As the entire world at large knows, Beyonce gave birth to a baby girl this weekend, Blue Ivy Carter, via c-section at New York's Lenox Hill hospital. Judging from everything I've heard, it went great. Off without a hitch. Mom, dad, and baby are doing wonderfully.
But it wasn't great for the parents who happened to be having children at the same time -- in the same hospital -- as the pop star. Details that are being reported actually make their birthing and post-partum experiences seem downright miserable. Thanks to baby Blue, the non-famous moms and dads were supposedly ignored, basically put in lockdown, and one dad was even kept from seeing his sick twins. And, naturally, now they're all thinking of suing.
Before we get to the legal stuff, let's discuss the lengths Bey and Jay went to to ensure their baby was safe, and that they had a pleasant (read: private) birthing experience. According to the New York Post, the couple visited Lenox Hill a few months early to do a little recon before starting with the ($1.3 million!) renovations. They had a bullet-proof door installed to Beyonce's room, as well as had the windows in her reserved wing darkened with what appeared to be special curtains or tape. A Lenox Hill staffer said of Beyonce's room, "They came in and reconstructed it. It’s completely different." They also used their own security, as well as the hospital's, and unrelated but interesting, a makeup artist was seen visiting with several bags in tow, and lunch was delivered from a special burger joint and gourmet market. Sounds quite lovely, no?
More on Beyonce's Delivery: Beyonce Addresses Baby Drama & Denies a Diva Delivery
Yeah, not for the other parents. New dad Neil Coulon said his efforts to visit his premature, newborn twins in the neonatal ICU were disrupted at least four times by the arrival of Blue. He stated, "They just used the hospital like it was their own and nobody else mattered. They locked us into the NICU and would say, ‘You can’t come out to the hallway for the next 20 minutes.'" Other parents said they felt they were on "lockdown" while Beyonce and her crew were there.
TMZ is now reporting that these mistreated parents are thinking of suing. Sources at the hospital apparently told the gossip site that mothers have been gathering at a breast-feeding class to gripe about the way they've been neglected ... and how the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the hospital has come up!
Although the extremes Beyonce and Jay Z went to seem a bit elaborate (and obnoxious), I do think the hospital is at fault here. And if anybody oughta be sued, it should be them. Since this was a scheduled c-section, clearly they had ample time to get ready. There's no excuse for failing to prepare for other mothers and fathers who would be in the hospital that day, as well. Rearrange rooms, block a section entirely off. There had to be a better solution than what they came up with -- and there's really no excuse for the other mothers feeling neglected. That's just awful. It wasn't just a special day for Beyonce and Jay Z.
Who do you think is at fault here?
Image via Splash
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 74
If things really were that bad, I'd say the hospital IS to blame. They should have prepared better. There's no excuse if other patients were really that mistreated.
This makes me sick to my stomach. Do these people know that in the city where their child was born, over 1.6 million people live below the poverty line (and the 2010 federal poverty threshold for a family of three was $18,310!!)????? Black women are particularly hard hit. Beyonce and Jay Z need a good slap. After that they need to get busy on doing some serious charity work that will make a difference, not just lip-service so that they look noble. Oh and I hope they and the hospital get their butts sued off for this ridiculous behaviour.
One of the problems here is that NONE of the things Beyonce and Jay-Z did to supposedly "protect" their child were necessary. Hospitals already have security measures in place to prevent kidnappings and unauthorized individuals. She didn't have to publish where she was having the baby, she could have had no family at the hospital (since she insisted other mothers not have anyone in the waiting room near her room), she could have had private security only posted at her door and avoided leaving her room. BUT even with all of that, the hospital allowed this behavior to go on. The hospital allowed two "celebrities" to effect the lives of these other parents and haven't done much to put a stop to it. I would say there is a division of responsibility here, Beyonce and Jay-Z should have thought more about their growing family as well as others in the hospital and the fact that childbirth happens, she is not the first nor will she be the last and the hospital should have put a stop to it after the first complaint.
If you read the TMZ article, it said the people were talking about suing the hospital, not Jay Z and Beyonce. They had no problem with the couple, just the way the hospital handled the situation. I don't blame the parents, I'd be ticked off at the hospital too.
This is sick! I would raise hell if someone would prevent me from seeing my child. Who cares how much money they have, then they could afford to give birth at home with the staff they need without disrupting other parents that are going through a trying time. Go buy an isalnd and have the kid there!
She could have had a home birth and had a whole medical staff and equipment there and not have to worry about other parent's wanting silly things like family visiting, or seeing their children when they want interfering with her precious privacy.
I blame Beyonce+Jay Z AND the hospital. They are all equally to blame. I have lost all respect for Beyonce and Jay Z.
I agree with Jagammama. I blame all three.
Over zealous hospital staffers compliments of the Lady Di syndrome. Anyone observe the paparazzi? Anyone is a threat to vulnerable celebrities especially during a wedding or a birth. The wing should have been secured to birthing patients and family. 20 minutes...really? How about all those folks inconvenienced here in the US whenever the president decides to fly into a city the size of LA and go to a local event on surface streets during a rush hour? The parents knew there would be a problem and most likely backed up the annoyance factor by upgrading the hospital facilities by 1.3 million which will last longer that the 20 minutes one father had to wait. Having a C-section at home is not the answer. Seperating the wing should have been planned if the C-section was planned for a date and time. People need to get over themselves on both sides. Congratulations to all the moms born in that hosptial!