MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child NursingSocial Interactions and Institutional Structures that Influence 24-Hour Rooming-in for New Mothers and Newborns in the Hospital Setting

The article explores social interactions and institutional structures impacting the consistent practice of 24-hour rooming-in for new mothers and newborns in hospitals. Researchers employed an institutional ethnographic design, gathering data through semistructured interviews and unit observations from February 2020 to June 2021.

Seven mother-baby nurses participated in interviews. Additionally, three on-unit observations lasting 2 hours each took place. From the collected data, the researchers unearthed a shared sentiment: “Baby-Friendly” practices don’t always equate to being “mother-friendly.”

Three primary social interaction themes surfaced from the data analysis: viewing the mother as a patient, managing expectations, and inconsistent practices. The nurses’ perspectives revealed the complexity of managing maternal care while juggling newborn demands. Discrepancies in methods highlighted the need for standardized practices to maintain consistency across care provision.

The analysis also identified three significant institutional factors that affect 24-hour rooming-in: rates of labor induction and cesarean births, nurse staffing, and nursery use monitoring. Labor induction and cesarean births often disrupt the smooth transition to rooming-in. Limited nurse staffing presents challenges in managing both mother and baby needs, while nursery use monitoring practices influence rooming-in implementation.

The article’s findings provide critical insights into the daily organization and experience of 24-hour rooming-in from a nurse’s perspective. These themes underscore the influence of specific social interactions and institutional structures on rooming-in practices. Consequently, this knowledge can guide hospital leaders and educators in designing targeted interventions to ensure consistent 24-hour rooming-in.

In essence, hospital practices and structures significantly influence rooming-in consistency. Adjusting these aspects could potentially improve both the mother’s and baby’s hospital stay experiences. Thus, by incorporating these findings, hospital environments could evolve to better accommodate the needs of both new mothers and their newborns. Ultimately, the article advocates for a more holistic, consistent, and mother-friendly approach to 24-hour rooming-in practices.