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From: ksh@cbosgd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: bonding
Message-ID: <615@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 17-Nov-83 16:20:55 EST
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.615
Posted: Thu Nov 17 16:20:55 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Nov-83 01:55:10 EST
References: <1956@hplabsb.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 21

I want to take the time to tell people that "rooming in" in the hospital
is a wonderful thing - but it's not for everyone.  Rooming in is when
you have your baby with you 24 hours a day after you give birth.  For
some new parents, labor was either very difficult, or not by normal
means, and its every bit as necessary for the new mother to regain
her strength as it is to "bond" with your baby 24 hours a day.  The
normal 3-5 day hospital stay is that way for a reason - a lot of
women NEED that time to get themselves physically ready to go home
and take care of a newborn.  Personally, I could not have gotten out
of a hospital bed for the first 3 days after my son was born, even
if I had the opportunity for rooming in.  Whats more, is there was
a subtle pressure all along, making me feel guilty that I didn't have
him with me more than I did - I felt I had to constantly explain my
reasons.

I think hospital birth has come a long way in the last few years, and
is taking great pains to accomodate new parents.  So if your hospital
does not have policies that you can agree with, by all means choose
another.  Teaching hospitals associated with Universities usually
have the most innovative methods.