SHHH! Baby at Breast

A study in the latest Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing found that women typically experienced dozens of interruptions during their first day after delivering a baby. New moms and newborns need privacy.

Moms need to breastfeed immediately after delivery and then very frequently in the first 3 or 4 days. If privacy is an issue then there are problems. Being able to focus on breastfeeding often means turning away visitors or hospital personnel which makes moms feel very uncomfortable.

Quiet time is perhaps the best gift you can give a new mom. Time to be alone with her new baby.

Some maternity units are taking steps to minimize interruptions because they recognize the lack of privacy can get breastfeeding off to a rocky start.

Lack of sleep may be playing a role in postpartum depression also. Moms on average experience 54 visits or phone calls, averaging 17 minutes in length from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

In the late 1970's and early 1980's fathers were allowed to stay on the maternity floor at all times. Grandparents and siblings were allowed to visit during visiting hours. Everyone else had to wait until mom and baby came home to visit.

We have certainly gone over board in the opposite direction. At present any and all are welcome on the maternity wards at all times.

Being able to sleep or just rest is also very important after delivery. Women who are having their first babies don't realize how much their sleep is impacted with a new baby. Moms tend to welcome the chance to nap undisturbed for a couple of hours in the middle of the day just to have time to relax and refresh. Simply posting a sign on the hospital door, "Mom and Baby resting" takes some of the pressure off of the new moms when visitors come. With this extra nap time moms are able to facilitate frequent breastfeedings with less chances of a night time melt down with breastfeeding problems.

Moms are also more likely to keep their newborns with them at night instead of shipping them off to the nursery so they can get some sleep.