After the baby is born, you may be feeling tired and wish you could just put your baby in the nursery for a while and get some sleep. That's normal. After all, childbirth is not an easy task. But do you know how many benefits there are for you and your little one when you keep your baby close to you, right next to your bed? Today we're talking about the 'Rooming-In' method, which is now widely accepted in hospitals.
Simply put, what is Rooming-In?
This is very simple. Rooming-In means keeping the baby in the mother's room, close to the mother, 24 hours a day, for the first few days after the baby is born, for the first few days in the hospital. Instead of sending the baby to the nursery, a small crib is placed next to the mother's bed and the baby is cared for.
Many mothers think that putting their baby in a nursery will help them sleep better. But research has found that there is no significant difference in the amount of sleep a mother gets when she is with her baby or in a nursery. However , the quality of sleep she gets when she is with her baby is much better. Also, keeping your baby with you from the beginning will help you and your baby adjust to their new life when you go home.
This is the best time to get to know your little one and strengthen your bond with him. Newborns recognize their mother's voice, smell, and heartbeat very well. So, when you are with them, your baby feels very safe and comfortable. Also, this gives you good practice in understanding what your baby is trying to say through his behavior and various postures (such as hunger, sleepiness, discomfort).
Benefits for the mother through Rooming-In
Let's take a look at the benefits of holding your baby close to you, one by one. These are very important for your physical and mental health.
| The benefit | How it affects you |
|---|---|
| Better, quality sleep | Because you have your baby with you, you can sleep without fear or worry. Because you can feel the baby as soon as it wakes up, you don't have to worry unnecessarily. Even if you get sleep in short bursts, you get what you get with peace of mind. |
| Increased self-confidence | You will learn to hold the baby, change the diaper, and feed him/her. Nurses will be there to answer any questions, so you can learn these things without fear. Before you go home, you will be an expert at taking care of your baby. |
| Understanding baby's cues | You will quickly be able to recognize the things your baby does when he is hungry (opening his mouth, sticking out his tongue, sucking his hand). You can feed him at the first sign of hunger, without waiting for him to cry out loudly. |
| Making breastfeeding easier | Since you can feed your baby on demand, your milk production will also be better. This is a big help in making breastfeeding successful. |
| Decreased baby crying | Being with the mother makes the baby feel very secure. Therefore, he is less likely to cry unnecessarily and become restless. |
| Reduction in "Baby Blues" and Postpartum Depression | Being with your baby constantly helps balance your body's hormones. This helps reduce the stress and sadness that can occur after childbirth, as you don't feel separated from your baby. |
| Increased skin-to-skin contact | You will have more opportunities to hold your baby on your chest. This will strengthen the bond between you and your baby and help keep things like your baby's body temperature and heart rate stable. |
Benefits for the little one
This method is very beneficial for both the mother and the baby. Let's see what benefits the baby gets.
| The benefit | How it affects the baby |
|---|---|
| Better sleep | The baby's sleep-wake cycle quickly becomes regular. This helps the baby understand the difference between day and night. |
| A stable body temperature | The mother's body heat makes it easier to maintain a stable baby's body temperature. |
| Being calm and happy | The baby is very calm because he can feel his mother's scent and heartbeat so close. He cries less and is very happy. |
| Stable blood sugar levels | Especially for low-birth-weight babies, blood sugar levels are well controlled due to frequent milk intake and reduced stress. |
| Low stress | When separated from their mother, the baby's body's stress hormones increase. When they are close, the baby is very relaxed. |
| Helps with immunity | The healthy, good bacteria on the mother's skin also pass to the baby's skin. This naturally helps protect the baby from harmful germs that cause illness. |
Remember, newborns are often hungry. They feel most comfortable and secure when they are with you. So, during your few days in the hospital, with the help of the doctors and nurses, this is a great opportunity to learn how to care for your baby.
How do you manage visitors?
In our culture, it is normal for relatives and friends to come to see the baby. There is nothing wrong with coming out of love. But after giving birth, you need rest. So managing these visitors with love is very important for your well-being.
- Plan ahead: Before you go to the hospital, talk to your husband and decide whether you will limit visitors or set aside a specific time of day.
- Put a note on the door of the room: In a very loving way, you can stick something on the door like, "Mommy and baby are taking a break. Please come back later."
- Use a 'secret word': This is a very useful method. When you feel tired, create a secret word that only your husband will understand. For example, when you ask, "Can I get some water?", your husband should understand that it is a sign that you are tired. Then he can kindly tell the guests, "He needs to rest for a while now, we will meet later. Thank you very much for coming."
Remember, you're not doing this to spite anyone. It's for your own well-being and to make the first few days with your baby more comfortable.
Take-Home Message
- Rooming-In means keeping your baby with you 24 hours a day in the hospital after the baby is born.
- This will give you and your baby better, quality sleep. Both of you will be much calmer.
- This is the best way to take care of your baby, understand his cues, and build self-confidence before going home.
- The Rooming-In method is a great help in making breastfeeding successful.
- After giving birth, you need to rest. So don't be afraid to limit visitors to your baby in a loving and kind way. Your well-being is more important than anything else.
- If you have any questions about this, ask your doctor or nurses while you are in the hospital.
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