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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

4th trimester care, nothing new

How interesting! “New Guidelines Urge 4th Trimester Care” (May 3, 2018).

I was fascinated by this “new” revision in the treatment of mothers postpartum.

I spent almost 20 years as a Public Health Nurse. Guess what we did as PHNs? We visited homes of “new moms” shortly after their baby’s birth and would discuss how things were going, teach them about infant care and feeding. I am a Certified Lactation Counselor and so could help them with nursing their babies. We taught them about sexuality postpartum, sleep, recovery from birth, infant care, immunizations and health maintenance.

We visited them often during this time and if they had questions between visits they could call us for answers.

But … you know what happens to these types of programs? They are cut or eliminated entirely because of funding.

Even if doctors see their patients postpartum soon after birth, they are not going to be available at any time and they are never going to make a home visit to actually see the home environment and give specific suggestions or answer questions that those moms may need.

Yes, new moms need fourth trimester care, but doctors should not be the ones expected to provide it.

Nancy Chevigny-Dahlke

Spokane Valley

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