Christine says:
" Is there any way to change the hospital protocols concerning
visitors?
 Some people are amazed that a hospital implements visiting hours
that are
more strict on the postpartum ward than in other wards but when it
is explained
to them, they understand.  "Mom and baby need a lot of rest, they
just did a
lot of hard work."
       Not sure if this would impact hospital staff at all, if not
or if the
impact is that they have fewer people on the ward..."

Actually, the impact on hospital staff is that they then have to
become "policemen" asking, "Are you a family member?  Only immediate
family can visit now."  Then there is the very dear friend that can
ONLY come at noon, for example.  It is my contention that families
need to be empowered to be their own "gatekeepers" as in the example
given by Dr. Tierman.  This should be a part of every prenatal class
as well as OB tours, patient info booklets, etc.  To me, gatekeeping
is a primary responsibility of Dad (or whoever Mom's primary support
person is).  Parents need to let family and friends know ahead of
time that they want those first few days to be a "babymoon" (I think
it was Pat Gima who came up with that phrase.)  Just as noone would
think of dropping in unannounced on a newly married couple, the same
should apply with the newly expanded family!
The new mom has 2 primary responsibilities in the short time she is
in the hospital after delivery-to begin her physical recovery and to
learn to care for herself and baby.  While parents love to "show
off" the baby and mom loves to relate her birth story, When these
interfere with those 2 primary tasks, they must take a back seat!

Winnie

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