Health Visitor

Lozzy88

dibuzz wrote: »

I'm still waiting for my son's 6 month check up, not holding my breath though, he's 21 now!

:T:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::T that made me really laugh out loud!

Make-it-3

Load of old busybodies - mine came to poke her nose in at 1 month and said I was stuck with her till LO was five. No chance luv, when I take LO to the clinic for weighing I always refuse a chat with the HV. If I need any advise on anything better to consult some real mums on the parent board here. The rubbish I've heard some mums told by HV's beggars belief.

jackyann

Recently-retired HV here.
Here is the link to the DoH's healthy child programme: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_107566
Each area interprets it differently, but to find out exactly, contact your own HV. Some areas do a 4 month visit to talk about weaning and mum's own health.
I'd say use your HV: always ask on what she bases her advice (is it research, current best practice, or experience) so you have something to help you decide how much notice to take.
Worth pointing out that she is a trained and experienced nurse with specific post-graduate practitioner training, and works usually in a team with experience nursery nurses. On some things, asking other mums is fine, on others, they are not going to have her's or her teams's expertise. You decide what seems best.

zebusi

thanks,

Pigpen - i take LO to be weighed approx every 5-6 weeks (the nearest clinic to me only runs twice a month so depends when i remember!!) but no issues there, he's a proper little chunk and a hapy smiley baby

just got me a bit puzzled as she never mentioned weaning just about development checks for walking/talking etc so they could pick up on problems quickly......er he won't be doing either for a while and i'm sure i'll be on to them if i think he's not developing when he should but he can sit up, has been laughing and making loads of different sounds for a while and "talks" quite a bit and is almost rolling over so i have no worries

guess i'm just a bit defensive from all the negative stories i hear re HV's and i'm very much the sort of person if i need help i'll go find it but otherwise don't bother me lol

zebusi

jackyann wrote: »

Recently-retired HV here.
Here is the link to the DoH's healthy child programme: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_107566
Each area interprets it differently, but to find out exactly, contact your own HV. Some areas do a 4 month visit to talk about weaning and mum's own health.
I'd say use your HV: always ask on what she bases her advice (is it research, current best practice, or experience) so you have something to help you decide how much notice to take.
Worth pointing out that she is a trained and experienced nurse with specific post-graduate practitioner training, and works usually in a team with experience nursery nurses. On some things, asking other mums is fine, on others, they are not going to have her's or her teams's expertise. You decide what seems best.

thanks will have a look

peachyprice

pigpen wrote: »

If you are lucky.. never!!!!!

Too true! :rotfl:

Nicki

The HV we had with our second child spotted that she had learning difficulties and autism long before we were aware she had any problems. We thought she was meeting her milestones properly and on time, but the experienced HV noticed that something was odd and as a result she was diagnosed very early and got lots of help sooner than she otherwise would.

The HV we have at the moment is a waste of space, and has never done a home visit, even immediately after the birth. She also refused to weigh my newborn twice a week, as requested by the paediatricians on his discharge from hospital at 4 weeks old when he was failing to thrive and they were waiting a test for cystic fibrosis, so we had to take him to and from the hospital for several weeks instead AND she put in a grievance against the hospital because they had asked her to do it, when she was "too busy". I was prepared to travel to whichever clinic she was running to have him weighed so not asking for home visits or for her to particularly put herself out. "too busy weighing children who don't need it" was the consultants scathing remark to her

In fact the only contact this HV has initiated with us was to phone at half term demanding to see me and baby (we were away on holiday) and then to report me to social services 3 days later for refusing to produce my child (I hadn't even heard the message at that point which was left on my landline). The reason she had to see us was because we had called the police a few weeks previously when some teenagers threw a brick through our living room window. Apparently any victim complaint where there is a child under 5 in the family generates a compulsory order to produce your child. When I did go, with my child, to see her in response to this summons, I asked while I was there whether we could schedule a developmental review for him, as one was due and his sister has learning difficulties so he is at higher risk of also having them statistically. Guess what, she was "too busy" to do these any more!

Kimberley82

All my HV have been so lovely, really helpful and full of good advice. they are not trying to trip you up or anything they are there to help.

LondonDiva

Bear in mind that there is a significant shortage of HVs across the country - especially if you're in a city.

Kate1

I found after very initial newborn visit at home I didn't see a health vistor until my little one was around 7 months when I got a letter to go for a check at the clinic. Haven't seen them since and he's just turned two. I did use to go every two weeks to get him weighed as a baby for my peace of mind and did have an opportunity to ask any questions then to who ever was doing the weighing but was never my health visitor.