What is a Postpartum Newborn Home Visit?
- The postpartum newborn home visit is a service for new moms and their babies. This service is provided at no cost to them.
- After you and your baby leave the hospital, many changes take place. The postpartum newborn home visit is important because a nurse will come to your home to make sure you and your baby are doing well.
- Someone will call you to schedule a time for the nurse to visit with you in your home. This nurse will usually spend one to two hours with you and your baby.
What will the Nurse do?
- Ask questions about your health and your baby’s health
- Weigh your baby
- Do a limited physical assessment on your baby
- Check your blood pressure and other vital signs
- Help you get doctor’s appointments for you and your baby
- Discuss available birth control methods
- Tell you about other community resources (your health care provider, WIC, DSS and others)
- Provide opportunities for timely referral of identified problems
- Answer your questions
To help you care for your baby and yourself, the nurse will talk to you about:
- Well child care/Immunizations
- Postpartum care and activity
- Safety
- Hand washing
- Sign and symptoms of illness for mom and baby
- Taking care of baby’s skin and mouth
- Umbilical cord and circumcision care
- Breast/bottle feeding and nutritional needs
- Infant sleep patterns/sleep safety/SIDS
- Shaken baby syndrome
- Second-hand smoke and other substances
- Baby’s growth and development
- Breast care, cesarean section and vaginal care
- Sleep needs
- Birth Control methods
- Prevention of sexually transmitted disease/infection
- Prenatal vitamins, pain medication & other medication as the need arises
To schedule a postpartum Newborn Home Visit, call 910-433-3600.