Rooming In

There are 2 options, NORMAL Rooming-In and FULL Rooming-In.

“Normal” Rooming-In

If you do not specify, then normal Rooming-In is assumed. If there are no medical problems with the baby, the following generally occurs:

After vaginal delivery, in the LDR, the baby usually stays with you for one hour. Then the baby goes to the newborn nursery for its “Transition” and mom goes to the Maternity Unit. The baby stays about 3 hours in an “incubator” or radiant warmer while in “Transition.” The baby gets a bath, and its vital signs are checked often. If you specify “No Bottle” then the baby will not receive any liquids.

Once “Transition” is over and the baby has been determined to be stable without problems, the baby goes into a crib, and then can spend as much time with you in your Maternity Room as you wish. Some moms want the baby with them until they go home, others will keep the baby in the Nursery at times when they need to rest.

"Full” Rooming-In

This is an option that the patient must specify upon admission to the Hospital. It is essentially the same as normal rooming-in with one difference – the “Transition” occurs in your Maternity room, with the same protocols as if the baby were in the Nursery. 

Full Rooming-In cannot be promised or guaranteed. There are too many potential situations where this might not be considered safe for the baby. Some of these include: the mother had beta-strep, gestational diabetes, had a fever during labor, had a difficult birth, or the baby had a fever at birth or is smaller or larger than the normal expected weight, and there are others.

The final medical decision regarding allowing or not allowing Full Rooming-In rests with your Pediatrician, and this decision cannot be made until after the baby has delivered. 

Even if you have chosen “Full” Rooming-In, you can change your mind at any time, so that if later you decide that you need a break or need to rest, the baby can be kept in the Nursery, just like with our normal Rooming-In protocol.