AIBU to expect...

[catherinewho]

a health visitor to know more about her chosen profession?

Seriously, since DS was born I have asked her about reflux, dry skin, cradle cap, thrush, a suspected birth mark and the frequency of feeds and everything has been met with "You should ask your GP about that"

Wtf is she for then? Nosing at how untidy my house is and asking me if I have lost interest in anything I previously liked doing. If I said yes I would only need to ask my GP about it anyway so what is the point in her?

I'm more surprised because I thought this sort of ignorance would be a thing of the past: My mum nearly belted the HV she had when I was born because she slapped my mum on the arm and said "What have you been doing to that poor baby!!!!" when she saw the haemangioma I used to have at the top of my leg.

YANBU to expect it but in my experience with my 3 DC each and every HV has been a complete waste of time. Seriously I get much useful help and advice on here.

My current HV visits me every couple of weeks as I have been suffering with PND. She honestly spends the whole time talking about what it was like when she had her twins. I just sit there and listen

She sounds useless!!

The HV I had when DS was born was fantastic. She couldn't do enough and got me prescriptions for DS excema, advised me on cradle cap, got a prescription for some cradle cap shampoo etc etc.

Then I moved and I stupidly thought all HV were the same as my great one. Sadly not. Had a really useless one who was no help, then she left. I do have a good one now but I never see her.

Your HV sounds crap, but I'd like to add too that are great ones out there. The one I had with my DS was an absolute star. Now I'm PG again, I'm gutted to find she's moved areas.

In my experience, HVs give advice in inverse proportion to its need.

I've had 1 good HV and the rest crap.

One even REFUSING to believe I had not had any medical training because I was 'up to date with the guidekines'

Its not hard is it

She actually made me feel like a tosser for knowing what I was talking about!

My HV is a lovely lady, but just seems to guess 'answers' when I ask her things.

I also believe that I have learnt so much from MN; without it, I wouldn't have a baldy clue!

My DH is a GP. We are 1st time parents. When the HV first came out to see us when DS was about a week old she was making small talk. Asked DH (who was still on paternity leave) what he did for a living. When he told her she turned to me, said, "Oh good, he can tell you everything you need to know." She looked visibly relieved when she said that!

DH and I were and he said that he wanted to keep his professional life and home life separate.

he said that he wanted to keep his professional life and home life separate

So if you DH suspects your DS is ill (i.e. something you haven't noticed) he wont say anything? Or if your DS has a fit he wont intervene?

Obviously, your HV should be there regardless of what you / your DP do for a living, but there's nothing wrong with being "relieved" that your DH is a GP and therefore will know more than us mere mortals....

flame away...

gently no no, that's not what DH meant! He's not a heartless pig!

He just meant that when the HV was over she shouldn't expect him to do her job for her.

Also, he too is a "mere mortal" which is why he wanted the HV to be the child HCP, which is what she's there to do. He's a GP at work yes, but he was also a new dad and was just taken aback by the HV.

But since you so nicely asked, yes, DH has intervened when DS has taken ill or isn't feeling well. That's what any good parent would do, not just a GP.