Postpartum Care Innovation by The Newborn Nurse
Rachel Ramsey, RN, BSN shares her background as a nurse, highlighting her 20 years of experience in caring for mothers and newborns. She described her frustration with the current hospital discharge process, which often leaves new mothers feeling unprepared and overwhelmed. This experience motivated her to start her own postpartum doula company in 2016, which now employs 25 neonatal RNs and provides in-home care to new mothers.
Postpartum Nursing Services in Nashville
Rachel discussed her postpartum nursing business, highlighting the importance of support for new parents, especially in a city like Nashville where many clients are transplants without family nearby. She explained that her team of experienced neonatal nurses provides primarily night nursing care, with clients typically staying for 2-3 months, and emphasized that clients should book early in their pregnancy.
Overnight Baby Care Service
Rachel describes her baby care service, which provides overnight care to help parents, especially mothers, get rest. She explains that they handle feeding, laundry, and sleep training, with a typical contract of 2-3 nights per week for 8-10 weeks. The most common questions from parents involve breastfeeding and newborn sleep, and Rachel provides basic lactation support while referring to a lactation nurse for major issues.
Expert Guidance for New Mothers
Rachel and Aimee discussed the importance of having expert guidance for new mothers, particularly in areas like lactation and postpartum care. They highlighted how social media can both help and harm, providing valuable resources but also spreading misinformation and causing unnecessary anxiety. Rachel emphasized the need to rely on expert resources rather than random online advice and shared her experience of teaching newborn classes, where she often corrects misinformation shared by parents on social media. They also touched on outdated practices, such as unsafe sleeping positions, and the challenge of educating grandparents about modern, safe methods of caring for newborns.
Maternal Health Resources Overview
Rachel discussed the various referral resources, including lactation support, car seat installation, pelvic floor health, newborn sleep advice, and referrals to specialists such as doulas, pediatricians, and postpartum mental health counselors. She also highlighted her podcast, which features interviews with experts in maternal and child health, and mentioned that she started it to provide reliable information to parents seeking guidance. Aimee appreciated the comprehensive approach and noted the growing women's health community in Nashville.
In-Home Nursing and Online Courses
Rachel discussed her in-home nursing care services, including night nursing, daytime care, and a newborn education class. She explained how she adapted her newborn care class into an online course after receiving requests during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel also mentioned offering newborn consults for parents with specific concerns and providing business consults to help other nurses start their nursing businesses.
Postpartum Support: An Investment
Rachel and Aimee discussed the importance of postpartum support for new mothers, emphasizing that many mothers need more help than they anticipate. Rachel shared that she often sees new mothers struggling with guilt, both for seeking help and for not meeting societal expectations. She advised viewing postpartum support as an investment in one's well-being, rather than an expense, and suggested that families consider gifting postpartum care as a baby shower present. Aimee agreed, highlighting the critical nature of prenatal and postpartum support, and suggested that new parents prioritize this investment over less necessary baby items.
website: www.thenewbornnurse.com
Instagram: @thenewbornnurse
Podcast: Thew Newborn Nurse Podcast
