Rooming in with baby-Question

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2016

In order to be technically "Baby Friendly", a hospital must practice rooming-in.

https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/about-us/baby-friendly-hospital-initiative/the-ten-steps

No, not every hospital does it. Not by a long shot. Baby Friendly is still a novelty in some areas. However, there are some hospitals out there that have practiced rooming-in for years and are not yet officially Baby Friendly.

For new moms and hospitals, baby nursery vs. 'rooming in' is a debate - tribunedigital-chicagotribune

I'd suggest the link below to info from 2011 that gives numbers for rooming-in in the US.

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/2013breastfeedingreportcard.pdf

SuperMomBob · Jan 15, 2016

Thanks! Those are some of the sources I was using to get my statement together. My instructor first said that "everyone knows it is superior so I suggest finding a different topic". I explained that surprisingly a lot of hospitals do not room in. He then confirmed back to me that he found that I was correct. I am just curious as to how I would find the number that actually do room in and don't have "Baby Friendly" status. I have tried several different searches...is this information even out there? Or how do you go about searching for that?

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2016

I looked for the rooming-in stats as well, and aside from the last link in my previous post that gives rooming-in stats for the hospital surveyed in 2011, all I could find was this:

The CDC is apparently are tracking rooming-in in surveys. However, the stats may be harder to find as the results of specific initiatives (like rooming-in) aren't always available in the final reports, which seems to be true for 2014.

Breastfeeding: Data: Report Card | DNPAO | CDC

However, note that not all facilities in the US participate in these surveys, so this is probably going to skew your data.

Honestly, I doubt you'll be able to find national stats that are reliable/accurate given the circumstances. Given the fact that it's an initiative and that it's also controversial, I think it's pretty safe to say that the majority of US hospitals don't practice rooming-in yet.

SuperMomBob · Jan 15, 2016

Thank you again! I certainly think this data will help my case! I am hoping to work on L&D when I graduate. It is my life's dream! My local hospital is Baby Friendly. Our experience having my sons was awesome. I had a C-section after 48 hrs but he was skin to skin and breastfeeding within 30 mins. My second was a successful VBAC and he was nursing at 15 min! I was really dedicated to breastfeeding though and the support was incredible. I can understand some of the controversy in women who do not want to breastfeed but I have a hard time understanding why someone would not want to room in. I understand the exhaustion, especially with my first, but I could not let him out of my sight. I know not everyone has the same experience but they are going home with the baby! I guess it's hard for me to see the controversy, not as a nurse, but as a mom. I loved my rotation on M/B. I got to help moms with BF and showed them tips and tricks I had learned, how to work the pump and help them with discomfort. I really feel it's where I am supposed to go!

Thanks for helping me out! I greatly appreciate it!

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jan 20, 2016

While I'm thrilled that you had great experiences - I would suggest some thoughtful consideration of not understanding why someone would not want rooming in. Because if you're having problems with this, it will likely impact your interactions with patients who choose not to room in.

In my case, I was 40, with three other children and a foot long vertical c-section incision. I had been awake for nearly 36 hours prior to the birth. I chose not to breastfeed prior to the birth, and was guilted into 'at least trying' despite having failed three previous times. Frankly, the sleep would have done me a hell of a lot more good than tending to the needs of a newborn while trying to recover.

That child is 20 now. She and her siblings bonded just fine without rooming in. All happy productive adults.

WanderingWilder, ASN · Jan 20, 2016

Even with breastfeeding I still chose to have my son go to the nursery. They simply brought him to me when it was time to feed. Every women is different and what is best for one is not for someone else.

SuperMomBob · Jan 29, 2016

Oh yes. I do understand completely. My statement for the project is "In new mother's with uncomplicated births..." I kind of want to change the statement to promote hospitals getting Baby Friendly status. I still believe it is a mothers choice if she wants to breastfeed, I realize there are many obstacles that only they would understand. Jobs, travel, medical, or simply not wanting too. And all that is okay! Since breastfeeding is supposed to be the best way to feed your baby, isn't it our jobs to help mothers achieve that goal? If it is their desire of course. My local hospital does have Baby Friendly status. So honestly that is all I know, from experience and as a student on the floor. Mom and baby are not separated unless they must go to the NICU or if another emergency happens. I read on another forum about this. There was great concern in transitioning to rooming in with the nurses. There concerns were choking, aspiration and simply missing critical signs that there may be a problem. Things I suppose that would not be missed if they were in a nursery. I guess my real life question and not school related is should moms be given a choice as to whether or not they should room in? I know it really is not an option at my hospital. And how does it work in hospitals that do not room in. Is mom allowed to have her baby at all times? And if she is not does that impact her establishing breastfeeding?

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2016

Oh yes. I do understand completely. My statement for the project is "In new mother's with uncomplicated births..." I kind of want to change the statement to promote hospitals getting Baby Friendly status. I still believe it is a mothers choice if she wants to breastfeed, I realize there are many obstacles that only they would understand. Jobs, travel, medical, or simply not wanting too. And all that is okay! Since breastfeeding is supposed to be the best way to feed your baby, isn't it our jobs to help mothers achieve that goal? If it is their desire of course. My local hospital does have Baby Friendly status. So honestly that is all I know, from experience and as a student on the floor. Mom and baby are not separated unless they must go to the NICU or if another emergency happens. I read on another forum about this. There was great concern in transitioning to rooming in with the nurses. There concerns were choking, aspiration and simply missing critical signs that there may be a problem. Things I suppose that would not be missed if they were in a nursery. I guess my real life question and not school related is should moms be given a choice as to whether or not they should room in? I know it really is not an option at my hospital. And how does it work in hospitals that do not room in. Is mom allowed to have her baby at all times? And if she is not does that impact her establishing breastfeeding?

I'll tell you what I did, as a 5x postpartum pt, with uncomplicated deliveries -- but who hadn't slept on the day of the birth (either giving birth or laboring in the wee hours) and who had to hit the ground running when I got home.

I needed to sleep!!!! With my 4th, my milk didn't come in until day 5, and she was hungry. The entire time in the hospital, she squawked the minute I put her down. I'd kept her with me the first night, but by that second night I hadn't slept. I hadn't even eaten with both hands, because I hadn't been able to put her down. My husband wasn't with me bc he was at home with our other 3 kids. I remember being told cheerfully, "You're dc'ing today!" I burst into tears, saying "I haven't even slept!!" It's hard to sleep during the day as you know, bc of the endless stream of MDs, nursing students, audiologist, lab staff, picture vendor.........

After my 11-7 RN took my VS, she brought the baby to the nursery and brought him/her back the next time s/he needed to breastfeed.

Absolutely, mom should have the choice. You say she'll have the baby when she goes home...uh, this is not new information. And it's precisely why some of us take advantage of 2-3 hrs of sleeeping with both eyes shut, and knowing that a caring nurse or aide is rocking them if awake. We don't need the judgment of hospital staff, telling or implying that we're doing something wrong by asking for help.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2016

And how does it work in hospitals that do not room in. Is mom allowed to have her baby at all times? And if she is not does that impact her establishing breastfeeding?

And to answer these, again based on ny experience:

All of the hospitals I delivered at did encourage rooming in; the nursery was optional. From what I am aware, mandatory nursery stays for healthy babies have (fortunately) gone the way of the tan M&M.

My durations breastfeeding range from 12 months to 27 months.