September 07, 2007

A Friend to New Moms

Genesis VNA program assesses newborns and mothers at home

DAVENPORT, IOWA - After having breastfed two daughters, Natasha Sottos figured the process would be a breeze with her newborn baby, Kristen.

But once she got home from the Genesis BirthCenter, the questions came up and so did the uncertainties about whether her baby was getting enough to eat.

“I breastfed my first two and thought I’d be an expert by now,” Sottos of Davenport says. “But each one had different nursing challenges. My third wasn’t nursing very long; I was concerned she wasn’t getting enough to eat. Here I was feeling like a firsttime mom and having to learn it all over.”

Assurance arrived at her Davenport doorstep when Genesis VNA nurse Maggie Conner came to her home as part of the “Mom and Baby Homecoming Program.” Conner, who recently became a certified lactation counselor, provided the breastfeeding expertise and reassurance Sottos needed.

“She gave me input on the spot, and I felt better by the time she left,” Sottos says.

Each year, Genesis VNA makes more than 1,200 visits to assess mothers and newborns after they leave the hospital. Mothers who deliver babies at the Genesis BirthCenter in Davenport are offered the free service. When their insurance doesn’t pay for a home visit, grant money covers the cost. The goal is to visit within a few days after mom and baby are discharged from the hospital.The program receives Scott County Kids Empowerment funding.

These days, shorter maternity stays mean women typically leave the hospital within a day or two after giving birth. Once home, their bundle of joy can also bring a bundle of questions about everything from breastfeeding and burping to swaddling and diapering. Meanwhile, new moms have their own changing bodies and emotions to deal with, as well.

“With shorter hospital stays after delivery, there may not be adequate time for mom to ask all the questions. Often, the questions don’t come up until after she’s home,” says Barbara Dee, Supervisor of Child and Family Services for Genesis VNA. “Particularly if moms are breastfeeding, they are not into the routine yet by the time they leave the hospital and the guidance of the BirthCenter’s lactation consultants. It’s reassuring for moms to have someone come to their home – with the right medical information.”

Sottos liked knowing that little Kristen, born Aug. 9, was getting the nourishment she needed. Conner, who recently received her certification from the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, also came to her home after she and her husband, Jerry, brought their newborn daughters Madeline and Allison, now ages 4 and 2, home.

“I remembered her from previous visits and had a rapport with her,” Natasha Sottos says. “You hear the information in the hospital, but it’s nice to hear it again from a nurse once you’re at your own home.”

“Breastfeeding is what we like to encourage our moms to do, and the more support they receive when they’re at home, the better the outcomes and the longer the moms will breastfeed,” Conner, R.N, says. “We work closely with the BirthCenter’s lactation consultants. It’s a well-rounded team approach that encourages women to breastfeed to improve children’s health in the long-term.

“Our babies are in a hospital setting usually two days, so the more they can be checked for proper weight gain and possible health problems the better. And for moms, a lot of times it’s the only time they get their vital signs checked until their six-week checkup after giving birth. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve discovered that a mom’s blood pressure is too high, and she has had to go back to the hospital after delivery.”

The VNA nurses also can link families to other services, including another program administered through Genesis VNA called “Bright Beginnings.” The program provides further help to families who have challenges, whether they are financial, educational or residential barriers. “We visit moms and dads in their homes as often as once a week to provide parent education and help them identify what they need to provide the best environment for their child,” Dee says.

For more information about the VNA’s pediatric specialty programs or Bright Beginnings, call (563) 421-5284.

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