Nurses for Newborns works with families of medically fragile infants and with caregivers who have medical, mental health, or substance abuse concerns.
*Kristine, pregnant with her daughter, *Mia, had experienced sexual and physical abuse as a child and was facing the impact of depression and mental health issues as an adult. Nurses for Newborns (NFN) received a referral to work with Kristine, after she had experienced preeclampsia and was admitted to the hospital for having suicidal thoughts.
NFN's nurse, Gabrielle, began making regular visits and assessing what the family's needs were. Gabrielle connected Kristine to the NFN staff counselor to provide her with an additional layer of support because she was dealing with a lot of emotional and mental health issues. In addition to being sexually abused as a child, she had a baby that had been placed for adoption when she was a teen. Her father also passed away while she was working with NFN and the staff counselor helped her deal with that grief and loss as well. Kristine's multiple traumatic experiences made therapy extremely important in relieving some of the pain of her past and helping her to feel supported.
NFN continued to provide services to Kristine through her third pregnancy and birth of her second daughter, *Audrey. During Kristine's third pregnancy, the NFN nurse was able to monitor her for preeclampsia, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Gabrielle's support helped relieve some of Kristine's previous anxieties and worries. She was able to deliver at full-term without suffering from preeclampsia like she had during her previous pregnancy. Gabrielle was also able to help support Kristine thru breastfeeding education with both infants and assisted in weaning Mia. NFN conducted developmental assessments with both babies, making sure they were meeting all their milestones. Both girls are very healthy and developing well!
Stories like Kristine's are important in showcasing the importance of the health of the mother and family, as well as the infant. NFN works to prevent any unhealthy environmental factors and make sure the caregiver's mental health is taken care of just as much as their physical health. After working with NFN, Kristine's mental health improved significantly and she was better equipped to take care of her amazing daughters.
*names changed to protect identity