Universal Early Home Visiting: A Strategy for Reaching All Postpartum Women

In Their Own Words: A Qualitative Investigation of the Factors Influencing Maternal Postpartum Functioning in the United States

“…Additionally, maternal postpartum functioning plays an important role in maternal wellbeing as the postpartum year is a time of increased vulnerability to physical health concerns [ 3 ] and is also the time period in which mothers are most likely to develop depression and anxiety compared to any other time in their life [ 4 ]. These health concerns can often worsen due to the many barriers to postpartum healthcare visit attendance [ 5 ] as well as the neglect of self-care commonly experienced by postpartum mothers [ 6 ]. Therefore, assuring that mothers are achieving optimal functioning during this time period is an important health goal for both the mother and the child.…”

Introducing the Postpartum Toolkit: An Examination of the Feasibility, Acceptability and Pilot Efficacy of an Online Clinical Tool to Enhance Postpartum Functioning and Emotional Wellbeing

“…This is particularly important as previous work with pregnant transmen has demonstrated that institutional erasure functions as a barrier to routine perinatal care [ 3 ]). Birth-parent postpartum functioning is important for determining infant health, as birth parents are generally the principal performers of infant care during the postpartum period, and this is the time in which infants have the greatest need [ 4 , 5 ]. The interaction and care provided to the infant during this time also has implications for later development [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Further, postpartum birth parents are a uniquely difficult population to reach. They face many barriers to postpartum healthcare-visit attendance, including the parent reported barrier of being too busy with their new baby and other responsibilities [ 5 , 25 ]. Postpartum birth parents often neglect their own self-care needs, which can reduce postpartum healthcare utilization and engagement in key health-promoting behaviors [ 26 ].…”

Addressing health equity through a telehealth maternal–newborn home visit for nurse practitioner students

“…In addition, mothers chosen at random from this study reported more community connections, more positive parenting behaviors, sending their infant to higher-quality out-of-home childcare, and lower rates of anxiety than mothers in the control group (Dodge et al, 2014). Reaching women through home visits at three to five weeks after birth allows the opportunity for early intervention with maternal physical and mental health concerns and to offer breastfeeding support (Handler et al, 2019). In the pediatric population, home visits from NP students to children with asthma helped to identify new community-based resources, reduce barriers to care, and improve care continuity (McClure et al, 2021).…”

“…Is health equity achievable in maternal/newborn care? Implementing universal home visits in the early postpartum/newborn period to address disparities and access to care while providing needed community resources is a start (Handler et al, 2019). In 2019, the total maternal mortality rate nationally for Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White women was 20.1 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (Hoyert, 2021).…”