newborn staying with readmitted mom

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Howdy,

I am wondering if anyone has a polcy for new moms who are readmitted for therapy (in this case mom had fever on course of IV antibiotics). Mom is breastfeeing her baby and wants to keep baby with her. Baby is not a patient but the mom is. She is physcially able to do this (care for her baby while an inpatient). The question is, can she keep her baby with her by herself or does she need to have someone with her at all times that could assume the care of her baby(i.e. significant other or grandma).

Thank you.:typing

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Many times we have had new moms admited and placed on the MS floor--we have a large amish population and it is easier for mom to keep babe wtih her than have dad horse and buggy it home at night...

If mom is able to care for baby it should be no problem. We just bring a bassinette over from OB for baby to sleep in. our only rule is baby can not sleep in the bed with the sleeping mom.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I dont see an issue with it unless the antibiotics are contraindicated with lactating mothers or if what she has can be passed to the baby

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

We let baby stay w/ mom as long as her condition allows it. Really makes a difference. We get a bassinet and voila! The only thing is that they have to have their own supplies (thought I've been known to filch a few diapers here and there). We do encourage someone to stay w/ mom to take over baby care if mom's condition worsens or if she's just not feeling up to it.

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

I can't imagine the stress of being hospitalized with a newborn baby at home. There is nothing that obligates the hospital or the nurses to allow a newborn to stay in the hospital. I hope you guys know that you are all GREAT nurses. :yeah:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Unless there is an infection control issue, we not only allow this, we really encourage it in my hospital.

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Specializes in Critical care.

I was admitted for post-partum hemorrhage and the hospital allowed me to keep my newborn son in the room. They wheeled over a bassinet and a few diapers. However, I had to have another adult in the room with him at all times. This was because I had to go back to the OR for a D&C and they could not take care of him while I was gone. I totally understand since my baby wasn't a patient at the time. It wasn't a big deal, my mom and MIL took turns staying with me.

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

We just had this at our hospital, a woman was admitted with post-partum cardiomyopathy. Baby stayed with her the whole time up until she started leaving him alone so that she could go out and smoke. She got warned once that it was not acceptable, did it again..."None of you nurses will watch him for me, what am I supposed to do?" Um, not smoke?....so away baby went.

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

We have readmits quite often, our hospital policy allows newborns to stay with the mom ONLY if there is a competent adult to stay with them ATC. We do not have a nursery , since we are a GYN unit, therefore if the mom needs to go off the floor, CT, U/S, back to the OR whatever, there needs to be someone available to care for that baby, that person must be an adult as well

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I should have said that. The mom MUST have an adult who can watch/care for baby if she cannot. Smoke breaks are not a valid reason to have NURSES do the watching...this is one reason of many, why all hospital campuses should be absolutely non-smoking. I wish mine were.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
this is one reason of many, why all hospital campuses should be absolutely non-smoking. I wish mine were.

Doesn't really matter - people go smoke anyway. My place has been smoke free for several months now and people go do it all the time. :(

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I worked in two places that were non-smoking. People leaving to smoke after being told not to,were often discharged AMA (often at their request/demand)when they would not stay on the unit. Fine with me. If you have it in you to fight so hard to go down several floors to smoke, you are probably not sick enough to be in the hospital in many casesl, or your care is compromised so that you won't benefit by staying. Others can have a nicotine patch to help them cope during their hospital stay and it helps.

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