What does RA 7600 state about the mother and baby during hospitalization?

RA 7600, also known as the Rooming-In Act, emphasizes the importance of keeping mothers and their babies together during hospitalization. This practice is based on evidence that promoting close contact between mother and infant facilitates bonding, breastfeeding, and the child's overall health and development. By ensuring that mothers and babies are together, the act supports optimal maternal and child health outcomes.

This approach contrasts with keeping them separately, which could hinder the establishment of bonding and breastfeeding. Scheduled visits or daily check-ins do not provide the continuous contact and interaction that are crucial during the early days of a baby's life. Therefore, the correct understanding of RA 7600 is that mothers and infants should remain together in the hospital whenever both are present, fostering an environment conducive to attachment and nurturing.