i am going to be in the hospital during shabbos but they do not have a rabbi on staff and i have not joined a synagogue yet (looking at one, but since ive been in the bed for the last few weeks - well i hevnt been able to visit anywhere) so i dont have a personal rabbi that can visit. we are in the process of converting to reform judaism, if anyone jewish mamas have been in the hospital over shabbos, could you tell me how you observed? i have been told i am not allowed to bring the candles (which i understand, but would like an alternative).

just tripping across your post now (I hope that your surgery went well)...

One time in the hospital I was allowed to light Shabbos candles and they let them stay lit. Another time, they let me light them, but then blew them out. Another time I used the lights in the room instead.

I also asked the nurses to please not turn out the bathroom light so that I would have light all Shabbos.

The nurses were very accomodating.

Dh came and made kiddush for me the first two times and the last time I did it myself. He made sure that I had lechem mishnah (two challas) - and I was set.

I've kept both shabbos and yom kippur in the hospital. Its really not that big a deal. You don't need a rabbi to observe shabbos. As a non jew you shouldn't be observing shabbos anyway, fully. Potential converts usually observe but still do one malacha (act of creation) on shabbos. I think as far as candles, you turn a light on before shabbos with the intention of it being for the sake of shabbos light. If it is not possible to light a candle- you can also use a plug in candle type thing, but I'm not sure on the exact halacha as far as making a bracha goes.

I found these sites for you:
http://www.shabat.co.il/howto/hospital.htm

http://www.aish.com/shabbatlaws/shabbatlaws/Shabbat_On-the-Go.asp

HTH !
:)