Community Connections – Healthy Futures
The right connection at the right time is often the key to critical treatment. For Mariana, a home visit from a nurse following the birth of her daughter was the key to getting her the life-saving care she didn’t know she needed.
Mariana’s Story
Mariana and her daughter were in good health post-delivery. Before being discharged from the hospital, her providers shared a list of concerning symptoms to watch out for once she was home and urged her to call her doctor immediately if she started to experience them.
Mariana wasn’t concerned. “The truth was, I felt great,” she says. “I had no symptoms and was just happy to be going home with my newborn.”
A few days later, Mariana was having trouble with latching and pain during breastfeeding. She turned to Healthy Futures—a free program for new parents in collaboration with Munson Healthcare, Health Departments in Northern Michigan, and other healthcare systems and providers across Northern Michigan. Healthy Futures offers a variety of resources for parents of newborns and small children, including home visits from a nurse to help answer questions and provide support for feeding, sleep, and other common concerns following birth.
After being connected with a nurse for in-home breastfeeding support, Mariana quickly felt relief from the pain and discomfort she’d been feeling.
The nurse completed her visit with a standard blood pressure check, which revealed something surprising. Even though Mariana felt great, her blood pressure was dangerously high.
A call to Mariana’s doctor encouraged her to immediately go to the Emergency Department, where she was quickly admitted and diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia. While rare, postpartum preeclampsia is a serious condition that can begin within the first 48 hours of giving birth (and develop even weeks later). High blood pressure, headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, and changes in vision are some of the symptoms of what can be a life-threatening condition for new moms. Though Mariana’s Healthy Futures nurse made the call quickly based on her blood pressure, Mariana would’ve become very sick within just hours. Instead, her nurse’s quick thinking ensured she received immediate emergency care.
Today, Mariana is grateful to be alive and able to enjoy her children and family, thanks to Healthy Futures.
“I tell every mom-to-be, let Healthy Futures into your home,” she says. “They can literally save your life. And not just that, they helped me breastfeed, taught me how to boost my milk supply, monitored my baby’s weight, checked in on my mental health, and were just there when I needed someone the most. That kind of care is priceless—and for me, it was lifesaving.”
Home visits are just one of many supports offered by Healthy Futures. Learn more at healthyfuturesonline.org and sign up for this free program that benefits hundreds of Northern Michigan parents each year (no income requirements).