[The relevance of "family-oriented obstetrics" and its consequences for the maternity hospital (author's transl)].

By inventing the "rooming in", the organisational prerequisites for the undisyurbed early mother--child relationship, which is of fateful relevance for the newborn, are provided. Since part of the responsibility for the child is transferred to the mother already in the hospital, an adequate instruction is necessary. Thus, a change is taking place pertaining to the tasks of the nursing personnel. In an inquiry made on 950 female patients, the social-psychological aspects of the "romming in" were examined and evaluated. The joint accommodation of mother and child ought to be available on request for approximately 50% of the delivered women. During the night the newborns should be taken to the nursery. This meets with the needs of many women for undisturbed rest during the night despite "rooming in" and also with the necessity for control of the newborns by the nursing staff. The general judgment of the patients on a clinic cannot be changed essentially by the invention of "rooming in". This is depending to a great extent on various other factors.