Newborn Home Visit | Video

Michelle San Miguel | 10/25/2012

Babies don`t come with a guidebook. But they can come with a home visit from a nurse. Days after moms leave the hospital with their newborns, questions naturally come up. Several public health units in North Dakota offer the service for free.

This is Allison Sadowsky`s second child, but her first son. She`s making use of the Bambee Program, which stands for Baby and Mother Beyond Birth Education. It`s a chance for moms to ask nurses questions once they`ve left the hospital.

"I signed up for it knowing that even if I just had a call and said everything`s okay, I don`t need you to come, having that available is always just a nice reassurance to me," she said.

Two week old Kane is right on track with his growth. Nurses say shortly after babies are born they should be gaining about half an ounce to an ounce per day.

Sadowsky`s working to get Kane on a more routine sleep schedule. Right now he has his days and nights mixed up.

"I think some of the things that come into play is nighttime now is quiet. It`s dark like it was in utero but in utero is very noisy and now it`s quiet," said Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health nurse Connie Schwartz.

Schwartz says it`s important to keep the baby`s crib free of any items. She advises no bump pads and says there`s no evidence that suggest they prevent injury. Sadowsky was worried about Kane falling asleep on his side, but Schwartz says that`s natural.

"Sleeping on their back has decreased the rate of sudden infant death. More than 50 percent of babies from being all crunched up in here quit often have a preference to one side."

Keeping these babies safe and moms informed is what these home visits are all about.

Check with your local public health unit to see if it offers this program.

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