[Rooming-in history]

OBJECTIVE: To review the rooming-in facility for mother and child and the transformations in the perinatal care. METHOD: This is a bibliographic review with a content analysis from a historical point of view. OUTCOME: Until the beginning of this century, labor and birth were strictly a domestic event under the responsibility of women. When the hospitals began to offer new techniques they became the place of choice to treat all kinds of patients. This new way of treatment confined patients in hospitals away from their relatives and friends. Even newborn babies were to be left alone in nurseries away from their mothers, in order to be protected from any kind of infection. In the late 40s, researchers connected the mother-child separation at birth to some disadjustments in family relations and this led the way to a new research field. One of the innovations was a rooming-in facility for mother and child. This was first used as a trial whose intention was to re-empower the mother with her baby care. As a trial it ended and was only reborn in the 70s sponsored by WHO and UNICEF. CONCLUSIONS: Mother-child separation raises maternal insecurity, decreases breast feeding and deprives the baby from his mother's love and care. It has been already shown that children who are separated from their mothers at birth are more likely to be abandoned, hurt or abused. Thus it should be advisable to enroll health professionals in promoting mental and psychological health of mothers, babies and their families.