Rooming-In is essential to a healthy birth
One of the most common responses by hospital postpartum staff to the initiation of rooming-in (keeping the birthing parent and newborn together in the same room 24 hours a day during their hospital stay) is often something like, “But she needs her sleep.” In this article, we will look at why rooming-in is so important, based on research from the World Health Organization and other sources.
What does the World Health Organization say?
With the release of the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative in 2020, wording changes were made in several of the Ten steps to successful breastfeeding. Step 5 now states, “Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.” ¹ We are hearing many reports of new infants being taken to a separate location, apart from their birthing and breastfeeding parent, quickly after birth due to COVID-19 safety measures. However, the World Health Organization recommends that “A woman with COVID-19 should be supported to breastfeeding safely, hold her newborn skin-to-skin, and share a room with her baby,” 2
Image source: Brownstone.org
Facilities should keep breastfeeding parents and infants together during COVID-19
Providing current, research-and evidence-based information to those who provide hospital protocol and procedures may be one way of keeping breastfeeding parents and their infants together during COVID-19 or any other pandemic or emergency situation. This is most important in all facilities but especially for those following the Ten Step pathway to BFHI designation.
More resources
Here are some additional research-based statements to aid in your work to keep mothers and babies together during their stay in your facility:
- Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine https://www.bfmed.org/abm-statement-coronavirus
- S. based Center for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html
- International Lactation Consultant Association https://lactationmatters.org/2020/03/18/ilca-statement-on-breastfeeding-and-lactation-support-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2020/03/novel-coronavirus-2019
- UNICEF https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/infant-feeding-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/
- Queensland Health Clinical Guidelines https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/947148/g-covid-19.pdf
- United States Breastfeeding Committee http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/emergencies
Final Thoughts...
If you found this post to be helpful then you may also be interested in my previous post on The Importance of Skin-to-Skin Care After Birth. Stay safe and thank you for working toward keeping birthing and breastfeeding individuals together from birth on.
Kathy
Referrences
- Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. (2020). The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Interim Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria for Facilities Seeking and Sustaining Baby Friendly Designation. https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/news/bfusa-releases-interim-guidelines-and-evaluation-criteria/
- World Health Organization. (2020). Download posters. https://www.who.int/images/default-source/health-topics/coronavirus/pregnancy-breastfeeding/who—pregnancy—4.png
- https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
