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QUESTION - Does rooming in with baby helps to
ensure a more successful breastfeeding?
| ok..will "rooming
in" help in successful breastfeeding?..I would say is YES! what
i have learned at the breastfeeding counselling course is - there
are ten steps to successful breastfeeding. Step No. 7) Practise rooming
in - allow mothers and infants to remain together - 24 hrs a day.
(Angeline)
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| Hi
ladies
I had been following
the thread on how moms successfully breastfed their newborns without
any supplement. I suppose one of the reason they are able to do it
is because they get their newborn to room in with them and I believe
they have some form of company throughout their stay. Am I right?
Or if one delivered in a Govt Hospital, then there is no other choice
but to have baby next to mom.
I for one cannot
afford (even though the medical expenses aren't from our pocket) first
class ward because I refuse to pay triple the amount and getting the
same treatment. So, for all my babies, I stay in a 3rd class ward
where I bunk in with 3 (and even 5) moms. Security wise, the babies
aren't allowed with us. Anyway, the other moms will have their whole
kampung Cina, Melayu, India with them and who wants to expose their
newborns to these crowds? And some hospital did not allow the baby
out of the nursery because they afraid of baby snatching.
So, I can blame
my under-achievement in not getting baby to suckle 24/7 due to this
constraint. I only drag myself to the nursery as and when I can find
strength.
Now, my question
- if one cannot afford first class ward, does that mean we have a
lesser chance of exclusive breastfeeding? In a nursery, there are
at least 20 babies and thus, I can't expect the nurses to attend to
only me. What does other moms do under these circumstances?
When I had Matthew
- I did spent a LOT of time in the nursery but after a while, I do
sense that the nurses find me a nuisance 'cos I am there even at 2am
in the morning. The expecting moms - what are your plans to counter
this situation? Are you going to a hospital where your newborn is
going to be bunk in with you? Are you going to set up camp in the
nursery? Let's share.
_________________
Lilian (co-owner, moderator and mom of 5)
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| I
delivered Abilash (normal delivery) in Klang. As I was exclusively
bf him, the nurses had to bring him to me whenever he cried (every
15 min or so) as he was kept in the nursery. In the beginning they
did this & thus was so tired of bringing him to me so often. Then
they decided to let Abilash bunk with me as he was nursing so frequently.
I was the only bf mum in my room & thus the only one with bb bunking
with me. The other mums were resting & sleeping peacefully while
I was nursing around the clock.
_________________
Sheela SAHM to
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| Know
something? I always wondered about this too! Immediately upon birth,
my ob-gynae asked me to bf . I was shocked! What?! Right now? I asked.
Me and baby so dirty and messy. My gynae kept quite-the baby whirled
off to the nursery to be fed formula! After that everyone kept telling
me to have more rest while I got the chance-I actually believe them.
I slept and slept . Only go to the nursery a few time per day. On
the third day, Junior started to have jaundice . I was really serious
about bf then, but by the time, Junior won't suck my Mcb. Each time
I put him to my breast, he cried and cried. It comes to a point that
I'm so scare of each feeding time. I was so frustrated and feel like
a failure. So then, begin my journey of EBM ....express and express
until he reached 1 year old. Me, bad mom!
I often wondered if I had bf him directly right upon birth and room
in with him during the hospital stay, surely he wouldn't reject my
breast? Sigh! Hope I'll better next time. Wish I know this group earlier!
Regards,
Jennifer
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| I
gave birth at Seremban. They are not the biggest advocate of breastfeeding.
My experience with Karina and Damus is the same. Lost lots of bleed
and was confined to bed the whole night (gave birth in the afternoon).
Anyway, at that hospital, if you want to see or bf baby, you have
to go to the nursing room. They don't bring babies to the room coz'
one time one baby got sick (infected from visiting members) and spread
it to all the other babies at the nursery. They only bring baby to
room if mother had caesarian or in my case, nurse pity me coz' told
to stay in bed.
By the way, I had a single room, no sharing.
Karina was given
glucose until I could get to her. I don't think I was asked, initiated
by nurse. Damus was given formula. Nurse asked this time and very
very reluctantly I had to say yes. Was told he was crying a lot and
deemed to be hungry. I was told I hadn't recovered enough to bf. By
the way, I made it very clear to the nurses that I wanted to breastfeed.
