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Mumsnet Discussions: Parenting : Shock horror! A nice health visitor with sensible advice! (26 messages)
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Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By TattooedGrrrl on Tue 06-May-08 13:54:51
They DO exist! smile

DS2 had his developmental check (6mths) today, and HV asked about weaning. i started trying to explain BLW, thinking she'd think i was a martian, but she knew what i meant, and thought it was great. Didn't tell me off for him sleeping with us, and when i said he tended to vomit up food so i wasn't bothering to give much at all, she just said he probably wasn't ready yet and not to worry because there's plenty of time.

And she said i'd made her day as i was still breastfeeding, because she rarely meets anyone who is at this stage, so i'm a star apparently.

So, good HVs do exist ladies!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By charchargabor on Tue 06-May-08 15:08:24
That's excellent! My HV was like that as well, v supportive of bfing, told me she wasn't allowed to recommend cosleeping but was fine with it, happy for us to do BLW. It's motivating to have someone praise you for what you are doing isn't it?
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By KarenThirl on Tue 06-May-08 15:50:13
I had one too! Cripes - that's THREE!!
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Minkus on Tue 06-May-08 17:28:16
Me as well- eek! four of the buggers- do you think its the same one grin
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By Califrau on Tue 06-May-08 17:31:18
REPORT HER. she is letting the side down shock

wink


I had a lovely one too. Alas she was not in my HA and I had to sneak over the border to see her.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By PussinWellies on Tue 06-May-08 18:23:10
I liked the one who just laughed when DS1 proudly presented her with a dead mouse the cat had brought in...
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By chickenmama on Tue 06-May-08 18:58:28
what does BLW stand for?
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By BabiesEverywhere on Tue 06-May-08 19:00:25
BLW Baby Led Weaning
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By chickenmama on Tue 06-May-08 19:05:23
ah thanks for that grin knew it'd be something I was doing but couldn't work out what it stood for... it's been a long day grin
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By sophiewd on Tue 06-May-08 19:06:21
I had a lovely one, alas she has moved on now but still lives in the village, God knows what my next one will be like, will find out next month.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By greenbeanie on Thu 08-May-08 15:04:16
Hi all, so pleased to read this. i am a health visitor and mum to 2 ds (2.5 and 6yrs). It is so lovely to read something postive. I must say it really makes my day when I see a mum who is still breastfeeding, hasn't started weaning at 12 weeks and is doing BLW. Well done!! grin
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Chaotica on Thu 08-May-08 15:25:56
Mine's nice too (and has some useful advice)
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Morloth on Thu 08-May-08 15:49:32
Sorry I know I asked this in another thread...

We are not locals (am from Australia) and are considering having our next baby here.

Do you HAVE to sign up for a HV if you have a baby in the UK? I am not that interested and would prefer to be left to my own devices!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Lazycow on Thu 08-May-08 16:03:46
Morloth

A HV come to see you whether you like it or not I'm afraid. Usually they come a week to 10 days after the birth/you get home. they check the babies weight and check everything is alright with you. I also had a visit form the local midwife to check stiches etc.

If everything is going fine you will probably only get 1 visit or maybe 2.

After that it is up to you if you want to take you baby to the clinic for weighing and general advice.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Morloth on Thu 08-May-08 16:23:08
Thanks Lazycow. I think I will hold off on this baby business until we go home, the reasons just keep stacking up!

(Not that there is anything wrong with the way things are done here, it is just different!)

I like to be left alone as much as possible for everything including pregnancy, birth, babies, kids etc. Obviously if something is wrong we go to the docs or whatever but otherwise I just like to be independant and would find being FORCED to see someone or have them handle my baby quite icky.

I know I am weird but there you go, different strokes etc...
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By TotalChaos on Thu 08-May-08 16:24:27
I had a very nice one come out a few months ago and do a 3 year check on DS. Naturally this was a one-off visit, as she's covering for a lady who has been off sick. typical.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By cmotdibbler on Thu 08-May-08 16:26:20
Actually, i don't think you do have to have an HV- theres a bit you sign on the GP registration form for 'child health surveillance' that opts you in or not. No one can force you to let you handle the baby without a court order either, and you don't have to let them in if they do turn up.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By greenbeanie on Thu 08-May-08 19:28:31
Morloth, you don't have to have a HV, the service is offered to everyone but is not compulsory. We usually send out a letter to those who decline saying that our service is always available if you change your mind and that's it.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By bundle on Thu 08-May-08 19:32:16
i had one of those here in London...then she told me she was moving to leeds sad
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By cosima on Thu 08-May-08 19:39:40
she might be a fraud like that lady doctor on neighbours who was carrying on with the fruad psychic
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By stitch on Thu 08-May-08 19:42:07
to the op.
what you have described isnt necessarily a good hv. but one who agrees with everything you do. they are not necessarily the same thing.
fwiw, i have three children, and everyone of my hv's was wonderful.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Poohbah on Thu 08-May-08 19:50:13
My Health Visitor Veronica Bankole from Westminster PCT was fantastic!
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Lazycow on Fri 09-May-08 10:09:03
That is interesting cmdibbler. I never knew that. I din't find it too annoying and I had always assumed that the visit was more about checking the baby was OK etc than . If I had a lot of children though I can understand that it might be really annoying.

Looks like one of your reasons for not coming has dropped off the list Morloth [gtin]
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By jingleyjen on Fri 09-May-08 10:15:14
we have a great HV
she gets the measure of the mum very quickly and those who need hand holding through everything get alot and those who need a quick word from time to time get that.
she encourages breastfeeding if it is what you want to do but doesn't judge those who don't.
same with weaning. she supports your decisions whilst guiding about health issues.
Contact the poster See this person's profile Contact mumsnet about this post By StealthPolarBear on Fri 09-May-08 10:23:06
I have a very good HV - apart from a bit of hmm advice about bf in the early days she has been very supportive since. Also encouraged me to wait until 6 months to wean when DS was losing weight ata bout 17 weeks. Her take on it was - we know why it's happened (D&V bug) - keep an eye on it but don't worry.
Contact the poster Contact mumsnet about this post By Morloth on Fri 09-May-08 11:25:11
haha Lazycow - I regularly talk myself into and out of having another baby and the whens and wheres and whys.

My poor DH doesn't know if he is coming or going (no pun intended) ;)


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