Community Health

Home Visits from KRHC Community Health

Mom and Baby Home Visits

Home visits by Community Health nurses can help get the family off to a good start after the baby is born.  Visits are offered free of charge and are available to all new moms residing in Kossuth County regardless of where they delivered their baby.  Visits may include:

• Check of baby’s weight and height
• Review baby’s sleeping, feeding, dirty diaper patterns
• Assess mom and baby to see they are doing okay after coming home from the hospital
• Discuss resources for the family such as WIC, Title 19, Kossuth County Care Team, food stamps, insurance, daycare, etc.
• Remind family that mom and babe need to return to the doctor for baby check ups and immunizations and mom for six-week check up

The Community Health nurse may also cover subjects such as:

• Cord care
• Circumcision
• Bathing
• Car seats
• Stress
• Smoking
• Any other questions the family may have about the baby and the care needed

Breastfeeding Visits

KRHC Community has two breastfeeding educators on staff, Rebecca Lewis and Salena Siefken.  Both have received special training to help and support new breastfeeding moms and babes and offer these services free of charge as a community benefit. 

Breastfeeding educators will visit with you at the hospital and in your home to offer support and answer any questions you may have about choosing breastfeeding as a loving and nurturing way to feed your little one.  All new mothers living in Kossuth County are eligible to access the home visit service, regardless of where you delivered your baby.

During a home visit, the breastfeeding educator will provide education and support to the new mom to find out if breastfeeding is going well.  They may talk about several things:

• When to feed the baby
• Frequency and length of feedings
• Feeding cues from baby
• How to know if baby is getting enough milk
• Wet and poopy diapers
• Latching on and positioning
• Sleepy babies
• Baby’s weight
• Increasing milk supply
• Supplementing
• Pumping for return to work or daycare

Some common causes for concern with breastfeeding may include:

• Engorgement
• Plugged ducts
• Mastitis
• Thrush/yeast infection
• Jaundice

The goal of the home visit is to answer all of mom’s concerns and questions and leave mom feeling like she is giving her babe the best nutrition of all – breast milk.