

Dissenting voice here: Never heard of this policy in my life (though I live in the States and have done for nearly a decade). Had best friend bring around a chicken curry (see why she is my best friend?! ) after DC2 was born, and was thrilled to see her, her DH and her two kids who were 9 and 4 at the time. Was totally lovely. Would totally have not been the same if I couldn't have seen her whole family!

Birth is a family event, IMHO.

And babies are going home to a germ-ridden house (well, DC3 certainly will be, come September!)

VolkswagenBeetle · 07/05/2012 23:11

Yes was the same when I was in with both dds. First time I was in for 4 days and DSD came to visit twice. Second time around I wasn't in long enough to even have visitors, so dd1 never even got the chance to visit me in hospital anyway! So it's quite possible your sister will be out before getting visitors anyway.

VivaLeBeaver · 07/05/2012 23:11

I think there are too many visitors full stop on postnatal wards, most women go home the next day so personally I'd have thought putting visitors off for a couple of days would be better. The amount of times I've seen a woman not want to bf her baby even though it's now decided it wants a feed after not feeding all day, but mum won't do it infront of visitors, etc.

highflyingbird · 07/05/2012 23:17

Was the hospital SGH? My sister had both of hers there and it infuriated me greatly when DS had her first, especially as there was no prior warning and it was pretty agressively pointed out to me by the domestic. So I was unable to visit DS with my 4 month old at the time. My child is surely entitled to visit her family in hospital as much as i am, apparently not according to SGH

lockets · 07/05/2012 23:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BBQJuly · 07/05/2012 23:29

They can ban "Bounty ladies" while they're at it too

MrsHende · 07/05/2012 23:32

mrstgrivr, I had DD in Glasgow in November last year and there were no restrictions on children visiting on my ward.

I wonder if the rule Is there to use if someone's kids are getting out of hand?

Gooseysgirl · 08/05/2012 05:56

Sorry but I totally agree with this rule. One of the reasons I chose my hospital was because they only have 2 hrs visiting per day on post natal ward except for DPs, it was bliss. Also I agree from point of view of restricting the spread of germs. For the sake of a couple of days...

seeker · 08/05/2012 06:18

So the vast majority of people think it's a good idea in terms of infection control, noise and disruption reduction and providing as peaceful a space as possible for new mothers and their babies. This is v. a couple of people who are upset at a missed photo opportunity!

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