At-Home Newborn Visit FAQs
How do I sign up?
We make it easy for you. If you’re having your baby at Frederick Health, the visit will be scheduled before you and your baby leave the hospital. The visit information will be on your discharge papers.
If you’re having your baby at any other hospital, birth center or at home, you can sign up here [link to sign up form] for a visit. No referral is required.
A Family Connects staff person will contact you within a week. You may also contact FamilyConnects@Frederick.Health or 240-566-4240 to schedule a visit.
Who can have a visit?
If you are welcoming a baby to your family and live in Frederick County, you can have an at-home newborn visit.
We seek to serve all parents, including foster, adoptive, same-sex, transgender, and caregivers who are not mothers. Undocumented families are also welcome to schedule a visit—our nurses do not check citizenship status.
As long as you live in Frederick County, you are eligible for a visit—even if your newborn was born in another county.
Is there any cost involved?
We offer the visit at no charge to you or your insurance company. Federal grant funds provided by Frederick County make this service possible.
When will the nurse visit my home?
The nurse will visit when the baby is about three weeks old at a time that works for you and your family.
If you have specific concerns like high blood pressure, feeding difficulties, incision healing, or postpartum depression or anxiety, we can arrange a 30-45 minute visit to address that specific situation. Call us at 240-566-4240 so that we can determine if a short visit is a good solution.
What if I’m not comfortable with someone coming to my home?
Your comfort and safety is very important to us. Frederick Health nurses follow the most updated health and safety protocols to keep you, your family, and your baby safe.
Nurses wear gloves and sanitize their hands and equipment before conducting health checks on the birth parent and baby.
If you are uncomfortable having someone inside your home, we can arrange a virtual visit or find a place to meet.
Please share your questions and concerns about the visit so that we can find a good solution. We know that new families are very busy. We don't expect your home to be perfect, and we don't expect you to entertain us. We come to help, not judge.
Will I get a reminder call or text?
You will receive a call from a Family Connects staff person the day before your scheduled visit to confirm the name of your nurse and the time of your visit. You will also receive a text from the nurse the morning of your visit. Call us at 240-566-4240 if you need to reschedule.
What happens during my visit?
A nurse wearing a Frederick Health badge will visit at the scheduled time. The nurse will bring the supplies and equipment needed to do the wellness checks on the birthing parent and baby and small welcome gifts for the family. The nurse will talk with the family about their strengths, support systems, concerns and questions in 12 areas that are important for family well-being. The nurse can provide personalized resources during the visit and the family will receive additional resources after the visit if they are needed.
Families who want help with basic needs, health insurance, child care, housing, food and depression will be connected local community resources.
Will I be judged on the cleanliness of my house?
We are judgment free and have realistic expectations of you as a caregiver with a newborn. You may have a messy house, may not have showered in days, and could be in pajamas that are covered in spit-up. We want to come see you anyway!
What happens after my visit?
With your consent, the nurse will share the visit report with you and your baby’s health care providers.
You may receive additional resources from a Frederick Health community worker.
You will receive a call about four weeks after the visit at home with the nurse to check in on how you’re doing and if the referrals and resources provided were helpful to you.
Can the at-home newborn visit substitute for my baby’s newborn visit with their doctor or my own six–week visit to my doctor?
This free visit is an opportunity for parent(s) and family members to ask questions and seek help and is not a replacement for important well-baby visits and postpartum visits.
The nurse will encourage you to schedule these visits and identify resources to help you keep the appointments.
Will my doctor know about this service and the visit?
We support the relationships you have with your doctor and your baby’s doctor, and, with your consent, we’ll share information about your visit for their records. Medical practitioners who care for families and newborns have been given information about Family Connects Frederick County. They know that their patients could be participating and support the program.
I don’t speak English. Will my nurse speak any language other than English, such as Spanish?
We will try to offer you a nurse who speaks your family’s native language. When that is not possible, the nurse will use interpreter services during the visit.
Why do I need a visit with a nurse if I have a doula?
Having a doula is a wonderful way to get support after the baby’s arrival. The visit with a nurse can offer wellness checks for you and baby. We can connect you and your family with a wide variety of community resources specifically identified to support families right after the baby’s arrival. Your doula is welcome to be present during the visit and we are happy to partner with your doula in your care.
I have more questions. Can I reach out to my nurse?
You may contact your nurse and schedule additional visits for up to 12 weeks after your initial visit.
We are here to answer your questions about newborn care and caring for yourself after the baby’s arrival. Call us at 240-566-4240 or email FamilyConnects@Frederick.Health
Can I use this service for my next child?
Yes! Families are encouraged to participate in Family Connects every time a newborn is brought into the home.
You can also give us a call at 240-566-4240 to schedule your visit or learn more about our services.