[Psychohygiene in obstetrics. Rooming-in the nursing]

The development of highly technical and highly computerized labour-rooms is contrasted by the mother's need for close personal contact with her baby and for close personal caring. If suitable conditions are to be created, the mother must be psychologically prepared for pregnancy and birth, the father must be admitted into the labour-room and rooming-in of mother and new born baby should be allowed. Breast-feeding is the beginning of the basic trust relationship (Urvertrauen) between mother and child. However, only 40% of the mothers continue breast-feeding after discharge from hospital and only 5,7% breast feed their babies for more than 3 months. The babies miss the intensive skin contact between mother and child that is so important for the child's development. This is confirmed by the experiences of the Offenbacher Modell" where mothers nurture their prematurely born babies. Psychohygienic methods with new born babies are related to diminuished infant mortality. In the Federal Republic of Germany, 105 maternity hospitals and wards allow mothers and new born babies to be together without restriction.