| Summary: | Introduction
Rooming-in is an evidence-based practice during which postpartum
mothers and infants stay together. Rooming-in benefits both the mother and infant, and is
especially important for breastfeeding. This study aims to describe rooming-in (Step 7 of
the BFHI), according to mothers and maternity-ward staff in Finnish maternity hospitals, as
well as the factors associated with its implementation.
Methods
The presented research adopted a cross-sectional study approach. Questionnaires
were used to collect data from mothers (n=111) who had given birth and the attending
maternity-ward staff (f=1554 reported events) at 8 Finnish maternity hospitals. The data
were analysed using descriptive statistics, as well as chi-squared, t-test, and Fisher, Mann-
Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis tests. Answers to the open-ended questions were analysed using
content specifications.
Results
Rooming-in was utilised to a satisfactory extent, especially after vaginal birth.
Most of the mothers regarded it as a very positive experience. Rooming-in was delayed
mainly because of a mother’s tiredness and the infant’s condition. Factors such as a staff
member’s age, work experience, and completion of breastfeeding counselling training
(WHO 20-h), a mother’s parity, need for supplementation, and mode of childbirth, were
found to be associated with the decision to implement rooming-in.
Conclusions
Rooming-in should be used more with infants born by caesarean section
and primiparous mothers. The need for supplementation clearly increased when roomingin
was not employed. The presented information could be crucial for effectively allocating
maternity ward resources and demonstrating the importance of rooming-in to a diverse
audience of health care professionals.
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