Older child visiting hospital if sick

[Adnil]

...Emma & I are sick I've been hoping for this bub to come soon, but now I'm hoping it holds off & gives us both time to get better. I don't want to labour while I'm not 100%, but more than that, I keep thinking of Em visiting at the hospital. I can't imagine not letting her come to see the bub, but what would I do? It's a croupy sort of cough that she has, mine is just a common cold. Neither are the end of the world, but anything around a newborn baby isn't good. I know I might not even have to worry, and hopefully she will be better in a few days & the bub won't come before that, but I'd like to know what others think. I would never dream of taking her near anyone elses bub while she's sick, but when it's her own brand new brother or sister, and me, well, how can I not?

Waaahhhh!!! This isn't meant to happen!!!

[Berry]

Hopefully Emma will be better in time! The new bub should have some antibodies protecting her against your cold. I had a cold when I went into labour with my first bub, but kind of forgot about the cold with all the action happening (but I did feel very tired and luckily had a chance to sleep for a bit before I needed to start pushing!)

[Adnil]

Thanks Berry, that's good to know that the cold didn't worry you during labour.

Yep, I hope Em's better in time, she usually doesn't stay sick for long. At least it's stopping me from being so impatient!

[Danni]

hmm tough situation darl. I would let her come and make sure she washes her hands with that antibacterial wash and is careful not to cough on the bub etc

[becmc]

Linda, I wouldn't worry too much.
Hospitals are full of sick people anyway. In the very very unlikely event that your new bub was to catch something it would probably be something else from another patient, and not what your dd has as long as you are careful and wash hands etc.
When I was in emergency a couple of weeks ago the doctors actually sent me home so I wouldn't catch anything else!

[C~Q]

I wouldn't worry. She is going to be around her when she gets home anyway. I'm sure she would be pretty devastated to not see the new bubba in the hospital

[Adnil]

Thanks guys. That's what I've been thinking - that once we get home the bub will be exposed to it anyway, and that other visitors we have may not be careful either. I'd SO hate to not have her there, it would break my heart.

Thanks for making me feel better about it. I don't want to make the transition any harder for her.