Hi, my name is Betty Erickson.  I am a nursing student at the
University of North Dakota.  I have been doing some research on the
benefits of home visits to postpartum women who are breastfeeding.

According to Locklin and Jansson (1999), home visits by nurses
experienced in maternal-child health and lactation who support
breastfeeding and manage potential problems not only are economically
prudent but also protect the newborn at risk for lactation failure.
This failure could become very dangerous for the newborn.  It could
lead to dehydration, weight loss, and hyperbilirubinemia.

Due to low breastfeeding rates in past decades, many American families
have lost the experiental knowledge of breastfeeding traditionally
passed on from mother and daughter (Humenick, Hill, & Spiegelberg,
1998).  So, new mothers are more likely to depend on health
professionals for advice about breastfeeding.

The length of the hospital stay can be as short as 24 hrs.  This causes
a problem to the new mother.  She and her baby go home before a milk
supply and adequate feeding pattern have been established.

Postpartum home nursing care is an important nursing intervention that
can provide positive clinical outcomes for both mother and infant.
This home visit is particularly beneficial to the breastfeeding dyad
(Bennett & Tandy, 1998).

As I have learned the importance of home visits during the postpartum
period, I was surprised to find out these visits are not done in my
area.  I am interested if any of you do them.  What are your
qualifications?  Do you feel they benefit the breastfeeding woman?  Are
these visits through a home health agency or a hospital?  Are these
visits covered by health insurance?  I would appreciate any information
you could provide on this subject.

Betty Erickson, SN

     Bennett, R.L. & Tandy, L.J. (1998). Postpartum Home Visits:
Extending the Continuum of Care From Hospital to Home. Home Healthcare
Nurse, 16 (5).

     Humenick, S.S., Hill, P.D., & Spiegelberg, P.L. (1998).
Breastfeeding and Health Professional Encouragement. Journal of Human
Lactation, 14 (4), 305-310.

     Locklin, M.P. & Jansson, M.J. (1999). Home Visits: Strategies to
Protect the Breastfeeding Newborn at Risk. Journal of Obstetric,
Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 28 (1), 33-40.

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