116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Hospitals may limit maternity visits over H1N1 fears
(AP) -- Some Des Moines hospitals may limits visitors to newborns to ward off the swine flu.
The city's two main hospital chains, Iowa Health-Des Moines and Mercy Medical Center, say grandparents, young brothers and sisters and well-wishers may be banned from maternity wards because of concerns that they might bring the H1N1 flu with them.
Under proposed rules, only immediate family would be allowed in the birthing centers, and siblings younger than about 14 would not be allowed in.
Pregnant women and newborn babies are among the most susceptible to serious complications from the virus. Young adults and children have been more susceptible to the H1N1 virus than they are to most flus.
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