Are ya freaking kidding me?!

[Ben's Mommy]

Ugh. I'm just getting really depressed/annoyed right now. I just found out that our hospital has put a new policy in effect because of the swine flu. They are 'locking down' the hospital and NO ONE under the age of 18 is allowed in to the hospital unless they are the patient or are visiting a dying relative. That's just peachy for my 2.5 yr old whom I've been preparing for her little sister to arrive. So everything up to now that mommy has told her will happen, won't. Now I have pretty much no time to switch her gears and prepare her for an overnight stay with g-pa and g-ma. Mind you she has never spent a night with out me (or the boobies) her entire life. I'm sure she'll be fine there (since my dad is our daycare provider) but this just sucks. I really wanted her to be the first one to see her baby sister and have those wonderful bonding moments with dh and I. Now I'm sure every relative under the sun will see our new baby first before dd.

I did set up Skype on my dad's laptop so I can use that in the hospital to talk to and see dd while she's at g-pa's. But I don't think my mom's computer has a camera. So, dd can see us but we can't see her. So if we go that route to show her baby sister then we can't even see her reaction. (just spoke to my dad and he's going to try and get a camera thingy for my mom's computer.... so that will work as long as I don't go into labor tonight)

I know I can probably try to get out of the hospital ASAP so it won't be so bad for dd (or me), but here's the kicker... My maternity leave depends on AFLAC paying me short term disability and hospital benefits. The hospital benefits are a ($500) per day type of thing. So the shorter we stay the shorter my maternity leave will be.

I hate this, I hate this, I HATE THIS!!!!

[mysticmomma]

well, could you switch to hb or bc birth? or just keep all other visitors away?

[Ben's Mommy]

Originally Posted by mysticmomma

well, could you switch to hb or bc birth? or just keep all other visitors away?

I'm fairly certain that there aren't any bc's nearby in our area and I have short births (<3 hrs) so traveling is out of the option. And while a hb is very appealing I have 2 issues with having one. One, I've had a prior c-sec (and loss) and for my own personal sanity need to be seconds away from the OR in case of a rupture. Second, is again the AFLAC $$ needed for maternity leave. I'm fairly certain they don't pay for a home birth (although I am checking into that), and we definitely need the $$ for me to stay home as long as possible (which is unfortunately only 6ish weeks).

Ahh, then there is the 'other' visitors. My family wouldn't be an issue. It's the IL's that I don't think would respect our wishes and not come to the hospital. With my dd's birth I told them that we weren't telling anyone when I was in labor and we'd call after she was born. I didn't want anyone sitting around in the waiting room and wanted our own alone time to bond with our new baby especially after what happened with our first baby. Well, my water broke towards the end of the evening at our baby dinner party and my sil figured out on her own where we were headed. She DID respect our wishes and did not say a thing and did not go to the hospital. She later told her mom (my mil) that she knew I was in labor and my mil says.. "If I knew where they were going, we'd have a caravan going up there right behind them!" So, I'm doubtful they'd obey and stay away from the hospital. We could always not tell till we were back home, but I'm fairly certain that would create issues/ hard feelings with the IL's. *sigh*

Thanks for your suggestions though! I just needed to get this all off my chest.

[SamGroom]

I know many moms that chose to have hospital births that checked out of the hospital after several hours. You have to do it against medical consent but I have never heard of anyone having a problem doing it if that is what they planed on.

*sorry, forgot I was not in my DDC

[Huck]

Sorry to hear about the lame hospital policy. I don't know if this is possible, but can you stay "checked in" at the hospital and actually go outside with your new baby to see your daughter? Best wishes!

[gumby74]

Hang in there! I like the idea of going outside the hospital to see her and the baby, while still being checked in. Hopefully that would work! Best wishes!!!

[Serenyd]

Maybe they will make an exception ... tell them you have no one else to watch her, or maybe you can sneak her in.

[Pandme]

That really sucks, I'm sorry. I was very lucky to give birth at the end of September because they enacted this same policy at my hospital starting October 1st.

[Ben's Mommy]

Originally Posted by Huck

I don't know if this is possible, but can you stay "checked in" at the hospital and actually go outside with your new baby to see your daughter? Best wishes!

Oooh, I like this idea! I'll have to see what I can do. Hmm, maybe I can stuff her in a duffle bag.

I just don't get what someone would do if they had NO support system in town? Leave the kids outside till you're done?

This all just really leaves no time at all to prepare when you're 39+ wks pregnant and about to deliver. Bah.

[Mommy2Liz]

I'm sorry. That is frustrating isn't it? They have implemented the same rule in all the hospitals in my state. I'm sure it is going to be more common across the country. I hope it works out for you.

[southernmommie]

Originally Posted by SamGroom

I know many moms that chose to have hospital births that checked out of the hospital after several hours. You have to do it against medical consent but I have never heard of anyone having a problem doing it if that is what they planed on.

*sorry, forgot I was not in my DDC

I could do this too, but I would be checking out without baby. Although I can check out without hospital consent, I cannot check out baby without hospital consent.

[southernmommie]

Originally Posted by Huck

Sorry to hear about the lame hospital policy. I don't know if this is possible, but can you stay "checked in" at the hospital and actually go outside with your new baby to see your daughter? Best wishes!

With my hospital, the baby cannot leave the double doors until discharged. So this wouldn't be an option in my case. But THANKFULLY, our hospital hasn't instituted this lock-down.

I really hope that you find a solution that will appeal to both you and the hospital!! I really want my kids to be the first to see our newborn too! And actually spend time with us, not just a hello and goodbye type visit.

[Bromache]

Boo! That stinks. I don't have any suggestions for you, but I hope you find some sort of solution that works for you. Best of luck!

[Pookietooth]

to you. So sorry you are in that situation. I would so not want to be having to stay in a hospital.