Rooming In at BIDMC
Christine Sweeney, LICSW Program Manager, Parent Connection, BIDMC
MAY 26, 2016
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 your family make a smooth transition from birth to home, whether this is your first baby, or your fourth. 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 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 are aware that there has been some media attention about hospitals getting rid of nurseries and we know this has created some unnecessary anxiety. We understand that there may be times for some families that you need to utilize the nursery, and that’s OK. We will listen and 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
Our goal is to best prepare you and your partner for what it will be like when you go home with your baby, and rooming in provides you the opportunity to practice while you still have the benefits of our nursing care and don’t have the added tasks of trying to buy food, cook meals or do laundry!
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. That said, we pride ourselves in providing excellent patient care and respecting your input and active involvement in knowing what you need.