It was expected that hospitals started talking about banning visitors from seeing babies right after birth due to the threat of the H1N1 virus. The reason for this is that by banning visitors form seeing healthy newborns, they can prevent the baby from becoming infected with the H1N1 virus.
Various pediatricians recommend various waiting periods for babies out in public. There are already many restrictions in place for visitors in the hospital for healthy newborns, and even more for ill newborns, including a ban on all children under 18, even siblings in many neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
The jury is out as to the prudence of such a move by hospitals. One mother had decided to skip the hospital all together for a delivery of her child at home. Her theory was that she was low risk. Her pregnancy was normal. She had access to skilled providers at home - why would she "risk walking into a germ factory to give birth?" While some mothers have no choice about where they give birth or would not choose to give birth at home, there are other options that might provide fewer germ risks than healthy visitors.
Then there is the middle ground of a freestanding “birth center”. Here you have no ill patients, only healthy moms and healthy babies. There is also no nursery where babies would congregate and swap germs. On the whole, birth centers also offer shorter stays for the majority of families. According to many medical organizations, breastfeeding is one of the best ways to protect your newborn child from the H1N1 virus
If you don't choose to stay home or to have a birth center birth, you might also look for a hospital birth center that is completely self-contained. Have a consultation with your physician about skipping the admitting office in the ER if you come in in labor after hours. A very important tip is to insist that anyone near you, even medical staff, wash his or her hands before touching you or your baby.