When supporting rooming-in, which outcome should the nurse emphasize?

When supporting rooming-in, which outcome should the nurse emphasize?

• A. Increased need for separate bedrooms.
• B. Longer hospital stay.
• C. More frequent clinic visits.
• D. Immediate access to feeding cues and infant cues by responding promptly.

Answer: (D)

Emphasize the ability to recognize and respond quickly to feeding and infant cues. When a newborn is in the mother’s room around the clock, caregivers can observe cues like rooting, sucking motions, hand-to-mouth activity, and varying levels of alertness. Responding promptly to these cues supports on-demand feeding, which helps establish and maintain milk supply, promotes effective latch, and reduces distress for both baby and parent. This closeness also strengthens bonding and parental confidence, making breastfeeding more successful overall.

The other outcomes describe effects of separating mother and baby or continuing less connected care, which rooming-in specifically aims to avoid. Separate bedrooms imply more separation; a longer hospital stay isn’t a goal of rooming-in, and more frequent clinic visits aren’t a direct result of keeping the baby with the mother in the hospital.