Home Visit Assignment- Postpartum Mother

Home Visit Assignment- Postpartum Mother
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Home Visit Assignment- Postpartum Mother
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021), slightly less than 4 million babies are born each year. The postpartum period starts after delivery and ends when the mother's body resumes its pre-pregnant state. The period is often between 6 and 8 weeks. During this time, the mother undergoes numerous changes, both emotionally and physically. The mother learns how to handle the changes that accompany being a new mum. At the same time, the partner and other close family members learn how to care for the newborn and operate as a changed family unit. The birth of a child can trigger powerful emotions, from anxiety to fear. While postpartum can be exciting, it can bring many complications, as the mother tries to adjust to the numerous changes (Murphey et al., 2017). Most new mothers experience difficulty sleeping, mood swings, and crying spells within the first two or three days after giving birth. However, some mums have a more severe and long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression.
Because of the risks that postpartum presents to new mothers, it is crucial for nurses to care for them through home visits. Home visit programs offer structured visits by healthcare professionals to high-risk expectant mothers or those with young children. Through home visits, families access health checkups, parental guidance, and screenings, among other healthcare services. Nurses and other paraprofessionals can monitor the children's developmental milestones while offering a supportive environment to families. During and after pregnancy, home visits are critical in enhancing maternal health (Ichikawa, Fujiwara & Nakay, 2015). They assist mothers in improving dietary requirements, minimizing stress levels, and dealing with drug abuse among other issues.
In recognizing the essence of home visits, this paper demonstrates the process of undertaking nurse visits using virtual means. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the interactions that nurses can have with new mothers in the home setting. In this paper, a postpartum mother and baby for home visit experience were chosen. The nurse was doing a visit for a cousin's friend who lives nearby. The mother had her second child, who is a girl, on May 15, 2021. Her husband is Canadian, and she is American, and they live separately for now. However, the mother has her family as the support system. The nurse conducted a total of three home visits.
Home Visit One
Because of the current social distancing restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the home visit was virtual. The home visit was conducted on Mary (not her real name) is a 28year old mother of two children who live in Minnesota. The nurse introduced herself to Mary and shared her professional experience. The plan for the visit was established as offering professional health support to Mary and the two children. The nurse requested verbal permission to continue with the intended visit, which was granted. Mary agreed to participate in the visit and provide any relevant information to the nurse. An authorization form was presented, which Mary signed. The nurse emphasize...