Health Visitor AMA

[Smile18]

Thought this may help a few people. I'm currently on mat leave myself and have become a new member of Mumsnet. Would like to help new mums/dads out there if I can.

Thank you so much @EleanorReally I am going to get one now!!

I am so very suspicious of HVs. In fact all the experiences I had with DC1 were horrific. I took him to clinic every week as I was told to. I spoke with a HV every time as he was not gaining weight in line with his centile and I was BF. I had lots of people tell me to just keep going even when I said “should I be mix feeding” “should I try formula” and then when he got to 0.02% one said he obviously needed to have special formula on prescription. He didn’t. He and I just needed one of those 12 women to say yes, give him a bit of formula if you want to, he isn’t thriving. Not one woman said it and then when one woman did she misunderstood the question and assumed an allergy. I was in despair, I was told to carry on BFing by everyone and my son would have been hospitalised if I’d listened.

Often one error by a health professional can go down as gospel and no matter what you say it is taken as fact. One of them at the start had trouble understanding how to read a graph and insisted I was wrong. I had to get her colleague to check her work and when told she was wrong she just huffed af me like it was my fault she can’t do a task that is the mainstay of her work.

Not to mention that I didn’t even get a home visit until he was 19 weeks old. So when a HV came for the second two babies my instant reaction was, ok what terrible and potentially dangerous advice are you going to give me this time because you simply don’t listen.

I was dismissed at every turn. I eventually made a complaint, the head HV came (this was the first home visit at 19 weeks) and said yes, he may need formula top up. My son gained 1lb in a week.

@Evilmorty
This does upset me. I'm sorry you had to go through this. I can see why you have your opinions of HVs. Please be assured that we are not all the same. I can't comment on your experience. All I can say is that you should of been given better advice and definitely more support.
It really angers me reading through some of these posts that women are often left feeling let down by their HV. It's really not how it should be. Being on mat leave has given me the perspective I needed in order to go back to work and bring up some issues with my line manager and how we can improve not just in my area but service wide. I am very passionate that every child, every mum, every family has exactly the same support. Sorry for your experience. I do hope now that you and your child are well. Thank you for your post.

@EleanorReally Interesting, I've not heard of these before. I will do some research. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Hello, I had an accident at the home the other day and ended up badly burnt. Came home from hospital to a message on my answerphone from my HV 'just checking if I was ok' I wondered why? My youngest DC has just turned 2 and neither child was involved.

I know I could just ring and ask just they was no indication that I needed to return her call. I'm fine btw.

I met my health visitor the other week before baby is born (due 8th) and when she asked about how i felt about it all and lrevious MH issues i broke down and said i was still struggling to get my head around it all. In that circumstance would you then visit more frequently? I would like it if she did BUT i don't know how to ask for the help, so i'm wondering if she'd do it off her own back?

@baffledbeyondbelief gosh how are you? I hope your able to recover I know that's often a challenge with children around.
Please don't be alarmed this is our protocol. I'm sure your HV was just making sure you are ok. If there is any support you feel you may need please give her a call back.

@basicwitches many congratulations to you on the up coming birth of your baby. How are you? Did you find out the sex of baby? In my personal opinion - yes - she should visit you more frequently. You have indicated in the first initial visit that you have concerns. You will be seen again when baby is born however if I was your HV I would be arranging a visit again soon if I was able too before baby was born to spend time discussing your worries. Your HV should do this however not all HVs are able to do this due to many restrictions on visits I am sorry to say. However please ring her or the team and ask a visit if you would like one before baby arrives. Do you have a number for her? This is a positive step for you so may I say well done for asking for the help. I really hope you get it.
I am here if you need anything. 💐

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow. Similar experience. First HV told me I was depressed and to think nothing about it. Turns out I was dying from a rare complication of birth. Had I of listened to her. I wouldn’t be here to tell the tail. Baby was born very early and very tiny.

Second baby. Same thing. Very early. Very tiny. First hc was crap. Kept telling me lighting doesn’t struck twice. Baby ended up at hospital because they didn’t listen. Finally got an hv who marched herself up to my go surgery and sorted everything out.

First lot kept telling me I had to get my child weighed every 2 weeks. If she didn’t put on weight. I was referred to the pead dr who kept telling me to ignore the hv. As she didn’t know the illness my child had. It was horrid. You’re not the only one xx

@Hubstar Sorry about this. I can imagine that was extremely frustrating for you and your baby.
May I please ask what illness your child had?

Ah I loved my HV!

Question, my SIL has a 16m old and is seen by her HV daily? My MIL refers to her as her key worker but SIL HV. Why would this be? I know SIL is on anti depressants, would this be why?

@camelandsushi I'm glad you had a good HV. It's hard to say if this is a HV or not. It is possible - more possible as you say she is on AD. However also just as possible for a key worker to be involved. Sorry not much help there. It sounds like your SIL is getting the support she needs though so that's reassuring. HVs are there for the whole family as well as the children.

What training do you do to become a HV? I'm not sure if that's a silly question or not 😂.

I saw a HV today for my sons 2 year check, she was so lovely and helpful and I came out wondering how you get into that line of work.