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Steuben Public Health offers newborn home visits

The Spectator - 3/1/2019

March 01-- Mar. 1--BATH -- Expecting parents have all kinds of questions as they look forward to the birth of their baby, and new sets of questions during the weeks following the child's birth. Sometimes they're not sure what other questions to ask.

That's where Steuben County Public Health nurses Jo-Anne Taylor and Krystal "Kat" Potter come in, as a part of the county department's free home visits for Steuben's prenatal and new parents.

The relaxed visits are planned at the family's convenience and for every birth.

"It's not just for the first baby. Or for young moms. Information about child care keeps evolving," Taylor said. "We go anywhere in the county. Anywhere. At their homes, in the library, we've met at Wegman's. We'll go anywhere that's best for them."

Public Health receives pre- and post-natal referrals from local hospitals, health care providers and individuals. Once the referral is made, one of the nurses contacts the family to set up convenient visits.

Fathers also are included in the visits, too, Taylor said.

Both Taylor and Potter are Certified Lactation Counselors and well-prepared to help mothers with any question about breastfeeding.

The women also answer questions on other topics and provide mothers with a wide range of materials, including maternal health, immunization, car seats, safe sleep, "baby proofing," after-delivery care for both mother and baby, and the stages of child growth.

"We see ourselves as their advocate," Potter said. "That's our most important role. We're there for them. No topic is off-limits if they want to ask about it. We tie everything together."

For more information, or to make a referral, call 607-643-5078 or 607-329-6823.

Steuben Public Health also offers other resources for families, including the drop-in Bath Baby Café, which meets free of charge from 9-10:30 a.m. every Friday at the Dormann Library in Bath. For information on the Bath Baby Café, call (607) 664-2438.

The department also supports the United Way's Kids On Track program, including "Dolly Parton'sImagination Library," which provides children in Steuben from birth to 5, with a new book each month. For more information, go to https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/NYSTEUBEN/

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