Since launching last fall, Healthy Beginnings has enrolled more than 20 new or soon-to-be-new mothers.
Hartford HealthCare’s Healthy Beginnings program, part of Windham Hospital’s Women’s Health Center, brings information and support directly to new moms, and includes home visits and connecting the women to resources that they might not even know about.
The goal of the program is to help establish healthy behaviors and community connections while fostering a feeling of connectedness during the postpartum period that can be lonely for a new mom.
“Our No. 1 goal is to empower women, educate them, and get them the services they need,” said Community Health nurse Michele Brezniak. “The community connections we help them create last a lifetime. It takes a village like they say, and we’re here to be your village.”
The program is open to any mom who receives care at the Windham Women’s Health Center, no matter where they give birth.
After delivery, new moms are contacted to set up a visitation time. A community health worker along with a community health nurse visits mom and baby in their home or location of their choice. During the visit, the community health worker and nurse partner with the new mom to identify needs she may have and help her to obtain services. Then a follow-up visit is scheduled for six weeks later to check in on progress and identify any barriers.
Services include:
- Healthy eating before and after birth.
- The importance of sleep.
- Postpartum depression.
- Breastfeeding.
- Poison prevention.
- Water safety.
- Finances.
- Health insurance.
- Housing.
- Heating assistance.
- Food assistance.
- Diaper assistance.
For more information, contact the Women’s Health Center at 860.456.6796.