Maternal-Newborn Services
Bringing home your new baby can be one of the most exciting and challenging times of your life. As your body recovers from childbirth, the first few days at home can be overwhelming and exhausting. New moms may be surprised at the challenges of being a new mom with everything from care for a newborn to lactation challenges.
At Marie Star Health Services, we started as a maternal and newborn care service, which remains dear to our hearts. Our First-Week-of-Life and Early Discharge programs are designed to help ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home for both moms and their babies, with guidance on caring for the new little one. Our Maternal-Child Nurses are also Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and can offer support with breastfeeding.
What to Expect During Newborn Services
Our initial visit occurs within 1 to 3 days after hospital discharge. We work with a physician referral to monitor the newborn closely according to the physician’s orders. The initial newborn visit is provided by our board-certified Nurse Practitioner to conduct a full comprehensive newborn assessment.
Our services include (but are not limited to):
- Post-discharge clinical nurse assessments
- Weight checks
- Jaundice Assessments & Neonatal Home Phototherapy Monitoring
- Newborn care teaching
- C-section wound care
- Postpartum follow-up assessment
- Postpartum psychosocial evaluation
- Lactation consultants
- High-Risk Postpartum Care
Home Monitoring/Jaundice Follow up
INFANT HOME PHOTOTHERAPY SERVICES –NURSE PRACTITIONER SERVICES
Phototherapy is a safe, painless, and harmless treatment for babies who present with high levels of bilirubin buildup in their system, called jaundice. Jaundice appears as a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes. The development of jaundice is common during the first week of life, particularly with premature infants.
Most times this condition is transient and may disappear in 2-3 weeks as the liver matures and is able to remove/reduce the bilirubin. Severe and untreated jaundice can cause brain damage. Many babies have mild jaundice and may not need treatment. This usually goes away on its own within 1 to 2 weeks. However, there may be cases where the level of jaundice goes up higher than baseline and may need interim treatment. This is when brief phototherapy treatment may be indicated to prevent levels from going any higher.
Phototherapy consists of a blue light exposure on baby’s skin areas. This light helps break down the bilirubin until the liver matures enough to take over. Jaundice levels are monitored daily through lab draws until levels are at an acceptable level, then phototherapy is discontinued, per your physician instructions.
Jaundice assessments can include heel sticks for bilirubin serum levels and Transcutaneous bili (TcB) meters. Our Nurse Practitioner provides clinical assessments, orders, diagnoses and counseling to help new parents with any concerns or questions they have about their newborn.
Lactation Consultation Services
While breastfeeding offers benefits to mom and baby, it may not come naturally or as easily as one would think. In reality, it may come with pain, disappointment, and uncertainties. Many new mothers worry if their baby is latching or feeding adequately. Breastfeeding is a learned skill that needs the guidance of a skilled, compassionate, and experienced lactation expert.
At Marie Star Health Services, we are proud to offer home services by our experienced lactation expert:
- Nurse Practitioner, Lactation Consultant, IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant), with almost 20 years of experience providing care to this client population.
- Experienced with complex lactation issues, including – tongue-tie, developmental issues, breast infections and low milk supply
- Breastfeeding aids and recommendations
- Developing individualized care and breastfeeding plans
- Well baby and well-child routine visits beyond the newborn period
- Anticipatory guidance at each stage of development
- Competent, warm, and compassionate
Self-referred Lactation Consultation Services
Even though most initial mom/baby home visit services include physician-ordered newborn / postpartum assessments with Lactation Services, new mothers are strongly encouraged to self-refer for only breastfeeding counseling services if desired. We have cost-effectively priced service packages that include 3-4 consecutive visits during this first week, plus complimentary follow-up telephone calls.
We strive to help new moms with one-on-one services in their homes where they are more comfortable. Contact us as soon as you have any concerns so we can start helping you and your little one. Problems encountered in the early period of breastfeeding can be very frustrating and sometimes discouraging and that is when some moms give up. Don’t give up! We will help you achieve your breastfeeding goals. It is important we address these issues promptly and early to avoid further difficulties. This is a necessary transition and learning process which will improve with assistance from a Lactation RN.
Breastfeeding Facts:
It’s widely accepted that breastfeeding is best, and many leading health organizations recommend that most infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months. But here are a few breastfeeding statistics you may not be aware of:
- 73% of mothers get outside help for breastfeeding problems
- Breastfeeding aids in the uterus returning to its original size and greatly accelerates the after-birth weight loss a lot faster.
- Breastfeeding boosts you and your baby’s immune system
- Breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by 50%
A study, “Cost Effectiveness of Postnatal Home Nursing Visits for Prevention of Hospital Care for Jaundice and Dehydration” was published in the journal of Pediatrics, Oct. 4, 2004. This study suggests that a low-cost home nurse visit can significantly reduce the need for comparatively expensive hospital and ED services for jaundice and dehydration and, most importantly, prevent babies from getting sick.