Learning Objective #1: The learner will be able to identify the objectives of the Mother-Baby Togetherness Project.

Learning Objective #2: The learner will be able to list two strategies undertaken by the Mother-Baby Togetherness Team to promote the project objectives.

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This presentation describes the work of a multidisciplinary team at BC Women's Hospital, (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) initiated to improve the care of postpartum women by promoting mother-baby togetherness. Keeping mothers and babies together improves maternal-newborn attachment, successful breastfeeding, maternal self-confidence, maternal emotional well-being, satisfaction with care, neonatal thermoregulation, and less newborn crying. The objective of the project is to change the long-standing practices of separating mothers and babies at four key times – admission to the postpartum unit, routine newborn bath, blood work and routine newborn assessment. Many nurses and other health care professionals are resistant to this practice change, making this project a significant leadership challenge. Strategies undertaken to change practice include: focus groups with postpartum nurses; the use of Unit-Based Champions (staff nurses), surveys of nurses about their current practices and surveys of mothers about their wishes of keeping their babies with them; interdisciplinary team representation on the Project Team; development of an evidence based position statement on pocket-sized laminated cards; a trial period to evaluate the practice change with feedback to improve successful implementation; and environmental improvements such as better lighting in each patient room. A coordinated approach to patient care facilitates ‘empowerment' of women and fosters family participation. BC Women's Hospital is seeking Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) Accreditation, which is planned for May 2005. The Mother-Baby Togetherness project has evolved to become Step 7 (Rooming-In) of the World Health Organization 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. This project is supported by the hospital administration, as well as by Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Leadership Academy and Faculty. The results of this project will be presented at the STTI Leadership Conference and may be published in journals of interest.