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From:  Miller, Kathleen A.
Sent:  Tuesday, May 18, 1999 5:44 PM
To:  [log in to unmask]
Subject:  night nurses

 This is a tough one.  Most hospitals that I've seen do have a policy   
 against mothers sleeping with the newborn in bed with them.  And yes,   
it's a liability issue dictated from the lawyers.  However, there are   
some good reasons:  1) hospital beds are very narrow,  2) a great number   
of these mothers are medicated with narcotics and 3) I know of at least   
one case where a mother fell asleep with her baby in bed with her and the   
baby slipped out of the bed onto the floor. The mother only woke up when   
she heard her baby's cries. I got to hear the mother's screams.  The baby   
lived , but did have a skull fracture. It was awful.
 I do encourage mothers to room in.  I show them how to put the bassinet   
next to their bed and use the remote controls on their own bed to reach   
the baby easier.  I also encourage the father to stay the night.  I   
present it to them in that it will make it easier to get the baby on the   
breast if they respond to the early cues (remember crying is a late sign   
and most nursery nurses won't bring the baby until they cry).   Also , I   
remind them that they are going home in the next day or two and it will   
make it alot less nerve wracking that first night home if they've already   
spent the night together in the hospital with all of their support   
around.  If possible I try to show dad how to help (ie: getting the baby,   
sidelying position, etc.).
 All of our mothers who take our classes or tours are told no bottles   
(unless a medical problem arises)  and to expect their babies at night   
whether rooming in or not.  The problem mostly arises with those who   
didn't get prenatal education and come in saying they want to do "both"   
which usually means breastfeeding only during the day shift and   
bottlefeeding in the nursery on nights and eves.  I don't think it's a   
breastfeeding issue-it's a parenting one.The reality of parenting being a   
24 hour a day job hasn't sunk in yet.  Sometimes it's the nurses,   
sometimes the moms; it's ignorance on both sides.
 We are currently putting a policy through commmittee that would make it   
policy to not give bottles with out a medical order.  If a mother   
insists, that nurses would have to counsel and document the same way she   
would for any "unusual problem". Let you know what happens.   
   Kathy Miller in Washington, D.C.

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