Visitors are usually limited to two (2) at a time in a patient’s room, and visitors must be age twelve (12) or older*. (*For postpartum visits, siblings of any age are allowed as visitors. See Women's visitation policy)

Labor and delivery visitation

Patients may have up to 3 visitors (a significant other/support person, plus 2 others including siblings) are allowed 24/7 during the labor and delivery experience.

I clicked on the link above a few posts ago and found this under women’s services.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just delivered at Inova Fairfax and siblings are the exception, they are allowed to visit

It says no children under 12 and doesn't mention any exceptions

https://www.inova.org/about-inova/visiting-hours

It says siblings are allowed in postpartum in the link posted

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they ever allow kids? I've been having babies for 14 years and can't ever remember a time that kids were allowed to visit.

PP, do you mean at any hospital? I just had a baby in May at Sibley, and there was no problem with my older DD coming to meet her sibling in the hospital. Also, my sister had all of her kids at INOVA Fair Oaks and her kids were allowed to come there as well (this was pre-pandemic though, so I am not sure what their current policy is).

That's so crazy. I've never been allowed to have kids at the hospital, as I said, in 14 years of having babies in this area.

This is so strange. Did you ever ask?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they ever allow kids? I've been having babies for 14 years and can't ever remember a time that kids were allowed to visit.

PP, do you mean at any hospital? I just had a baby in May at Sibley, and there was no problem with my older DD coming to meet her sibling in the hospital. Also, my sister had all of her kids at INOVA Fair Oaks and her kids were allowed to come there as well (this was pre-pandemic though, so I am not sure what their current policy is).

That's so crazy. I've never been allowed to have kids at the hospital, as I said, in 14 years of having babies in this area.

That’s weird, I had my 2nd kid in 2019 (so pre-COVID) at Inova Fairfax and my mom brought my then 3 year old to visit. I don’t think they were allowed in the actual delivery room but they were certainly allowed in recovery.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just delivered at Inova Fairfax and siblings are the exception, they are allowed to visit

It says no children under 12 and doesn't mention any exceptions

https://www.inova.org/about-inova/visiting-hours

Yes, I also read that when I was pregnant but I delivered last week and my toddler was allowed. I didn’t have to request an exception or special permission for that

But sneaking a child in vs it being allowed are two very different things. If staff were polite and didn't mention it doesn't mean you didn't break the rules.

WTH who said I was breaking the rules. My child was registered as a visitor and he even got a big brother sticker. (They wouldn’t have the stickers if it wasn’t allowed!)

Anonymous wrote:Childcare are repositories of colds, flu. Covid. RSV. etc., so it's a good idea to keep them away from new borns as long as possible

You realize labor and delivery nurses and doctors may have kids, right? Same with other hospital employees. Not to mention many patients will go home to children.

Childcare are repositories of colds, flu. Covid. RSV. etc., so it's a good idea to keep them away from new borns as long as possible

Anonymous wrote:Did they ever allow kids? I've been having babies for 14 years and can't ever remember a time that kids were allowed to visit.

I don’t know about today but I had my second child in 2010 at Fair Oaks and my toddler visited.

Whatever the website says I wouldn’t trust it. Talk to your care team. I delivered most recently at WHC last winter and was allowed to have two older children visit, despite website wording making it sound like I’d be capped at one child + other parent. Website wording was flat out wrong as a completely different policy was cited multiple times when I delivered. That’s just one data point, but also a reminder that websites are not always maintained for strict accuracy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just delivered at Inova Fairfax and siblings are the exception, they are allowed to visit

It says no children under 12 and doesn't mention any exceptions

https://www.inova.org/about-inova/visiting-hours

Yes, I also read that when I was pregnant but I delivered last week and my toddler was allowed. I didn’t have to request an exception or special permission for that

But sneaking a child in vs it being allowed are two very different things. If staff were polite and didn't mention it doesn't mean you didn't break the rules.

But it isn’t breaking the rules at most hospitals. With the exception of COVID, most L&D postpartum wards have a special exemption for siblings. Obviously they can’t come into the NICU or delivery areas. It just often isn’t expressly written on the website and you have to ask about the policy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just delivered at Inova Fairfax and siblings are the exception, they are allowed to visit

It says no children under 12 and doesn't mention any exceptions

https://www.inova.org/about-inova/visiting-hours

Yes, I also read that when I was pregnant but I delivered last week and my toddler was allowed. I didn’t have to request an exception or special permission for that

But sneaking a child in vs it being allowed are two very different things. If staff were polite and didn't mention it doesn't mean you didn't break the rules.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just delivered at Inova Fairfax and siblings are the exception, they are allowed to visit

It says no children under 12 and doesn't mention any exceptions

https://www.inova.org/about-inova/visiting-hours

Yes, I also read that when I was pregnant but I delivered last week and my toddler was allowed. I didn’t have to request an exception or special permission for that