how often should health visitor come? mine has not been seen for 4 months

[Murphyslaw21]

Just wondering. My last visit was when baby was 6 months. She is now 10 months. I think she has forgotten me. Don't get me wrong she was useless and rude.

Just don't want to be missing out on anything important (sorry not sure how to phrase it)

[Whatthefreakinwhatnow]

I don't think they do visit; where I am they hold weekly clinics that you take your DC to.

Speak to your GP surgery, they will have a contact number for the HV team

[BloodyDogHairs]

My DS was seen at 4 months and then the next development check was at 3.5 yrs.

[NickyEds]

After the initial post birth visits I think the next scheduled visit is the one year check. We also have a Hv and weighing clinic I take dd to to be weighed every now and then.

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

I last saw mine when dd2 was 6 weeks. As far as I understood it there wouldn't be another visit until the 1 year check. I can't actually remember it there was even a 1 year check with dd1 but I definitely had a visit when she was a toddler.

[unlimiteddilutingjuice]

I had health visitor once a week for the first month.
Then nothing until the development checks at 1 years and 2.5 years.
I think in my area there is a clinic you can go to if your concerned about something....but I never was!
I don't think you've missed anything OP

[starsinyourpies]

We had to take them to clinic, I don think many places do long term home visits now!

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

I didn't think they did visit after the newborn stage?
DD1 is 2. We saw the HV once at 2 weeks, once at 6 weeks (at clinic), once at 12 months and have just had her 2 year check.
DD2 is 8 months. We saw the HV at clinic for the 6 week check and I'm not expecting anything else until the 1 year check.
What do they come for in between those times?

[NerrSnerr]

Ours only visited when she was a newborn. We took her up to the clinic to weigh her.

[eurochick]

I don't think they do a lot of visits unless you are a family in need of support. We had two visits when she was a newborn and then a one year check. I had her weighed at the clinic for the first few months as she was prem and iugr. Frankly I'd be happy never to have seen one at all! I can't think of a single useful thing I took from any of those visits.

[Floralnomad]

When I had my DC they only visited once after the midwife had finished and then it was up to you to go to clinics , I think unless you have problems that's the norm.

[RatOnnaStick]

After the postnatal period its 12 weeks and then just scheduled development checks at home or clinic. (8 months - 1 year depending on area). They don't have the manpower or resources to visit in between times unless there is a specific reason for it. The clinics are there for weighing and any concerns or questions.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

We definitely didn't have a visit/scheduled appointment at 12 weeks. Last one was 6 weeks.

[cornishglos]

I imagine it depends where you live, but here they sign you off at 8 weeks and see you again at 12 months. But you can go to drop ins in between if you want to.

[Murphyslaw21]

Ok no worries then

[BackforGood]

I thought the expectation was you went to clinic if you wanted to see them ? More surprised you had a visit at 6 months, tbh.

[StealthPolarBear]

The mandatory reviews are antenatal, new birth, 6-8 weeks, one year and two to two and a half years.

[StealthPolarBear]

Anything in between those is down to local requirements

[StitchesInTime]

The mandatory reviews are antenatal, new birth, 6-8 weeks, one year and two to two and a half years

We had a visit at about 4 months too, to talk about weaning.

Otherwise, it's a case of we contact them if we have concerns / want DC weighed.

[BeaufortBelle]

Stealth there are no mandatory reviews. They are obliged to offer those visits. No mother is obliged to accept them. Mine was so useless and unhelpful with ds I wrote to them (in fact I met the head of nursing at the trust because I made a formal complaint) when he was three months old and confirmed I wanted nothing further to do with them. I declined all contact with dd from the start. If I had concerns I sought clinical advice from a doctor. I asked advice about imminisations "I only know what's in the leaflet". I asked for help with breastfeeding "I'm not an expert, phone the NCT". She was unhelpful, incompetent and rude to boot.

If they aren't bothering you, you are missing nothing. If you have concerns please see a doctor.

[StealthPolarBear]

Yes sorry I am coming at it from a mandatory to offer point of view.

[StealthPolarBear]

Expectations of the service not the mother

[StealthPolarBear]

I'm sorry you had bad experiences but they should work well and they should bea valuable support.

[Murphyslaw21]

Beau I'm pleased it was not just me, mine was a trainee who had no advice or suggestions but critisied everything.

My neighbour had same one she has three children and told her to leave.

So I don't miss her but just wanted to check

[StealthPolarBear]

:( how depressing. Sorry you're both seeing useless ones (or not!)

[BeaufortBelle]

They often aren't helpful or supportive though and I think it's very wrong that they do not make it clear that all their visits are in fact optional. The one who visited me instructed me that I had to take my baby to a weighing clinic and told me I had to go. So I asked for an appointment there and was told there were none and I could sit and wait with the other mothers. I simply couldn't understand it and she was totally unable to clarify her role. It was a complete power trip and I genuinely struggled with the concept and her supposed rights to call on me and issue instructions when she had no expertise. It was all vwry bossy. You will breastfeed. You will have your baby immunised. You will take your baby to be weighed. You will be visited next week. She didn't even have the basic courtesy to make an appointment for the first visit and turned up at 9am. Honestly who with any sense and training about new mothers and babies shows up at 9am without notice?