HV appt during pregnancy - is this a thing?

[26twentysix]

Am currently 26 weeks pregnant and had a letter through the mail for a home appt with a health visitor. Is this a thing? Why? Has there been a mistake? I thought they come weigh the baby and stuff after the birth?

I was booked in for 36 weeks for an antenatal appt with the HV and cancelled it. It was my third pregnancy and I was still working FT so it felt unnecessary.

It's very common in the UK. They just want to introduce themselves etc. Don't worry about it. I always thought it was good for them to get a "baseline" so when I had PND, I think the HV knew I wasn't myself before I had even recognised it.

I did see mine before the birth (it was a few years ago) & NHS does say

“Health visitor

Health visitors are trained nurses who support and educate families from pregnancy through to a child's 5th birthday.

You may meet your health visitor before the birth of your baby and in the first few weeks after the birth.

You may continue to see your health visitor or a member of the team at home, or at your child health clinic, children's centre, health centre or GP surgery.”

As a pp said its normal. I was contacted at around 27 weeks. The HV came to introduce herself and gave some information on safe sleeping, feeding etc. Is this your first child? Also my area is very busy so they fit me in where they could otherwise it would have been closer to birth

Entirely normal. They may want to see where the baby will sleep to check that you have a bit of a clue what you are doing and that you don’t live in a crack den.

Yes mine came last week.
She talked about safe sleep, gave me a leaflet about not shaking a baby and asked how I was planning to feed. She talked about what baby groups are running and put my name down for baby massage.

I missed my pre birth visit with DS1 as he was early.
HV get a lot of bad press but I had really bad PND last time and my HV was fabulous.

Thank you! Yes first baby. Ok cool, hopefully will be a useful appointment then. :)

My HV home visit Pre baby with first one was great she was lovely and helpful

2nd one she was awful so I cut her short said I had an appointment and got her out ASAP

They're a real mixed bag tbh

With my second baby they only came once and were useless

At least you got a letter, mine just turned up unannounced just before I was about to go for a scan

In my area they try to do an anti-natal appointment at 34-36 weeks with the first time Mums. I don’t think they always get the anti-natal appointment for subsequent pregnancies as standard.