To want to completely ignore the letter from the HV.

[NewMummy48]

I moved into a new area 6 months ago and contacted my last HV to ask who my new HV will be and how I can get in contact with them, She said she didn?t know and said I should ring my local surgery for the number so I did and I was able to finally contact them, They were extremely rude on the phone and I asked them to come and visit me because I was worried about my DS (Just started weaning) they said okay and left it at that.

A week later I got a leaflet through my door about "Weaning advice" and that was the last time I heard from them, DS was 5 months old at this point and he has not seen a HV since he was 3 months old, I have always gone to the GP about anything which I would find concerning.

I received another letter through the door saying he was due to have a 8/9 month check-up, I feel extremely tempted to just throw the letter in the bin because I do not know any HV's in this area as they didn?t turn up or contact me and I have no idea where they want me to go, also DS is due for another visit to the GP as he needs surgery so its not like he doesn't get seen.

I feel like if I go they are going to give me advice which I am not going to follow anyway as DS is in a routine and is developing perfectly (As told by the doctor) so AIBU to just leave them and see if they ever contact me and go about how I want to do things with the support of the GP?

You don't have to see a HV, and with their caseloads, you're probably doing them a favour in not being seen.

I don't think many people see a HV after the fist visit on discharge from a MW unless there are other problems.

Some people go to baby clinics for weighing etc, but for routine stuff you will often end up seeing a HV assistant. Even 6/8/18 month checks round here are done by assistants unless there is a problem, and I get the impression that most people are glad to opt out.

If you wanted medical advice, it would probably be far more convenient for you to go through a GP anyway. SALT etc. can also be accessed outside of the HV service.

I never knew that, It makes me feel alot better about it. Thank you :)

Do you have a Children's Centre in your area? they may offer weaning recipes and weaning cookery lessons etc.

They should have given you details about what is available and where.

The service given seems to vary a great deal and they seem to be not fulfiling their role in a lot of areas.

some health visiting services are absolutely skeletal. thanks to cuts.
i wouldnt take offence or tke it personally.
and i would go to the 8/9 month check. some dont even offer that.

Different areas have different systems, some places you get loads of visits, others you don't see a hv unless you attend clinic. If you have no concerns then I wouldn't worry about it.

I have no idea; I do not own a car so it would have to be close. I went to a children?s centre when I lived in my last house and found it really intimidating so I haven?t researched into the children?s centres as much as I should have but I would have gone if I did see a HV a knew one was close.

I trusted my "Mothers instinct" when weaning my DS and he loves everything he is being given, I done my research online about what he should be having/when and that really helped me so I like the routine he is in at the moment.

My last HV was amazing, she always made sure that I was okay and she made sure that I went to the children?s centre; it is a shame that I do not see her anymore.

I am happy with the way things are and I just think that it would be a waste of time for me and the HV.

Where we are (inner city) HVs only see people where they think there's a particular risk (i.e. they keep more of any eye on young mums for example). You can go in and see them in one of the weekly clinics (but its always heaving, so I'd only go if I have a bloody good reason) but they simply don't do home visits. You would always need to see the GP if there was any issue in any case.

Meant to say, I would go to the check, just so you can get to know them in case you ever do need to phone them about a concern. In the next local authority to mine they don't do this check at all, nor the one at 2. Where I am there's a 12 month check but that's it. It's not an essential check, as you can always go and see them / phone them with any particular concerns, but it does allow you to ask any questions you might have and get familiar with the people.

I?ll just leave it then and go to the GP with my concerns, It was just a shock as I had a lot of support from my previous HV as I am only 20 and moved away from my family and friends so I was surprised that they didn?t pass on that that was the case.

I?ll save them the time and leave it, Thank you for the advice :)

Not sure they're organised enough to pass on that kind of info