Last week, USA Today reporter Liz Szabo wrote a story about how home visits by nurses have a positive impact on new mothers, especially those that are at risk for postpartum depression, like teenage, low-income or single mothers.

“Although nurses help women address their immediate needs — helping them find food, housing and medical care — studies show that participating mothers actually spend less time on welfare and food stamps. They’re more likely to work and less likely to get pregnant again right away. Their children have fewer injuries, are less likely to be abused and are better prepared to start school. Fifteen years later, their children have fewer sexual partners and are less likely to run away or be arrested, studies show.

Studies also show that home visiting saves up to $5.70 for every dollar invested. That has earned it broad support.”

They also help lessen the severity of symptoms of postpartum depression.

As Szabo reported, a program called the Nurse-Family Partnership has nurses visiting pregnant and new moms in their homes twice a month for the first two years postpartum. The program exists in 31 states, funded in part by public money.

Per its website, the “Nurse-Family Partnership is a free voluntary program that partners first-time moms with nurse home visitors. When you enroll in the program, a specially trained nurse will visit you throughout your pregnancy and until your baby turns two years old. To participate, you must be pregnant with your first child, meet certain income requirements and live within an area serviced by this program.” To find out the locations, click here.

This kind of direct, one-on-one attention can go a long way in helping new mothers adjust and even helping prevent an increase in the severity of symptoms of postpartum depression. Last year, I shared a study published in the British Medical Journal that found phone calls from volunteer mothers who overcame postpartum depression prevented symptoms in at-risk mothers.

“‘Mothers who received this support were at half the risk of depressive symptoms 12 weeks after delivery,’ says study leader Cindy-Lee Dennis, PhD …

After an extensive review of existing research, Dennis saw that efforts to prevent postpartum depression were most effective if begun soon after a woman gives birth — and if they were home based.”

I’d like to see OBs identifying ALL pregnant mothers who are at risk for developing a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, and I’d like to see more states and advocacy organizations working together to bring either visiting nurse programs or structured peer support programs to every mother who needs help.