What is THIS all about

fergus51 · Sep 28, 2005

Someone posted another tread on this topic, but I think it's important to say that all mothers do not want their babies to be gawked at, especially in a special care unit. NICUs babies are not zoo animals. They and their families have the same rights to privacy as any other patient in the hospital. You seriously wouldn't believe how many people want to walk up to an isolette of an intubated premie and start tapping on the glass.... We've had several people try that and tons of people trying to get a better look at babies with birth defects which can be very hurtful to the families.

1Tulip · Sep 28, 2005

I hadn't realized that this had come up before.

Maybe I was surprised to find it a problem because here (Nevada) babies are very much off the beaten path. Only family members get to the unit where babies are. The babies themselves are kept behind a window. Basinettes are several feet away from the thick glass. Only moms and dads can actually enter the nursery. And random visitors do not ever get near our NICU babies.

But, having said that, family members who are cleared to enter the Ob floor (grandmothers, aunts, uncles, siblings) gather at the nursery window and can't keep their eyes off their new family member and, at the same time, can't help comparing their little one to all the others that are within sight.

I mean, does this sort of controlled and considerate-of-others awe constitute a violation of human rights? Granted, if the physical layout of the nursery is more open, then more control has to be exercised. But... within the issue of families joying over their newest members... I can't see the harm.

What can I say. I'm a new grandmother! I was glued to the glass.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 28, 2005

Actually very few hospitals have regular nurseries anymore. Most mothers have rooming in and then go home the next day. And the children are not put on display, if they do have them. You request that your baby be brought to the window, but they are no longer out on display along with all of the other babies.

For security issues as well.

fergus51 · Sep 28, 2005

I hadn't realized that this had come up before.
Maybe I was surprised to find it a problem because here (Nevada) babies are very much off the beaten path. Only family members get to the unit where babies are. The babies themselves are kept behind a window. Basinettes are several feet away from the thick glass. Only moms and dads can actually enter the nursery. And random visitors do not ever get near our NICU babies.
But, having said that, family members who are cleared to enter the Ob floor (grandmothers, aunts, uncles, siblings) gather at the nursery window and can't keep their eyes off their new family member and, at the same time, can't help comparing their little one to all the others that are within sight.
I mean, does this sort of controlled and considerate-of-others awe constitute a violation of human rights? Granted, if the physical layout of the nursery is more open, then more control has to be exercised. But... within the issue of families joying over their newest members... I can't see the harm.
What can I say. I'm a new grandmother! I was glued to the glass.

I didn't mean actually "random" visitors. Our problems usually come when parents of one baby and their visitors want to tour the unit and gawk at other babies. It is inappropriate in the NICU environment and since this article mentioned the "special care unit", I assume that's something similar. The glass viewing windows in newborn nurseries are different. If they don't want people there, they can just close the curtains.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2005

You know what i find hard to believe in this article, is that in Uk the policy is that the baby always rooms with the mother at all times, the only exception is if the baby is unwell. Then why are there visitors in the NICU, who are they? It is a closed environment to reduced baby snatching.

In my hopsital if anybody is touching or looking at the new borns then the mother has given her permission and it is her baby.

All maternity units in the UK are locked and you have to buzz to get in and you have to know whom you are coming to see or you dont get in through the door. Of course there will be breaches in security but it is not supposed to happen. The main culprets are the parents themselves they allow visitors in when they are leaving, despite being told your baby is at risk.

1Tulip · Sep 28, 2005

We actually had a baby snatched from here several years ago. Was missing for half a week before it was found. (The snatcher dressed like a nurses's aide.) Now all employee tags have special chips in them. Visitors have to show photo ID and have their name on a list put there by the mother. Then the security fellow gives you a badge to wear while you're on the unit and have to turn back in when you leave.