Visiting nurse program aims to improve postpartum care

New Jersey introduced a postpartum home-visit program to reduce maternal mortality and improve the health of mothers and babies. The program, which started in January, is free to participants, voluntary and available to all. A trained nurse visits the family a few weeks after the baby’s birth to assess clinical and social needs, based on a detailed checklist and risk scale. The nurse checks the baby’s growth, confirms the mother is healing well, conducts a screening for postpartum depression and offers parenting tips. The nurse connects families in need with health and social services, including lactation consultants. A case manager follows up to ensure the family’s needs were met. (NJ Spotlight News article, 2/20/24)