Dumbish question for S Aus/Aus mums

[Ozziegirly]

So, I was wondering - do we have health visitors over here?

My friend in the UK was saying how she had had one round before her baby was even born, and I realised that I haven't spoken to anyone about this pregnancy apart from my Obs.

So, do we get a HV visit or similar in the first few weeks that we're at home?

Is there anything else we're supposed to do when they are first home in terms of registering them for local stuff? I know I have to register their birth somehow but that's about it.

[tortoiseonthehalfshell]

I should just give you my email address, shouldn't I?



Yes, you do, but only after the birth usually. It's CYH (Child & Youth Health) who do it, I think they're just called nurses. Or midwives. Not Health Visitors though.

They gave me the form to fill out as part of the hospital admission forms (I think at the antenatal visit the week before I delivered - that antenatal was done at the hospital itself). It's not compulsory, and I turned it down, but they won't tell you that (and it sounds like you want the visit, so forget I said it, but it's worth knowing) with your details so they can come visit.

The first visit is within the first two weeks, I'm not sure when because I didn't have one. My friend did though, and it was a very long visit (I was visiting) about feeding and weighing and coping, and also the nurse gave her a lot of information about the local antenatal group. So at that visit, I think you'll be told about registering for any antenatal groups, etc., that you need. The antenatal groups run by CYH are quite structured; include 'lessons' on feeding/changing/settling etc., they're not just coffee mornings.

If you want less structured antenatal groups, look at the Australian Breastfeeding Association, they have meetings all over the place and specifically say that FF's are welcome too if that's what you end up doing. Never been to one myself but have friends that like that sort of thing.

CYH run clinics all over the place and you can go there and talk to someone either by appointment or they have drop-in hours. This is their webpage The one near us says it's for children up to 5, I think.

Oh, part of the reason I didn't agree to a visit was because my hospital also sent out their own affiliated midwives/lactation consultants in the first week, and I was more comfortable with them for a number of reasons, including that they are way less bureaucratic. She came out on day 3, then came back a week later to check that I'd stopped crying (baby blues), and she was lovely and low key.

Lastly (phew) registering the birth is done with help from the hospital and in the hospital if you know the name right away. So don't worry about that bit.

[Ozziegirly]

Thank you tortoise, you are my babystuff guru!

I think I probably will want a visit, mainly because I have no family here and although I can pick up a lot from the internet, it would be nice to know that there is that backup.

My friend in the UK, who has a very approachable HV has found her advice on sleeping and feeding really helpful and meant that when she was on the verge of giving up BF, she was helped, and managed to carry on for 10 months (I know lots aren't so lucky with their HVs!).

I have got some into on the ABA but that looked more like a get together for a chat type group - which I will also want, but it's more for those first few weeks of "am I doing this feeding stuff right" etc, that I am more daunted about.

[tortoiseonthehalfshell]

I just emailed you and completely forgot to explain that I was me, by the way.

Definitely look into CYH then, it sounds like just what you want. There were a bunch of reasons I didn't choose to go that route, but I think it's a valuable service.

[Ozziegirly]

Hehe, so you did!

Thank you!