VHC Nursery - Open Yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I gave birth there a month ago and it still wasn’t open. But the nurse did take my baby middle of the night for tests/bath so I could rest a bit. I ended up going home after 1 night because DH had to stay home with our older child and taking care of a baby from a hospital bed all by yourself sucks.

This is yet another thing taken away “because of COVID” that doesn’t seem to be coming back and I think it’s a shame. They’re also still requiring masks although I was told I could take it off for pushing. Most people were laid back and not enforcing it, but I could tell one nurse wanted me to wear it in the recovery room and it was tiring putting it on each time someone came in to check. Another reason I left a day early.

Women need to start pushing back in order for it to change. You have to demand they take your baby and tell them if not, you need to call your insurance company and let them know they are refusing care while billing. You can also asked to be transferred to another hospital. Tell the nurse that you feel unsafe taking care of the baby after a medical event and that you’ll be putting your baby in danger if the hospital can’t take care of the patient (the baby).

There’s simply no reason the nursery should remain closed. COVID isn’t going anywhere. No woman should be expected to take care of a newborn alone after childbirth - C-section or not.

[Anonymous]

I have a feeling the nursery is gone for good. I understood why it wasn’t there in 2020, before we had any vaccines and really had no clue about the virus. I’d say that as a person who chose VHC over other options because they had the nursery. Now? Staffing is tight and costs are up, so it’s all about the money. In a year or two they’ll slap “baby friendly” on the door and make it permanent. Forcing women who just birthed a child or had major surgery to care for a newborn is expected and the norm. Men get more pampered after a routine vasectomy.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the answers everyone. I did ask my OB (the VHC group) about this and she said the nursery is open, but they prefer you dont use it unless there is a "reason." I hope exhaustion and pain will be reason enough.... I'll report back !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thanks for the answers everyone. I did ask my OB (the VHC group) about this and she said the nursery is open, but they prefer you dont use it unless there is a "reason." I hope exhaustion and pain will be reason enough.... I'll report back !

Push back. Tell them you feel unsafe handling your baby and you’ll need to call your insurance company if they refuse care. Do not let them treat your spouse like an employee of the hospital.

This is all about cost savings. That’s it. They have found out they can get away with this and women need to push back.

[Anonymous]

This sucks. VHC was one of the few hospitals with a well baby nursery. The rest had gone the baby friendly route while we all know it’s really about cost savings.