A New Orleans programme offering free home visits to new mothers is providing crucial support during the postpartum period. Family Connects New Orleans (FCNO) provides up to three in-home nurse visits to parents of newborns up to 12 weeks old, regardless of insurance or income.
Amber Leduff, 30, gave birth to her daughter Autumn at Touro hospital three months ago. After her doctor encouraged her to enrol, she scheduled a visit four weeks after delivery. The nurse checked the baby's weight and addressed the family's specific needs, offering reassurance as first-time parents.
FCNO is part of a national programme that began in Durham, North Carolina, in 2008. The New Orleans iteration launched in August 2023 and is available to anyone who gives birth at Ochsner Baptist or Touro hospital and is an Orleans Parish resident. The visits fill a critical gap between hospital discharge and the first postnatal appointment.
Jennifer Avegno, deputy mayor of health and human services, noted that the postpartum period is often a 'cliff' for many women, when resources are lowest. The programme provides clinical evaluations for mother and baby, screens for postpartum depression, offers breastfeeding support, and connects families with community resources.
Leduff's nurse also informed her about additional city services, which she passed on to relatives. 'Every question I had, she took with ease and answered thoroughly,' Leduff said. FCNO now also offers monthly maternal support groups.
