About Welcome Family
Motherhood is a joyful, exciting time, but it can be stressful too. Ask any new mom, and she will tell you that loving and caring for a newborn can be both wonderful and difficult.
Welcome Family is a free program offered to all moms with newborns. Welcome Family provides a one-time visit from an experienced nurse. The nurse will make sure you are feeling well, answer your questions and connect you to other resources you might need.
The Welcome Family nurse will visit within the first few weeks after the birth of your newborn. Most visits take place in your home, but if you are more comfortable meeting at a different location, that is okay too.
During your 90-minute visit, the nurse will answer your questions, provide a health check for you and your newborn, and provide information and advice about:
- Calming your newborn
- Bathing, changing and taking care of your newborn
- Eating well to keep you and your newborn healthy
- Breastfeeding
- Ensuring that your home is safe
The nurse will ask questions to make sure you are doing okay. These might include:
- Are you getting enough sleep?
- Do you have the support you need from family and friends?
- Are you eating well?
- Are you feeling upset or depressed?
Mom will also receive a free Welcome Family bag that includes a tote bag, rattle, book and other gifts for you and your baby.
The nurse or another person from the Welcome Family program will call you 2-3 weeks after your visit to check back in and make sure you have been able to connect with the resources and supports you need.
The Welcome Family visit, follow-up call and support are all provided at no cost to you.
While this program is for you and your newborn, other people who are helping you take care of the baby and providing you with support are welcome to attend.
Welcome Family visits are currently available to moms in Fall River, Boston, Lowell, Holyoke, and Springfield. We hope that they will soon be available in other communities in Massachusetts.