So what is the point of Health Visitors?

[wonderstuff]

I've seen 3 so far, they all seem very nice, but really not very useful.

Today lovely lady came by, did PND questionnaire, weighed my baby. Talked about weaning - advised that some babies (especially boys) are ready for weaning at 4 months, to be aware of him taking interest in us eating couldn't give any advise about BLW as no reseach has been done and she doesn't want to get sued - fair enough, but seemed strange that on the weaning age she was willing to contradict research evidence. She also warned of 'missing weaning window at 6 months' I didn't ask what would happen - will I end up bfeeding forever, Little Britain style? Told me breastfeeding was tiring (there was me thinking it was the lack of sleep that was knackering but presumbably if I bottle fed I'd have much more energy?) She stayed for half an hour.

Really what is the point - could money be better spend on Midwifery or Social care?

I'm currently on antidepressants because I've got severe post-natal depression.

My partner dragged me to the GP and waited outside while I went in. I got in there and didn't even sit down before I burst into tears and begged for help. The GP told me that everything was fine and that I was being a tad "over-dramatic". I left the office as a wreck. A few days later my HV asked how I was doing and I blurted out everything. She got me an appointment with another GP who put me forward for counselling and gave me a prescription for tablets.

If it weren't for my Health Visitor I would have killed myself. Genuinely not kidding.

Oh Lord, I haven't read all 16 pages. Is that really a requirement before posting?

My belief is that they are essentially like a triage for the GPs and midwives - anything actually serious gets passed on to them, mothers that 'just need reassurance' don't take up space in the queue for people with 'more serious' issues. Probaly perceived as cheaper than hiring another GP or nurse etc to cope with demand. I am curious what they cost too.

I went to them when I couldn't get hold of my mother or good friends with babies for advice. It was a trip out to the clinic for the weigh in, when I needed a reason to get out of the house in the early days as well.

I think a GREAT ONE could be a boon. Many seem to be underinformed in my experience.

Yep jury's out for me too.

PND doesn't lead to a child's death or hospitalisation in my extensive experience as a mental health professional... Postnatal psychosis does need speedier intervention and can be a risk in this sense.

My HV asked me if I had an admission to a psych inpatient unit when DS was 3 weeks old, after ascertaining that I DIDN'T have PND, because 'people with mental problems need to be in a locked ward or their baby's safety and you had depression 4 years ago'.

She was disciplined and reported to the NMC.

My new HV is a GEM. Lovely lady, did 9 month check up, came over with allergy issue advice, never once felt patronised, undermined or criticised.

I went to my hv, on advice of gp to tell her I wasn't coping, she just weighed the baby then got the next mum in the room while asking me irrelevant questions and I didn't tell her anything as I didn't feel comfortable in front of others.

I don't see the point in them Tbh.

Admission PLANNED and FOR their baby's safety...

Mine is brilliant, and has often stopped to speak when not working and will happily give you prescriptions whilst shes shopping in tesco if needed! Hope she never retires, she was hv to many of the new mums and dads and knows almost everyone by name or at least whose mum/dad/baby they are. I go to her rather than clinic if he needs jabs as she's much nicer than the nurses.

Have never needed her for support but am sure she'd be great if I did.

3 DCs and I'm yet to find out if they have a point. Utterly and completely useless. I knew 50 times more than them about PND, babies and young children.

I've found this (old) thread interesting. I've asked on a couple of other threads what HVs are for because my friends seem to have had universally bad (rude, poor advice, etc) experiences with them and none of us could quite work it out! Reading this thread has been instructive. I think the problem is that they have a dual role - support for all new mothers and as an interface for social services for those who are facing particular challenges. Based on the anecdotal evidence on this thread, I would say they seem to be pretty well as an interfae with social services in the "difficult" cases. But the problem is they visit all new mums and most want a bit of guidance on weaning, breast-feeding and, yes, how much avocado or butternut squash they should be feeding their babies (nice anti-middle class sentiment from one of the HVs on this thread there...) and the stories on this thread indicate they are doing pretty poorly with that. So maybe the role should be redefined - so everyone gets a risk assessment check and then resources are focused where needed. Or training expanded so HVs can support the "average" new mum who wants some advice or reassurance about feeding and so on.

I think one reason why there might be resistance to HVs from many on here is that if you are someone who has grown up outside the social welfare environment, you will never have had anyone coming into your house to judge you until a HV turns up when you are feeling a bit insecure in your role as new mum and you feel they are there to criticise. I personally would find it extremely unsettling to have someone from the state in my house judging my living arrangements and care for my baby. I know someone who has asked a HV to leave their house for lack of manners. I know others who have wanted to ask one to leave but have been scared to in case they get reported to social services. They felt like this person was forced upon them. As other people up the thread said, they were well able to seek help if they needed it and didn't want this person in their house drinking tea and chatting away when they wanted to sleep/spend time with their new family. In can be incredibly intrusive.

