Do we HAVE to take our baby to be weighed at the HV?

starjumper

Morning all,

Just had a "follow up" visit from the HV this morning and I'm a bit miffed off, I was given to understand that I didn't have to take my baby (now aged 10 weeks) to be weighed, it wasn't compulsory and I could only turn up if I was worried.

No says the HV, you need to come every month and get him weighed.

Now I think that's just silly, monthly weigh-ins for me are for parents who fret about their baby. Mine is gaining weight just fine (I know this because he grows out of his clothes at a fair old pace and my arms ache when I hold him for too long). He's also developing just fine and is hitting his milestones either right on time or a bit early.

So, do I need to take him every month, or do we carry on as we are knowing that actually we're doing a good job and we don't need the validation of our (useless) HV.

I should add that baby is under the hospital (had low sodium when born but righted itself after 48 hours but they're keeping an eye on him for 12 months just to be extra sure) and sees a Dr for a full check up every three months and for my money we get a better going over and far more reassurance and validation from those appointments than we ever have done from our HV service.

(On first visit HV was asked to check baby for oral thrush, said he didn't have it, midwife came the next day, he yawned and she said he's got horrible oral thrush, get him to the GP, GP said he had oral thush and was on meds for a few weeks to clear it up, hence no faith at all in HV).

Apologies, this seems to have turned into a bit of a rant, but do I HAVE to take him to be weighed so often?

Thanks in advance!

kelloggs36

of course you don't! I only took mine a couple of times - it's your baby! Don't be bullied by the HV - they have a tendency to be stern and bossy IME, but just use your instinct.

hermanmunster_3

you can tell they are putting on weight when they outgrow their clothes.... which they do!

you deffo do not have to have the baby weighed

Alikay

If you aren't seen to be following the advice of healthcare professionals there's always a risk that you'll get flagged as a problem, maybe even going as far as baby going on the "at risk " register. Pretty OTT I know, but I personally wouldn't lock horns with the HV for the sake of few minutes at the clinic. If you've already had him weighed at the hospital within a couple of weeks I'm sure you'd be OK not seeing HV until the next month.

lauren_1

My kids got weighed all of about 4 times each, no you don't HAVE to get him weighed, he is your child not theirs.

skylight

No. You don't.

The scary bit about it all with kids is that actually there are no complusary checks at all. You can home educate them too, so technically the dodgy parents can have kids and the kids never see someone in they system once they are born.

I am NOT suggesting you are a dodgy parent!!!!

I have not taken my last 3 to see the HV. I don't feel the need for it (I allowed them to come to me for the first few weeks standard checks and the hearing ones). However the first 2 I did as a new parent and needed reasurance on weight etc. Mainly because on the 3rd the new HV really pee'd me off with her rudness on her first visit and I wouldn't allow her back again.

I know my kids and if they need a doctors they are taken and so on.

But no. There is no legal requirement to take your kids to any HV. Nor a moral requirement either!

Sublime_2

HV can make you feel like you must do as you're told, or stand on the naughty step. :rotfl:

If you have no major concerns, I think every couple of months would be fine.

DueMarch11

I highly doubt anyone has been put on the at risk register because their parent hasnt taken them to be weighed, thats absolutely ridiculous. I work in CYPS and have never heard this...

CL

My HV said I could attend the clinic for weigh-ins if I wanted, but it was entirely up to me. She said if I was happy that my baby was feeding well then I didn't need to bother.

peachyprice

Alikay wrote: »

If you aren't seen to be following the advice of healthcare professionals there's always a risk that you'll get flagged as a problem, maybe even going as far as baby going on the "at risk " register. Pretty OTT I know, but I personally wouldn't lock horns with the HV for the sake of few minutes at the clinic. If you've already had him weighed at the hospital within a couple of weeks I'm sure you'd be OK not seeing HV until the next month.

Sorry, this is complete rubbish. You WILL NOT be put on an 'at risk' register for not visiting the HV.

OP, if you're happy with your baby's development you do not have to take him to the clinic, no-one is going to report you for not going. If that were the case everyone with 2 or more children would be on the 'at risk' register because after the first 99% of mothers know babies well enough to know if there is a problem and don't bother with weighing at all.

You will get appointments for milestone checks, go to these, and only go to the clinic if YOU feel it's necessary.

cat04

Will DD1 I went religiously, but I was a SATH, and it was like a mini social meeting for me Both the HVs were lovely ladies and not once was I patronised or made to feel like I was doing a bad job, and also I liked to see how much weight she'd put on, what percentile she was on etc as she did lose some weight in the very beginning, and just to check I was actually doing a good job lol. With DD2, I had less time, and it also coincided with a mums and toddler group I helped to run so after the first few months I went less. Split up with ex when she was 6 months old, moved in with my parents and she saw the HV once for a jab in the next 6 months. After we moved back to the area she went once, maybe twice and hasn't seen a HV since we moved here almost a year ago. As far as I know there are no black marks against my name in the HV's note book :rotfl:

So in short, no, you don't have to go unless you want to of course