New moms, newborns helped by program serving Alachua County families
Cleveland Tinker,
Gainesville Sun
Jonathan Munoz spends a lot of time in hospitals, as he recently graduated from the University of Florida’s Medical School. He recently started his residency in emergency medicine at UF Health Shands Hospital, and during his medical school career he spent time in the pediatric emergency room at UF Health Shands. However, all of his medical training so far didn’t fully prepare him for becoming a dad for the first time in May. Because of his medical training he has “a unique perspective” on the NewboRN Home Visiting program in Alachua County.
“I knew the doctors who delivered my child and I’ve been around newborns, but it’s very different having a nurse come to your home to reassure you that things are going well with your child,” said Munoz, 28, who along with his wife of three years, Isabella, became parents for the first time when their son, Theodore, was born on May 5. Helping families with newborn babies born in Alachua County go home with healthy little ones and the ability to thrive is at the core of the mission of the NewboRN program.
The program, overseen by Healthy Start North Central Florida, has been around since 2018 thanks to a collaboration with hospitals, childbirth providers and social service agencies in the county. It receives funding from the Children’s Trust of Alachua County. The first step in the program involves the mother and baby receiving a physical and health assessment that includes getting the mother’s blood pressure and weighting the baby, according to program officials. “Moms are encouraged to schedule their visit as soon as possible after discharge,” said Sandra “Sandee” Muir, the program’s nursing supervisor. “This is usually the period of time that a new mom needs the most help.”
Mothers having their babies at home can be provided with a NewboRN home visit by a licensed midwife. Also, the program has a Spanish speaking nurse and team member at the hospital, and it has been given a language line by the Children’s Trust so program workers can can communicate with all moms, program officials say. The program’s goals are to conduct a home visit within the first seven days after a mother and baby go home from the hospital. If that’s not possible, a nurse will make an initial visit by the time a child is 4 weeks of age, Muir said.
“We do a mental health checkup for mom,” Muir said. “We assess how well the baby is eating and gaining weight and are able to help moms to breast feed or bottle feed successfully.” Nurses also provide education on a variety of topics including safe sleep, sudden infant death syndrome prevention, newborn care, development, signs and symptoms of illness, immunizations and more, Muir said. “Additionally, we are child passenger safety technicians so we are able to check the car seat installation at the visit,” Muir said. “We also assess for ongoing needs for support for the family and help with referrals to meet their needs.” Families, immediately after the visit and again in three weeks, are sent a survey for feedback, Muir said. Furthermore, families who need them are given referrals for assistance and support they may need for things such as food, clothing and housing. The program also offers a free infant CPR and choking prevention class every other month, Muir said.
“Everything is free and funded by the Children’s Trust of Alachua County,” Muir said. The services offered by the program are important for families, Munoz, the new father, said. “They provided resources to us and educated us about things we should expect,” Munoz said. “They evaluated my wife, helped my wife with breastfeeding, and connected her with resources and gave her information about post-partum depression and more.” The program also offered the family a thermometer to check their newborn’s temperature, and a car seat, Munoz said. “I don’t think anybody else could have offered us all of the things that we needed at that time,” Munoz said. The program has evolved over time to provide additional assistance to many more families. It offered virtual visits during COVID and still offers those if a mother prefers it instead of an in-person visit, Muir said.
Well Florida hired its own nurses starting in January 2021 and the program and its services have expanded and increased since then, Muir said. “Everything is free and funded by the Children’s Trust of Alachua County,” Muir said. Mothers can enroll in the hospital after they have their baby by calling 352-681-1254 or call CONNECT at 352-415-0091 or 877-678-WELL. Enrollment can also be done online at www.wellflorida.org
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