Hospital’s ‘Warm Line’ Offers Postpartum Support for New Moms
Care that mothers receive after a baby is born is just as crucial as prenatal care. New motherhood is physically and emotionally taxing, and all new parents need “a baseline of support — sleep, healthy food, time to yourself,” advises the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Postpartum support from family, friends and health care professionals is particularly important during the first 12 weeks after birth, though the whole first year is a high-risk time for new moms.
To help support moms and dads with newborns, Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, R.I., part of Care New England, established The Warm Line. It’s a toll-free telephone support system staffed by professional nurses. Parents can call, ask questions and get helpful information on everything from breastfeeding to managing postpartum issues.
The Women & Infants Hospital website provides additional support to new moms, including comprehensive information on breastfeeding: how and how long to breastfeed, how to know if a baby is eating enough, what foods to eat and what foods to avoid while breastfeeding, and links to lactation consultants and breastfeeding support services. If a new mother prefers not to breastfeed, the hospital website offers guidelines on bottle-feeding and safely preparing formula.