SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                           ---------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of report (date of earliest event reported): October 23, 2003


                             MATRIA HEALTHCARE, INC.



       Delaware                 0-20619                   58-2205984
(State of Incorporation)    SEC File Number    (IRS Employer Identification No.)




                               1850 Parkway Place
                               Marietta, GA 30067
          (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

        Registrant's telephone number, including zip code (770) 767-4500

                                 Not applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

         (c) Exhibits.

         99.1     Press Release dated October 23, 2003, with respect to Matria's
                  financial results for the third quarter ended September 30,
                  2003.

Item 12. Results of Operations And Financial Condition

         This information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific
reference in such filing.

         On October 23, 2003, Matria Healthcare, Inc. ("Matria") issued a press
release (the "Press Release") announcing its 2003 consolidated financial results
for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003. The Press Release did not
include certain financial statements, related footnotes and certain other
financial information that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as part of Matria's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. A copy of the
Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

         In addition to discussing Matria's consolidated financial results as
determined by generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Press
Release discloses earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
("EBITDA"), a non-GAAP financial measure. Matria's management considers EBITDA
an important indicator of the operational strength and performance of its
business. Management also believes that EBITDA provides useful information to
investors, lenders, financial analysts and rating agencies, who have
historically used EBITDA measures, along with other measures, to estimate the
value of a company, to make informed investment decisions and evaluate
performance. EBITDA facilitates comparisons of our results of operations with
those of companies having different capital structures.

         In addition, this Press Release discloses a non-GAAP financial measure
referred to as "Adjusted EBITDA", which removes from EBITDA the effects of
certain special items. Such special items, which are detailed in the Press
Release, occur occasionally in the Company's business, but will vary in size and
frequency. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with
useful information because the items that are excluded relate to events that
resulted in a significant impact during the periods indicated and occur in
varied amounts and with unpredictable frequency. Matria's debt obligations
include certain financial covenants that include EBITDA and adjustments to
EBITDA for special items.

         Additionally, this Press Release discloses diluted earnings per common
share excluding special items. This non-GAAP financial measure is presented to
remove the effect of certain special items for the same reasons as reflected in
Adjusted EBITDA.

         The Press Release contains a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA to net earnings, the most comparable GAAP measure, and diluted earnings
per common share excluding special items to diluted earnings per common share.






                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                        MATRIA HEALTHCARE, INC.



                                        By:  /s/ Parker H. Petit
                                            -------------------
                                            Parker H. Petit
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Date:  October 23, 2003








                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number         Description of Exhibits
------        ------------------------


99.1          Press Release, dated October 23, 2003, with respect to Matria's
              financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003.