Babies really don't need "fresh air." Okay, maybe a little bit. But not when the little guy is fresh out of the womb and fitted with a baby LoJack. In fact, anyone who tries to take a baby outside when he is supposed to be inside a hospital, will be in for a rude awakening.
Even if you're a Kennedy, as Douglas Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy, is facing misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and harassment from two nurses who claim he confronted them physically, when they tried to keep the new dad from taking his baby outside for a stroll.
On the one hand, can't fathers be allowed to go anywhere they want with their children? On the other hand, no, not when a hospital is in charge of that child's well-being.
Perhaps the Kennedys will consider a home birth next time.
Douglas Kennedy -- who is backed up by a physician who witnessed the incident, and is also a family friend -- claims he tried to take his newborn son out for some fresh air when two nurses attempted to stop him, physically. Kennedy claims he was protecting his son, but the nurses claim he knocked one down, and twisted the other's arm. Kennedy denies the arm-twisting.
While I would let my husband take my baby wherever he wanted, I do understand how hospitals have to keep things on lock down. Anything else would be considered negligence. I don't see, however, why Douglas Kennedy has to be charged with child endangerment. Bad judgment, maybe. Endangerment seems a bit over-the-top.
But let this be a lesson to those of you giving birth in a hospital setting; ask before picking that baby up and running out. Or risk the kung-fu antics of nurses and criminal charges.
Do you think Douglas Kennedy should be charged?
Image via rtopalovich/Flickr
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Comments 112
Those OB nurses act like you're walking off with their property!!! They can say whatever they like, and probably have to say it for liability reasons, but you DO NOT have to listen to them when they tell you what you can and can't do with YOUR baby. They tore me a knew one for walking around the room with my son in my arms instead of pushing him in a bassinet. It is YOUR baby, and if you want to take it for a walk, or even home, YOU CAN!!!!! If someone reached to grab my newborn out of my arms, I would have dome exactly the same. Go Douglas! Best of luck with the new little one!
*new
Law trumps policy.
It should've never come to an assault. They tell you 10 times about those bracelets and how careful you have to be not to set the alarm off. If he wanted to take the baby out, I'm sure he could've calmly arranged it in advance. I agree with Ladywithtwo that he was being an ass. The charges are a bit excessive, but if he indeed tried to hurt nurses who were doing what they are trained to do, then he deserves some kind of punishment.
If you want to do whatever you want with your newborn, have it at home.