Prenatal/Postnatal Home Visitation Programs

Programs staffed by nurses or other trained professionals or volunteers that visit the homes of eligible mothers during pregnancy and early infancy to help the women improve their personal health and development during the prenatal period and learn to care for the child following birth. The visits encourage the mothers to maintain good nutrition; and provide information regarding danger signs in pregnancy, preparation for labor and delivery, breastfeeding and other feeding options, baby supplies, basic infant care, newborn behaviors and child development. They help to ensure that infants and toddlers are nurtured, live in a safe environment in and around the home and receive proper health care. Included are programs that focus on low income individuals, pregnant teens, first-time mothers, women with high risk pregnancies or other special populations as well as those that are more broadly available.