Rooming In

We’re expecting you, and we’d like you to know what you can expect when you arrive at BIDMC! We’re thrilled that you’ve chosen us as the place to deliver your newest family member. Our goal is to help you make a smooth transition from birth to home, and to support you in this most amazing experience we encourage “Rooming-In”.

Rooming- In means keeping your baby with you as much as possible during your hospital stay. After your delivery, you and your baby will remain together in labor and delivery until it’s time to transition to the postpartum unit. At that time, you and your baby will be admitted together to your postpartum room. We will encourage you to keep your baby with you as much as possible as we know that there are so many benefits to doing so. We understand however, that there may be times when you need to utilize the nursery, and that’s OK too. We will support whatever works best for you. 

Family and friends may encourage you to get rest by using the nursery. Although these suggestions are well intended, research shows that families get more rest by keeping baby in the room during the hospital stay. In fact, there are many proven benefits of Rooming-In including: 

• Mother’s milk comes in sooner 
• Parents learn to recognize feeding cues regardless of feeding choice 
• Parents become familiar with sleep cycles 
• Parents will sleep better when with their baby (reduce separation anxiety) 
• Infants cry less, which helps them to organize sleep cycles 
• Increases frequency of breastfeeding 
• Encourages breastfeeding on demand 
• Longer duration of successful breastfeeding 
• Better bonding between baby and family 

So, if you are currently pregnant, and anticipating a stay on our postpartum units, know that we’re looking forward to your arrival, and we will encourage you to keep your baby in your room with you. The many benefits or Rooming-In will strengthen the foundation of your family’s new beginning.