To wonder where all these health visitors are?

[ParsleyTheLion1]

Often, on MN, people suggest talking to 'your HV' (if you're worried about something, say). But where are these fabled HVs? I saw one a couple of times after DS (now 16mo) born but nothing since. I have no idea where they hang out once you don't have a newborn or how you would even go about finding one should you need to....

I was given a fact sheet with phone numbers and details of all the local baby clinics where I can just turn up.

I think ours are at the weekly weigh in clinics.

Did you not have a 10 month or 1 year check? They probably put the phone number in the front of your red book- look there.

Weekly weighing clinics? Once a month here.

No developmental checks offered or available after the 6 week check.

The H.V was rushed off her feet when she visted me when dd was 14 days old & struggled to answer any of my questions.

Really wonder why this antiquated but costly service still runs!!

Hah I had mine come today..
Cos ds is behind on his development according to her charts. So she came today to see how he was doing. Still not quite there so wants to come back again in a couple of months.

The bit that is causing the most grief. He doesn't point or say more than ma ma or da da. He's 14 months

Baby clinics or you can call. Their caseloads are ridiculously big but I've not come across a health visitor who doesn't care about their mums & babies. If you let them know you need the support of be surprised if they ignored you, we'll certainly the ones I've come across.

At least she's interested NeedACleverNN.

No one would listen about my ds...

He was disgnosed with ASD/ADHD at 6 in the end.

Hope everything works out fine with your dc.

Baby clinics.

" No developmental checks offered or available after the 6 week check."
They should be offering development reviews at a year and 2 to 2.5 years

There should be one linked to your GP practice - well that's how it works around here anyway. Think they run baby clinics at the GP surgery. Try asking at your practice.

Not necessarily at gp practice

I couldn't even tell you who my health visitor was after my DS was born. However, one was very quick to turn up at my house and make us feel like shit after a handful of trips to A & E with my DS because he was prone to 'nursemaids elbow'. Something so incredibly common in young children we were told time and again yet the HV had never heard of it and had concerns that we could have been abusing him

I know mine really well, she's lovely.

peasofcake no, was I meant to sort one or do they remind / call you to arrange one?

the only thing that's carried on and that any health professional has been actively pursuing is the BCG vaccine

It feels a bit like they disappear once you're out of the newborn stage.

I remember feeding mine cake and trying desperately to wind up the visit as I struggled with a high fever (I didn't realise as it had come on so suddenly) because of mastitis....but she wouldn't start her questions until she'd finished her cake!! I was desperate for her to go. And now I can't find them.

Thanx peppa

I get that I am lucky in that respect and it's good that children are being picked up on earlier. But at the same time I honestly don't think there is anything wrong with him but she is still suggesting I have nursery workers come round and do activties with us to help develop it all. It was never this bad with Dd and Dd is only 3

There are No developmental checks offered in this borough after the 6 week check. Any developmental concerns should be dealt with by the GP.

As i have 2 older dc with ASD & ADHD. I thought my youngest dc would be monitored more closely but she isn't.
The joys of living in an inner London borough...

Do they have formal medical training (e.g. nursing)?

Hmm there really should be. They are certainly being carried out.

Yes Parsley

Peppas how old is your little one?

Parsley, yes Health Visitors are qualified nurses who have undertaken additional training (either a degree or Masters) in Specialist Public Health.

Youngest is 2yrs & 3 months.

My first one when DS was a newborn was rubbish but she's moved on and the rest have been good. Helped with feeding/ weight issues and with my PND. DS is 18 months now and I'm worried as he isn't talking so I called them last week and someone is coming to see us this week coming. They did a year check, I thought that was a nationwide NHS thing. We're London but only just - leafy borough type place.

I actually looked for mine once to talk to, couldn't get hold of her seen them around 3 times since ds (21ms) was born. Oh and I've never seen the same one twice so I couldn't tell you who 'my' hv even is.