MATERNAL/CHILD HEALTH SERVICES:

MOTHER/BABY HOME VISITS

• Provides physicians with the security that the mother can recognize signs and symptoms of pre-term labor, the major factor in infant morbidity and mortality.
• Enables case managers and discharge planners to safely plan home discharges for new mothers and their babies.
• Supplements the education provided by the hospital nursing staff.
• Ensures that the new mother can safely care for herself and her new baby at home, thereby improving quality of life.

 

Goals/Objectives

• Provide education for the new mother both before and after delivery.
• Help to prevent hospitalization and unnecessary visits to healthcare professionals.

 

Specifics

• Registered Nurse visits the pregnant woman prenatal.
  • Provides expectant mothers with the education/support they need to increase their confidence in coping with labor and the birthing experience.
  • Nurse reviews proper nutrition and exercise, the child-birthing experience and breast feeding.
  • Nurse teaches basic baby care.
  • Nurse teaches newborn home preparation, coping mechanisms and safety within the home.

• Registered Nurse visits the new mother and baby post-partum.
• Nurse ensures that the mother knows how to care for herself regarding:
  
  • Episiotomy/C-section care
  • Nutrition, rest and exercise
  • Screens for post-partum depression
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) education
  • When to call a healthcare professional

• Nurse works to ensure that the new mother knows how to care for her new baby including:
  • Bonding with the baby
  • Cord care and circumcision care
  • Bathing, dressing and feeding
  • Immunizations