When a baby is born....what does your hospital do?

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 25, 2005

What a great idea!!

Hmmmmmmmmm, . . . I don't think our VA hospital has many births . . .

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 25, 2005

My hospital plays about 20 seconds of "Brahm's Lullaby" whenever a baby is born.

I remember when they started doing this, it was about 3 months before my grandson was born. Naturally, I couldn't wait to hear it played for him; then, when he finally came into the world, everyone on the OB floor was so excited for our family that they FORGOT it!! It wasn't until after we'd all gone into Amanda's room to see the new-made family that I remembered, and then I went racing down the hall to the labor desk and reminded them to play the music!! :chuckle It came over the PA system just as my dh, sons and I walked into the cafeteria for a late breakfast, and I couldn't help myself: "They're playing that for OUR grandbaby!!" I announced to the entire room, heedless of the fact that most of the patrons at that hour of the day weren't staff members. I was so proud, I didn't care if I made a spectacle of myself.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 25, 2005

Great story Marla!! :D What a Grandma!

grinnurse, RN · Sep 26, 2005

At our tiny little hosp. they play a short "snippet" of Brahms lullaby too. The only thing is that it sounds like a song for a funeral unfortunately!! Great idea, thought was in the right place, but the version they play is scary!! :)

BabyRN2Be · Sep 26, 2005

In the early 90's they used to play Brahm's Lullaby at what was Presbyterian Hospital in OKC. I had noticed that they didn't allow codes to be announced over the general PA system. I asked about that, and they said it was too disruptive (codes). Everyone who needed to be warned of a code had pagers, they were notified that way.

When I got back to my hospital (I worked in "publicity" for L&D), I told my supervisor what they did at the hospital in OKC, playing Brahm's Lullaby and wouldn't it be neat if we did that here? She looked down at me and sniffed, "It would be too disruptive."

I, for one, would love to know about a new life announced over the hospital PA system than a code announcing an impending death. I think that hospitals are really trying to fool themselves in thinking that the general public does not know what a "Code Blue" is.

None of the other hospitals around here does Brahm's Lullaby when a baby is born. That would be so nice.

allnurses Guide · Sep 26, 2005

We don't do anything. :)

steph

fergus51 · Sep 27, 2005

I worked in one hospital that used to do that. They stopped when we brought up the fact that the families who were losing babies on the same floor could be very hurt by it being broadcast everywhere.

stidget99 · Sep 27, 2005

At my last place of employment, they played the lullaby also. It was very soft....barely noticeable. But when we did hear it, it was a wonderful thing to know that life was brought into this world instead of all of the pain/death.

I never did think about the feelings of parents who just lost a baby/child.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 27, 2005

It would be interesting to obtain opinions from those who have lost a baby or whose baby was gravely ill, as to whether the playing of a lullaby bothered them or not. I see two camps here (and, of course, there may be others): One: those who are grieving so much that the lullaby does, in fact, inflict more pain (the lullaby accentuates their loss or pending loss); Two, those who interpret the playing of the lullaby as a re-affirmation of life . . . yes, despite all the pain and grief, life does go on.

Personally I wouldn't want my grieving to detract from others' happiness (they are unrelated to my personal situation), and I would vote to have the lullaby played.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Sep 27, 2005

I have lost two children and speaking from experience I don't think it would bother me to hear the little lullaby. Why does everyone else have to suffer because of me? What I think is cruel is putting the moms who have lost their child on the floor with the new moms. You hear those real babies crying and it's

terribly painful. Our hospital puts grieving mom on the floor with the hysterectomy's etc......

SarasotaRN2b · Sep 27, 2005

They play Brahms at my hospital. My preceptor laughs at me whenever I hear it and say another little one was born. She says that she doesn't even hear it anymore. I just love hearing it, especially when it gets really hectic on my med-surg floor...it gives me a lift.