Debbie Tobin posted after my post of early August (about 'sequestered
babies') asking for elaboration on the dining room.
We do have a pleasant dining room for mothers on our ward, in the room that
used to be the well-baby nursery before we made more sensible use of the
space.  Of course they can breastfeed there.  There is a fridge where
mothers can go get a cold drink any time they like, and they can store their
own favorite foods in it if they choose.  The room doubles as an overflow
room for receiving visitors, outside of mealtimes.  Mothers are free to eat
in their rooms if they like, and of course if they have just come to the
ward or are incapacitated due to surgery or complications, we offer to bring
their food in to them.  They do visit in the dining room, and when they've
had enough socializing they can retreat to their rooms where there may be
one or two other mothers, because we have small rooms but very few singles.
We even have an arrangement for fathers to board in with mother and baby,
space permitting, and one of the really fun things is seeing how fathers
connect while eating and holding their babies so mothers can rest or shower
or the like.  The best treat is watching two fathers in the other
ex-nursery, which is now the area where babies get bathed and changed.
There is only room for two babies to be bathed at a time.  If you are used
to the extremely female world on post-partum it is just a kick to see how
the presence of fathers changes things, IMO for the better.  I think it
changes the fathers just as much.
I am still no mail, just reading the archives to catch up, so if anyone
responds to this post, please cc me as well.
Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, in the throes of the last hours of vacation :-(

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