New mom, Alicia Harding, enjoys "Serenity Time" with her daughter Shayla.
New mothers now have the opportunity to enjoy a two-hour respite every day during their stay at the Erlanger East and Baroness campuses.
The Women’s Services staff members of Erlanger Health System have developed “Serenity Time,” the only quiet time program offered in the area for post-labor and delivery patients. It is a special time set aside for moms to rest or bond with their new baby. Parents take part in the solitude with limited staff interruptions, limited telephone calls to the patient’s room, restricted visitors, dimmed lights and minimal noise daily from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
“Until now, we have allowed unrestricted visiting hours for relatives and friends to see the new baby and mom,” said Michelle Shrum, R.N., nurse manager at Erlanger East. “Sometimes too many visitors during the day can be a little too much for the new family. We hope the program will help the moms with some privacy while they recuperate in the hospital.”
A study in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing found new mothers experienced dozens of interruptions during their first day after delivering a baby. Researchers recorded the number of durations of visits and phone calls from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. for 29 mothers. During that timeframe, the mothers averaged 54 visits or phone calls averaging 17 minutes in length. On the other hand, they were only alone with the baby and/or the baby’s father only 24 times. Many of those times lasted an average of nine minutes or less.
A special committee who monitors patient satisfaction at Erlanger found many new mothers requested the option to have the quiet time.
"We are always speaking with our new moms and dads to see how we can make their stay at Erlanger better for them and their family,” said committee chairperson and lactation consultant, Debora Dawson, R.N. “Serenity Time is a direct result of the attention to requests that can make a huge difference in their care.”
Patients are encouraged to ask their nurse when they arrive at the hospital about how they can participate in Serenity Time. Information will also be included in the hospital’s prenatal packet so expectant mothers can inform their visitors before the birth about their option to participate in the program. If visitors arrive during the mother’s Serenity Time, they can leave a note that will be delivered to the new mom after her Serenity Time has ended.
For more information on Serenity Time offered at Erlanger East on Gunbarrel Road, call 423 778-8825 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 423 778-8825 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. For information about the program at Erlanger Baroness, located in downtown Chattanooga on East Third Street, call 423 778-7591.