I always thought HVs were just there to check on the family, and to flag up any potential problems to Social Services or other professionals. Other mums who had a baby round the same time as me thought they had to go to the HV and used to spend hours in a roasting hot clinic every few weeks waiting to have a perfectly healthy baby weighed. I couldn't understand it and when I told my friend I'd only got DS weighed at birth, the first MW check and then the six week check she was . But I have a bloody weighing scales at home, and being of sound mind, I can weigh the baby myself and read a chart without much bother. Turned out it hadn't even occurred to my friend to do this! Right from the start it seemed obvious to me that the only reason they expect you to bring your baby along and strip them "to be weighed" is so that they can check their body for any signs of abuse or illness. Of course if a baby isn't thriving then they do genuinely need to have their weight monitored but any serious cases of undernutrition will be passed onto doctors anyway. Why aren't mothers with babies of a healthy weight told to weigh them themselves at home and come back if anything is amiss?

Any advice I need I usually go online. HVs have tried to foist advice upon me but mostly it hasn't been helpful.

My HV is wonderful. With DD1 she checked on me weekly when i had PND, with DD2 she arranged for a Homestart volunteer to take us to baby groups, and she sorted out a pre school place for DD1 at the same time. I struggled with the two of them, as there's only 20m age gap, and this was a lifeline for me.
4y later when DS arrived she kept an eye on me for PND, but I've only needed to see her a handful of times (he's 2.3)

I also have a good friend who is a HV in a deprived area, and i wouldn't do her job for any money!

A good HV is worth their weight in gold.

I agree that PND doesn't necessarily cause child deaths, however, if mums retreat into themselves and cannot cope/ function they are in greater danger of losing control with their child i.e. throwing, hitting, neglecting to wash/ sterilise bottles and keep the child clean. This can lead to a greater risk of infection from bacteria and non accidental injury.

The reasons for inviting new mums to clinic is more to prevent social isolation and for many mums it might be their only outing in a week, especially on a low income in rural areas. Bizarrely we always have a jam packed clinic and although we stress there is no need to weigh the baby every week people appear to want to . We have also introduced self weighing so that people can choose to come and chat, discuss an issue or just weigh ...... their choice

HV rubbish. Mine was asked to call by dr when I had pnd still waiting 2.5 yrs later. Asked for an appointment for 2 yr development check (i have no worries) wanted check out of curiosity think ds is advanced (doesn't everyone) told will ring with appointment still waiting fed up ringing to remind hv ds now 3. When ds was born hv visited once couldn't get her head round the fact myself and p (now ex) and ds chose to live with my parents and were planning alterations that we would pay for and the house would then be jointly owned by all of us thought it very strange actually asked why would anyone want to live with parents.

toody that is appalling! I certainly wouldn't question the value of living with parents, its how humans are designed to live .......... in extended family groups, with help to support mum and baby

I got sent through the post a mini post natal depression questionnaire- it said if I answered yes to any of the 5 questions to ring the hv for an appointment!! Yeah brilliant system!!

Totally pointless and mine was far more interested in my dog. Nothing she told me was anything I couldnt have gleaned from reading a book or googling.

aquashiv you have to bare in mind that some people we see don't read, write or speak English so although you have the intelligence and capacity to inform yourself others don't. As I said earlier we don't do much with most people, the key is to assess the need for help and to respond accordingly. The vast majority of work is with people who actually need it, hence why most people find them useless!
I hasten to add that I also felt that way about my HV with dd1!

I've withdrawn DS2 from the system. DS1 has ASD, early signs of which were dismissed as me being mental/ neurotic/ too much google.

Once he was DX'd, they were all over DS2 like a rash.

But I knew and know that DS2 is utterly NT, if a little bit evil around the edges. Final straw was being told that he was showing signs of ADHD at 18 months old. WTF? Find me an 18 month old that doesn't!

So we opted out of checks etc.

He's nearly 3 and has managed just fine without the interventions. (For some reason all the HV I've had have had a thing about cloth nappies too, is that common? as in, not keen.)

Frosty no preference for cloth or disposable here

It is interesting on here, Frosty how do you know he is fine? How do you know whats expected -google? Normal SAL for age etc, good diet, behaviour, no squint, imms, gross and fine motor skills ................ most people know or think they know and then the child arrives into school and then problems are identified and the school nurses/ teachers wonder why nothing has been done sooner!

No idea

Professional background, I've worked with people with SN for over 20 years, and taught in a Special School when I used to have a life.

Also, a complete absence of the feeling I had with DS1 of something being different, more or less from day 1.

Fair enough, more fool your HV not listening imo! I certainly don't think I know everything and if someone is a parent and has more experience in a particular field I will guage their opinion. However, sometimes when we see it everyday we also see problems where none exists. Also I have encountered a child with a dx of ADHD - it wasn't, it was too many additives in low sugar drinks.

Have just written a blog entry/RANT about exactly this. First visit - ONE HOUR AND FIFTY MINUTES! I was trying to feed/change/settle the twins, she got everything wrong...colossal waste of NHS money, frankly.

Thing is, she was a bright lady, and could have been out there helping someone who needed it.

likepeasinapod.com/2012/04/04/please-just-explain/