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Mum suggested today that I might 'get over' wanting a child so badly if I worked in childcare. She means well, so I ignored the ridiculousness ;) It made me wonder though, is it possible to volunteer in a hospital nursery? How would I even do that?
Any help/ideas welcome :)
I'm not sure about an actual nursery, but how about volunteering in the hospital shop? And/or see how you get to be the person taking around food to patients?
No, I wanna be involved with the babies, that's why the nursery :)
mmmm interesting keike.... i think that would be a lovely place to work/volunteer and would love to do that myself.
not sure how you get into something like that though.
will be watching this thread.
I'd say you couldn't, based on my own assumption that you'd need to be pretty official to be around new babies. They could get injured/sick/stolen pretty easily if people could just volunteer. So I'd say you couldn't, but I admit I have NFI ;)
Yeah, that makes sense PZ. I hope you're wrong though ;)
Yep, that's why I didn't think the nursery would be accepting... You'd probably have to be a nurse or doctor, I'd say...:
I would highly doubt it for a number of reasons... Union demarcation (no union wants volunteers doing the job of its members for no pay), privacy legislation, insurance liabilities, duty of care to patients.
I think "volunteering" in any medical or professional field is very, very limited.
Actually you can.. I have no idea how, but they have volunteers to cuddle the babes if the mother can't be there.. I have never seen it, but there was an info sheet about it when we were in hospital.. Wish i could remember what they were called... i'll try to find out and come back..
ok i just asked someone who has bub there - waiting on a reply..
Far out BAL, baby-cuddler is a real job? YOU'RE AWESOME!!
Volunteer
This is in Melbourne.
KEMH Volunteers - Help Us - Women and Newborn Health Service
And for KEMH
Eta: hmmmm...they don't mention anything about cuddling on their website. Maybe give them a call.
I think at the Children's there's a program that takes volunteers to help look after babies who are born with drug dependence (due to an addicted mother) and are experiencing withdrawal....probably similar to the Cuddle Program at the Women's?
Yes I was at the royal in bris.. They must have the program at each hospital. I couldn't do it.. How would you ever leave?
ETA: Babies with a drug dependence I couldn't do either.. It would devastate me and if I ever met the parents I would hate them.. *Judgemental I know but I couldn't keep my emotions in check*
I went to a postnatal exercise class in the physio dept at KEMH and there occasionally there was a volunteer there especially to cuddle babies! The volunteer always loved it and it was great knowing that if your bubs got upset and was happy to be cuddled, then there was an official 'baby cuddler' there to do it! Wouldn't hurt to try and contact them.
Okay, so baby cuddler is a thing :o Screw doula training, I wanna cuddle babies!
Keike, in all seriousness though, do you think it would help or only make it worse? I think it's great that you're looking at something to do because volunteering is so important, but I can see a lot of heartbreak in it for you. Could you detach yourself emotionally from the babies, especially if there were issues with them like addiction etc? Or would you just carry that baggage along with everything else?
Fair question Trill, I really don't know. I personally think probably not. I mean, looking after my nephews hasn't made me less clucky, even though I wade through tantrums and punchups and poo and vomit 3 times a week. My mum seems to think it'll curb the wanting though, so I thought it worth a try.
I wonder if I'd be considered a security risk for taking off with a bub or two :rofl:
It is certainly worth looking into, but I know that I would find it hard to detach myself and leave my emotions at the door so to speak and I have my own kids, and I reckon the feeling would be even more acute for you :hug:
You can also volunteer at the infants ward at the children's hospital in Perth. It is essentially cuddling and feeding babies who don't have anyone with them.
I think it a is a lovely, thoughtful idea that you have to give some of your time to volunteer BUT I have to agree with Trillian:
I think it might actually make your yearning even worse and wouldn't necessarily be of any benefit/help for you. Perhaps consider doing volunteering in another way either at the hospitals or elsewhere. I understand that you say it "has" to be with babies but I think it could be a disaster in the making.:hug::
It is certainly worth looking into, but I know that I would find it hard to detach myself and leave my emotions at the door so to speak and I have my own kids, and I reckon the feeling would be even more acute for you
What pip82 said. The nurseries in Perth do not have volunteers there, but the wards always need them to play with and cuddle the kids there.
Not sure where you are, but when my dd1 was in nicu/scn/childrens ward at the mater, there were 'cuddlers' at each. They ask u if u give permission for them to go cuddle your bub if you can't be there for a stretch. Or for the poor bubs who were screaming all day and night from withdrawls :(
I have done volunteer work at the children's hospital. They have volunteer coordinators you ring and organise it with :)
Many children's hospitals/wards have "ward grannies" who are volunteers. The parents must consent to the grannies picking up there baby, but yes there role is to cuddle and comfort babies whose family can't for so many reasons.
I think it's wonderful that you are willing to volunteer your time in such a rewarding and needed way. The most important thing though is that you look after yourself. It very well may be healing for you to be doing good for these babies in their time of need...
SJOG Murdoch have volunteers on the maternity ward to fix up patients flowers (water, new vases, etc).
The physio in the medical centre at SJOG Murdoch (Southcare Physio) runs 'mums and bubs' swimming classes and they have volunteers to cuddle babies and rock prams while the mums do their aqua aerobics after the swim with the babies :)
I'll ask my mum she works at Murdoch but I'm pretty sure these are what she does, being a PCA. You need to do courses for this and make sure all your vaccinations are up to date.:
PCA stands for patient care assistant and they aren't meant to touch the babies, only clean rooms birth suites etc.
Why don't you try to volunteer in a child care centre they have baby rooms specifically too.
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A less hands on option (if you wanted a bit of distance) could be to make little clothes or blankets or toys and donate to the hospitals. Kinda providing cuddles through craft.
What about helping out at a local playgroup or big sister program? (this would be toddlers or older kids)