But I think Lillian is right, better to inform the paed. I didn't
know how long my babies could go without any form of food (since I
was deemed not fit to feed yet) and that's why I gave in to the nurses.
Anyway, I am glad to have been discharged the next day. Then I can
take baby home and feed, feed, feed.
IF I have another
baby, think I might consider going to another hospital.
_________________
Mom to hurricane toddler Karina Lim and little moo-moo Damus Lim.
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| I
wouldn't say that rooming-in with baby right after birth would necessarily
GUARANTEE successful breastfeeding because SO MANY other factors can
come into play later which could result in a less-than-successful
breastfeeding experience. Having said that however, IMHO it would
be a step in the right direction.
I had all my babies
room in with me after birth and as a result of the frequent feeding,
I believe that is why none of them ever had jaundice since they passed
out their meconium pretty quick, kept peeing and pooing right from
the start. Admittedly, it was tiring and difficult, because of the
exhaustion and pain after labour. I guess it was a small sacrifice
to make for something that I take so much joy from these days.
Wishing all new
moo-mies and moo-mies to be all the best!
_________________
Zarina, militant breastfeeding mommy to 3 boys:
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| I
think it's more to the mother's own determination, proper knowledge
about breastfeeding and the environment around her. I gave birth in
a private hospital with baby friendly status. I did not want to pay
for the first class room and the 2 bedded rooms were fully occupied.
So I had to stay in a 4 bedded ward. But it's with the curtain drawn.
I breastfed Eugene immediately after the nurse cleaned him briefly,
oh yes; he suckled well and showing off the gorgeous dimples. I delivered
in midnight, and I had to stay another night in the hospital for observation
of both mother and baby. Most of the time, Eugene roomed in with me.
After he slept, the nurse would sometimes push him back to the nursery
and brought him back when he cried. The services and hospitality provided
are really good; it just goes inline with their theme of 'service
from the heart'. Most importantly, they will not give the baby any
formula unless the mother signs a consent letter. Very often, the
nurses would laugh at us, the mother and baby who both fell asleep
while nursing. One was too tired and one was too comfortable. Very
frequent, a few chatty and helpful LCs, my paed and my gynae would
come to check on us if we were doing ok and all. So I would say that
very good support is given to the mothers. But this is only for 1
or 2 days, depends on how long you stay in the hospital.
Back home, a mother
will need her own determination, supports, knowledge on breastfeeding
to overcome the hurdles. One of the major hurdles will be the naysayer.
For my case, I followed all the half truth / not truth advice literally.
Until I woke up in engorgement one midnight and nobody to help me
at that hour, I sat down and only then discovered about the truth
of breastfeeding and ended Eugene’s relationship with the formula
since then.
My dua sen advices
to all new mothers are to read about breastfeeding and learn from
others’ experiences and hiccups they experienced and get a few
phone numbers of LCs or breastfeeding moms handy, and talk to the
correct person who knows breastfeeding if you need help. With a strong
passion and determination, you will make it and soon enjoy the rewards
from breastfeeding.
_________________
Vivi
Proud parents to little Eugene (16 months old)
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| I
believe rooming in with mum and insisting that the mum bf (is she's
well enough) will help with making bf successful. Not guaranteed,
but will help. With Leonard, I was conned. The doctor said I most
likely don't have milk so it's best to feed him formula first. I shouldn't
have believed him bcos I’ve read the LLC Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
already, and babies can go without milk the first day, and most babies
instinctively know how to suckle. But being scared (don't know why
I should be scared, bodoh!) I trusted him.
The hospital in
Melaka doesn't allow rooming in bcos they scared of baby snatching.
With Laurenz (#3) I insisted that he be breastfed and that the nurses
bring him in each time he cries. Lucas #2 was too sleepy (or lazy)
and didn't want to suck at all.
I was in a twin-bedded
room all 3 times, and all 3 times my neighbours had c-section! Generally
newborns drink, pee/poop, and then sleep most of the time. So they
won't disturb anybody. It's the whole kampung troop visitors that
makes the noise. I've seen them in GHs.
-Mom to Leonard
(17/05/00), Lucas (28/11/01) and Laurenz (21/06/03).
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