Taking baby t visit in hospital

[natalie_1982]

Hi, I'd really like your opinions on the quandary I am currently in....

As most of you know I have a five week old baby girl, what some of you don't know is that my grandad has been in hospital for the past four weeks and so only saw her for one hour the day after she was born. My grandad is pretty poorly, the good news being that they intend to operate on him on Weds, the bad news being that he is old and frail and not well, and... well there's always risks with these things isn't there? Especially on cardiac operations.

Anyway, I know he is desperate to get out and see his great granddaughter but I haven't taken her in for fear of her catching something nasty in the hospital, but now I am worried that should something awful happen on Weds, I might have missed my chance of my baby meeting her big granddad? I know probably omst people will say "Do what your grandad woul want", and he obviously doesn't want to surround her with sick people, but I know it would lift his spirits tremendously and I am sure would help his recovery.

What are your thoughts?

[Jillius]

I don't think she will catch anything as long as she isn't passed around too much. I'm sure if it was just you and your grandad she will be perfectly ok. Make sure you get a nice photo of them together then he can put it at the side of his bed. It will inspire him to get well quickly !
Good luck.

[hippyhoppy]

We recently visited our friend in hospital and we were able to take her outside in a wheelchair - could this be an option obviously depending on the weather)? That way bub's isn't actually in the hospital...

[hol5]

i agree, go visit it might give your grandad a more positive frame of mind for the operation too. as long as you go in, use the hand gel on the way in and out, do'nt pass the baby around, you'll both be fine.
Good luck!

[whiskeysheri]

I would imagine she'll be fine, hun. I shouldn't think there will be much she could catch on a cardiac ward, but if it's only you and your grandad holding her, too, she should be fine and your grandad will love it.

Hope your grandad is okay, hun. My grandma went back to JR for her check up with the surgeon and he was amazed at her health now. She was a little peeved, I think, as she's loved being centre of attention for the last six months. :)

[Marijn]

Could you ask the nurses or doctors on his ward for their advice as to whether it would be a safe place to bring your baby.

[Hellyon]

I agree with the others here nat - just don't pass the baby round and change her etc before you go in so contact is kept to a minimum - def take a picture and leave it with him.
I know how you feel, my Aunt had an awful cold when my son was born and she was heartbroken she couldn't come in and see him - I had to transfer from main hospital back to local hospital and we took a detour by her house so she could see him through the car window!

[redcrx]

great answers already hun!

firstly Id go with the option of perhaps wheeling him outside or down to cafe if he is well enough.

Use the hand gel at every opportunity and ensure that she isnt handled by anyone else other than family.

I hope your grandad gets to see her, take a pic of them together and send him a copy. Itd be nice for him to see when he comes round from his op

xx

[natalie_1982]

Awww, thanks for all your answers.

Hippyhoppy, because he is wired up to aheart monitor thingy he isn't allowed to leave the ward - I'd thought about the wheelchair thing too. I thought a "walk" around the park with him in wheelchair and pram would do him the world of good to get some fresh air too.

Notafish, I asked the ward nurse and she said that I could bring baby in and use the dayroom for the visit, but I think she thought I was asking for the welfare of the patients not the baby!

I was going to wait until her 6week check on Friday and if that was ok then take her in, but as the op is Weds I wanted to go in before then. I think I will now anyway.

Thanks again for your posts xx

[natalie_1982]

Errr... him in wheelchair and baby in pram LOL. He'd look a bit daft in a pram.

[redcrx]

perhaps you could knit him a pretty bonnet so he wouldnt look so silly? :)

[natalie_1982]

LOL - He'd be making a bid for freedom if I did that Red, with a disguise and wheels he'd be hotfooting as fast as he could outta there!

[redcrx]

dont blame him, he must be fed up stuck in there when theres a gorgeous great grand-daughter waiting to be spoilt on the outside!

[Octavius]

My mum was in a cardiac ward (quite critical) when Baby O was born. We agreed as a family that the baby shouldn't be bought in, so we took lots of pictures and some video clips for my mum to see the baby from her hospital bed.

Fortunately my mum recovered and came home several weks later, but she was a bit disappointed that my daughter was now a few weeks old, but was also pleased that her first real meeting with her latest grandchild was not by her hospital bed when she was really touch and go.

[McNoodle]

Do it. You can keep it brief, and it will as you say give him a huge lift.

[natalie_1982]

Thanks for all of your answers, I took her to see him this afternoon and we stayed for half an hour. He had a cuddle with her and it really did him the world of good; I think it reminded him that he has other people to live for. Nan said he spent the afternoon cooing after the baby, telling anyone who would listen that she had been in and how lovely she is, how big she is, etc etc. I'm really glad I took her in now, they have moved the op to Friday but if all goes well he could be home in one week *fingers crossed*

X

[whiskeysheri]

Aww, that's fab, hun! It must've been really lovely for you and your nan to see them together, too. Hope his op goes okay, hun. Lots of love x

[hippyhoppy]

That's lovely news - hope grandpa has a good operation and is back home soonest...

[SKA]

when we were little my mum wouldn't let us near a hospital but know I work in one and always see kids about, I'd take her if I was you!!