Dr. Jillian Doyle:

Many women, even those who have had a good pregnancy or delivery, encounter difficulties in those earlier days after going home from hospital. The woman is not given a manual. She has to try to figure out how to manage this new person. It is incredibly stressful. The public health nurse coming in is a point of contact and support. Even if the public health nurse only visits once or twice, that can support the mental health of the woman, especially for many women who are quite isolated. We spoke about Covid, which has been so isolating. There are many women who do not have family here and the public health nurse is a key person for linking them in with community supports.

They also support women with breast-feeding. For many women, breast-feeding is a difficult journey. The rate of breast-feeding drops off a cliff after women leave hospital and that is due to a lack of lactation support. The public health nurse can provide that support, at least initially, to women. That contact, support and linking in with other community supports is vital, particularly for women who are isolated. It could be as simple as the nurse asking them why not contact their mental health service. Some women might have gone through their pregnancy without realising there is a perinatal mental health service. It could be the public health nurse who links them back in to that service. It is important.