NICU babies | Mumsnet

Nicucrackers · 2020-10-31T20:38:39+00:00

Does anyone know if you can be kept from your baby on NICU if you have NO symptoms? I'm really heavily pregnant, baby due any day now and will definitely need admission to NICU after delivery. I'm freaking out that the new lockdown will mean my hospital my restrict how and when I can be with my NICU baby. There's already a 3 hour limit on dads and siblings are not allowed at all :-( I'm planning on exclusively breastfeeding. Can they refuse me entry to feed? :-( God I feel sad, I know it may not even happen but I am fearing the worst :-( OP’s posts: See all

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NannyAnnieKnitsKnickers · 31/10/2020 21:55

My daughter's baby was in NICU for five weeks at the start of lockdown.

She could stay as long as she wanted day and evening. No one was allowed to stay overnight. She had to wear a mask at all times. Her partner did not see his baby from the day she was born until the day she went home which was very hard for him. My daughter and her partner had to shield (no contact with others) until the end of lockdown.

My daughter expressed milk regularly whilst she was in NICU and also set alarms to express at home during the night to establish her supply. She took milk to NICU and it was put in the fridge/freezer. Her baby was tube fed for a while. Breastfeeding was fully established before they went home and baby is still breastfeeding alongside weaning.

I hope that attitudes towards visiting partners has now changed and they can visit daily. I couldn't understand why he couldn't visit when they were both in isolation.

ivfbeenbusy · 01/11/2020 07:12

I've been trying to find this out too - I'm having twins and being told to prepare for early delivery so NICU is more than likely for one or both

Original poster

Nicucrackers · 01/11/2020 07:21

@NannyAnnieKnitsKnickers

My daughter's baby was in NICU for five weeks at the start of lockdown.

She could stay as long as she wanted day and evening. No one was allowed to stay overnight. She had to wear a mask at all times. Her partner did not see his baby from the day she was born until the day she went home which was very hard for him. My daughter and her partner had to shield (no contact with others) until the end of lockdown.

My daughter expressed milk regularly whilst she was in NICU and also set alarms to express at home during the night to establish her supply. She took milk to NICU and it was put in the fridge/freezer. Her baby was tube fed for a while. Breastfeeding was fully established before they went home and baby is still breastfeeding alongside weaning.

I hope that attitudes towards visiting partners has now changed and they can visit daily. I couldn't understand why he couldn't visit when they were both in isolation.

I'm sorry that happened to your daughter, absolutely horrific and against every maternal instinct to be kept away from your newborn. And very sad for dad aswell 😢

OP posts:

Original poster

Nicucrackers · 01/11/2020 07:22

@ivfbeenbusy

I've been trying to find this out too - I'm having twins and being told to prepare for early delivery so NICU is more than likely for one or both

I'm sorry you are in this situation too. Its hard enough knowing your baby/ bikes will be in NICU anyway. Its even worse knowing there's a.chance you'll be kept from them.

OP posts:

Lumisade · 01/11/2020 07:42

Hi, sorry to hear about your situation. I hope everything goes well for you. Is it possible for you to call up NICU and explain your worries and ask them what their rules are? I'm sure they'd be happy to help answer any questions.

My daughter was in NICU at the beginning of October. I was allowed in as much as I wanted to be. It's a bit of a blur but I think my husband was allowed in during the day time as much as he liked. No siblings allowed but I was allowed to bring her twin into a family room so I could feed him.

I managed to breast feed my daughter on one occasion, and she had expressed breast milk when she was well enough to too. The NICU staff were very suportive with the breast feeding and I was able to use hospital breast pumps and borrow one for at home. A breast feeding advisor was around to help any questions which was useful as well. If you have any problems keep on asking the staff to see a feeding advisor.

Good luck OP. Thinking of you, it must be a worrying time but it sounds like the hospital are keeping an eye on your baby. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

Bambooble · 01/11/2020 07:44

I would ask your midwife, probably today they're not 100% sure, but they should be able to let you know when the guidance following this announcement is a bit clearer.

Random63638 · 01/11/2020 07:54

My dd was prem and in NICU in 2018. Parents were not allowed to stay overnight (for our own health and sanity) and siblings weren't permitted, only adults. I expressed at home using a hospital provided pump and DD was tube/bottle fed. DD was bf by the time we left and didn't struggle too much with the transition from bottle, I actually think it helped as we could bottle feed from time to time quite easily. Just letting you know that although things are stricter now, they already we're quite restricted. NICU is for babies at risk, so their care takes priority. Hope all goes well for you.

Ajahd · 01/11/2020 08:03

I imagine hospitals can be different in different areas. My boy was born 5 weeks ago and was in NICU for 10 days. Visiting hours on the regular postnatal ward were 9am-6pm, NICU didn't have visiting hours so Dad's could stay as much as they liked. It actually meant my husband could spend more time with us compared to being on the ward. This was all while I was still in hospital. If I had been discharged, we would've still been allowed to stay as long as we liked however if we left the hospital we wouldn't have been allowed to return that day. He was born around 9pm and I was rushed to theatre after the birth due to unrelated complications which then meant to wasn't allowed to be with him. They were happy for my husband to sleep in the chair next to him, as we couldn't imagine spending the first night with him alone.

I know you've mentioned a 3 hour restriction, but is this definitely for NICU or the postnatal ward?

I was able to be with my baby whenever I wanted, including the middle of the night. We were trying to establish breastfeeding so the nurses would phone me and ask me to come down when he started to wake, although I also provided expressed milk (after it took forever to come in) so he got a bit of both.

Hygeine was impeccable. Wash hands and arms before entering the ward, using hand sanitiser every time before you touch baby, although this may have been in practice even before COVID. We had our little corner of the room and as long as the nurses weren't in our area, we could sit with masks off. If a nurses or Dr came over we would put our masks on.

We unexpectedly had to go to NICU so didn't have a chance to find out about things before. It's good that you're getting prepared. Our NICU had leaflets with all the COVID related rules on the ward, which was provided as part of an information pack at the start. Is it worth speaking to them to get an understanding of what it will look like? Remember that things came change at any point.

It's an unsettling time, but honestly, trust in the nurses, I don't know how I would've gotten through those 10 days without their support. Your baby will be in the best place. Remember to keep yourself well. Go back to your ward regularly for sleep, food and painkillers.

36weekswithno2 · 01/11/2020 09:03

Oh op you must be so worried, I'm due in a couple of weeks, no expected complications and I'm upset about the visiting restrictions. I can't imagine how you feel.
I think it's probably best if you call the hospital you'll be giving birth in and get the information first hand.
If it makes you feel better in any way, 2 of my close friends have had babies in nicu and the nurses looked after them so well.