Strollerderby

Chiming Lullaby Marks New Births At Ohio Hospital

Posted by Karen Murphy

bell babyAww. I hope this marks a trend, because I think this is a sweet idea: a Cincinnati hospital began a program not long ago where a short bit of "Brahm's Lullaby" is played for every birth through the ringing of chimes on the hospital's PA system. Not only does it serve to commemorate a new life, welcome the new baby, and to make the parents feel a bit special, but it also allows the hospital staff, doctors, and nurses to take a second and recognize their own part in the ongoing circle of life that's so present in a hospital setting.

The downside, of course, would be for those parents not bringing a healthy baby home, either through stillbirth or adoption or time in the NICU. Those are difficult situations no matter how you look at it. 

Still, the connection felt by new parents every time a chime sounds, knowing that yet another birth has taken place and knowing that they share that remarkable moment with other people unknown to them yet so close by, has got to be amazing.


+ DIGG + STUMBLE

Comments

 

Devil's Advocate said:

I recently encountered this in a hospital in California. Of course, having been admitted for a miscarriage at 18 weeks I didn't think it was such a cute idea to have an hourly reminder of what I would not have...

June 5, 2007 12:36 PM
 

Mom2Two said:

The hospital I delivered at in Baltimore does this, but it doesn't play throughout the entire hospital.  Just in L&D and the ER.  I thought it was cute, and they even played it twice when my daughter was born.

June 5, 2007 12:54 PM
 

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah said:

When The Goon Squad was born our hospital did this. I think I hear the bells about 200 times in the 37 days I was there on bedrest before the kids were born.

The four days that I was there after they were born I found the bells much more charming.

June 5, 2007 1:57 PM
 

Mim said:

They did this at our hospital (Providence in Portland, OR) and I thought it was sweet. In our pre-birth classes, it was cool to hear it come over the hospital intercom. It goes into every room in the place, I think.

June 5, 2007 2:25 PM
 

FoxyMama said:

Yep, here in Tallahassee we have it too.  I loved it, but I could see how it would be difficult for some folks to hear.  

June 5, 2007 2:40 PM
 

JulieT said:

My hospital delivers so many babies that I don't think they could do that. It would just sound like Muzak, playing all the time.

June 5, 2007 3:12 PM
 

MommyMeg said:

the hospital i gave birth to my son at a few  months ago does that... it really is a special thing!

June 6, 2007 12:34 AM
 

Sheri said:

Our hospital did it too.  It was really neat to hear when I would go for checkups with my OB.  I agree it isn't so nice when you have to leave the hospital without a baby as we did with Quinn.  On his bad days, it bothered me, but I couldn't deny other people the joy of hearing their lullaby because if the shoe were on the other foot, I'd be excited to hear it.  I think it is a great idea.  

June 6, 2007 12:35 AM
 

Shirleen said:

I beleive that is a wonderful idea, but it should be limited to the rooms it is piped into.  It is very upsetting for those that have to be in the hospital to deliver a baby that is stillborn.  I hope they take those things in concideration.  

June 7, 2007 12:28 PM

in

GROUP BLOGS

  • Strollerderby

    The smartest, funniest, most exhaustive parenting blog in the blogosphere.
  • Droolicious

    Modern design for modern parents.
  • FameCrawler

    Your daily baby celebrity fix.
back to blog homepage