Although it is for the right reasons, limiting visiting hours will never
work, and I think it might be a red herring. While I would never deny that
many new moms get too many visitors, that linger wayyyy too long, these
women are already denied so many basic freedoms as soon as they check in to
the hospital that any more limits will only serve to infantalise women
further. Let's face it, there are correctional facilities that allow more
autonomy than most American L&D units. As a former Doula and mom of a
hospital born baby, here are my ideas for countering exhaustion leading to
comp feeds:

1. stop starving women in labor.
2. there is no need, in this day and age, for anyone to share a room with a
stranger. it is just not appropriate or necessary. not only do you have your
own baby waking you, but someone else's as well, and their husband, and
their guests, and their tv.... It doubles the lack of privacy that prevents
breastfeeding. (plus, as I told the staff at the hospital I delivered in, "I
will NOT share a non-locking bathroom with strangers.")

someone made a point about those first attempts at breastfeeding being like
the first attempts at making love... you see my point

3. make pleasant accomodations for the new mom's partner. not just a chair
that reclines. a queen sized bed for all is ideal. If the new mom has her
partner there, she is less likely to be looking forward to guests. Parter
can also help maintain privacy by diplomatically telling visitors and staff,
"not now, thanks". new moms are too "open" and awed by baby to be firm with
people. it just isn't where the energy is spent.
4. Seriously reconsider the "every four hours" checking in with temp and BP,
etc. consider a case by case basis for nightly care. There just isn't
anything like nurses waking you up just as you fall asleep - every 4
hours... I hear a lot of women say the staff visits were far more frequent
and wakeful than the visitors.
5. keep visiting hours reasonable, but inform visitors as they check in of
some courtesy guidelines - please limit visits to X minutes, depart when
doctors need to examine, or LC shows up etc. Alert visitors by writing and
verbally that they are welcome, but a "do not disturb" sign could appear at
any time, so they make long trips at their peril. Whatever might work for
that facility. Survey moms. Create a nice room visitors can wait in until
mom is ready.
6. seriously reconsider TV in the rooms. It encourages longer visits, and
distracts everyone (as well as being a vehicle for ABM adverts)
7. close the door after leaving the room - it's surprising how many
practitioners leave the door wide open after visiting with the mom.
8. work to reduce labor interventions that exhaust in the first place.

"Pie in the Sky"? probably. But I have high hopes  :^)

Michelle DePesa

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