Keeping Mothers Together With Their Babies Requiring Neonatal Intensive Care During the Birth Hospitalization: An Innovative Model of Care.

Background: Keeping mothers and babies together after birth has long been described as best practice; however, most organizations in the United States move newborns requiring a higher level of care to a different unit in the hospital. The leadership team at a level II, four-bed neonatal intensive care unit in a community hospital averaging 1,400 births per year recognized an opportunity to potentially improve the care for maternity patients and their families.

Intervention: Instead of high-risk newborns being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit while their mothers were on the postpartum unit, an innovative model applied the concepts of rooming-in and couplet care in a new way, keeping mothers and their babies that need a higher level of care together. Mothers and babies remain together in a Labor-Delivery-Recovery-Postpartum/Neonatal Intensive Care (LDRP/NICU suite).

Methods: The purpose of the new model of care was to improve patient and family experiences. Data were collected for 2 years prior and for 2 years after implementation of the new model of care. Participants included birth mothers of NICU babies on their day of discharge.

Results: Results include improved employee and provider engagement. Birth volumes have increased since this practice change. This model of care has been successful in our facility and offers the opportunity for families to stay together throughout both mother and newborn's hospital stays.