Q: I would like to "room in" with my newborn, but our hospital requires that the baby be returned to the nursery every shift to check his vital signs (e.g., pulse, temperature and respiratory rate). What do you think about this?
You need to talk to the hospital staff about your wishes and ask your OB or pediatrician to mediate on your behalf, or you need to find another facility. Many of the best and more progressive hospitals no longer have well-newborn nurseries. Instead, they have special-care or intensive-care units for high-risk, sick or premature newborns, and the rest room in with their moms and dads.