NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Those one or two nights of uninterrupted sleep for new moms may soon be a thing of the past. Hospitals across the nation are moving away from traditional nurseries and encouraging moms to room-in with their babies instead.
Lori Ann Wild is a registered nurse at Tulane Lakeside Hospital for Women and Children in Metairie. It’s one of six hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi designated as ‘baby friendly.’
She says, “It’s not your traditional nursery where you would separate moms and babies and bring the babies in and feed them and change them and bring them out for visiting time.”
Wild and other proponents say there are benefits to ‘rooming in’ and keeping new moms with their new babies from the moment they are born until the moment they leave the hospital.
“Studies have shown moms sleep better when their babies are close by. They’re not wondering is my baby hungry, does my baby need me, is my baby crying and no one taking care of my baby?”
Nurses are on-hand to help with diaper changes and feedings.
If mom had a c-section or needs medication, a ‘newborn observation unit,’ much like a traditional nursery, is still available.
Sheena Jones roomed in with her first child and is doing so again with her brand new little girl.
She says, “I think especially for first-time moms, you’re going to have to take care of them at home anyway, so have them in the room and you have the nurses on hand who can help you.”
Not to mention, a sweet smiling face looking up at you.
“Its just nice to have your little one close by so you can look at them, who you’ve been waiting for 40 weeks to see!”
Baby-Friendly USA is the accrediting body for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in the United States.
As of June 29, 2016, it had named five hospitals in Louisiana and one hospital in Mississippi as ‘baby-friendly.’
LOUISIANA
East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie, LA (03/15)
Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge, LA (07/14)
Opelousas General Health System, Opelousas, LA (01/15)
Terrebonne General Medical Center, Houma, LA (08/14)
Tulane Lakeside Hospital for Women & Children, Metairie, LA (03/15)
