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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask where all these mythical HVs are?

65 replies

MrsMcW · 21/02/2019 19:58

I have seen at least 4 threads today where mumsnetters have recommended the OP talk to her health visitor. And not just for babies, children of all ages.

Who and where are these mythical health visitors with their bounteous wisdom? I met mine ONCE after DS was born. She never turned up for the 6 week check. My local child health clinic has also closed down, so I can't go a-questing for one there.

Am I alone in this?

OP posts:
colourrunruinedmyhair · 21/02/2019 20:38

I’m not a health visitor by the way. I’m a student OT and had a 4 week placement with them. I wouldn’t want that job

frenchknitting · 21/02/2019 20:42

I thought all toddlers got a check at around 27 months, in addition to 3 or 4 in the first year? Then again at 3.5 or 4-ish? Maybe that's just scotland

MamaFlintstone · 21/02/2019 20:45

Mine was good, I saw her a few times in the early months and she was always reassuring. She retired though and I know that a new one hasn’t been recruited, so I think it’s probably a bit more patchy for new mums in my immediate area now.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 21/02/2019 20:47

We're in Scotland. Dd is meant to have an 8 month check up, but there isn't a health visitor in post. Apparently they'll just catch up at the 13 month one assuming there is one by then.

Ds should be having his 4 year old visit about now...same problem.

Megglou · 21/02/2019 20:50

HV saw us the week LO was born and at 8 weeks and haven't seen her since. We don't have any baby clinics in my area and no baby groups so it's lucky I wasn't a nervous first time mum!

Raspberry10 · 21/02/2019 20:51

You’re not alone, mine turned up once. Second appointment she phoned to say she was picking her kids up from school so wouldn’t be over, and never was seen or heard from again.

Sirzy · 21/02/2019 20:53

Mine picked up me being high risk for pnd at one of the early appointments. Then wasn’t seen again until ds has his 1 year check. In hindsight I was struggling a lot.

At ds 2 year check I highlighted worries about his speech and general development and was told he was fine. I contacted them a few more times and was told the same so I believed it. He is 9 now and still under SaLT and has autism and a host of other issues.

IfAtFirstUDontSucceed · 21/02/2019 20:54

When I had DS almost 6 years ago my Health Visitor popped round frequently!

Since I had DD 2 years ago, I've see the HV probably only 2-3 times.

It's probably a combination of second time Mum (therefore knows what she's doing 🙄) and major cutbacks.

I had an email telling me that DDs 2 year review was due, attached was a 7 page progression questionnaire which I have to complete in advance of a pre-arranged appointment at a health centre at the other side of town with whichever Health Visitor is there that day!

FuerzaAreaUruguay · 21/02/2019 20:55

Never had one with my third.

It's a postcode lottery.

CarlGrimesMissingEye · 21/02/2019 20:56

Our HVs stay in touch with us occasionally until kids start school and are available on the phone if you need advice and support at any point. They've really helped me when I've had medical issues for example and have struggled to get to a GP. I've found them an excellent support

APurpleSquirrel · 21/02/2019 21:04

My HV with my DD was & is fab, she really helped when we were having problems at the start. But the service has been cut so much, they've gone from 6 HV to 2!! & one is FT the other PT. they run the Healthy Baby Clinic weekly & did run a breastfeeding group but that got axed before Christmas as too few HV available. It's appauling.

MummyofTw0 · 21/02/2019 21:36

I live in a village and really lucky with our HV care

Always been very supportive; came to our home numerous times

Know them on a first name basis now

Equally I have friends who live in a town 5 miles away and they share the same sentiments as you

MRex · 21/02/2019 21:47

Ours are great, really helpful at the appointments before and after birth, as well as available in the children's centres. You can't always see the same one due to working times, but our first one is there on the phone.

Of course because they're good, the local authority are trying to close down half the children's centres with some batshit scheme to have "all services at all locations". So not being local and not separating people with their kids from general randoms, it's a real shame.

SmarmyMrMime · 21/02/2019 21:56

Mine were useful. When I was seeing them for DS2 as a baby, I had concerns about DS1's (2.5) speech so they did an extra check. They then did the referral to SALT a year later when his progress slipped below normal range. This was about 5-6 years ago.

Since then our children's centre has closed, and the HV clinic for our neighbourhood stopped. Because everybody knows that middle class mums never have CSs, bad tears or other mobility problems that stop them from driving around town to tend to their baby's needs. Hmm

Thankfuckitsfriday1 · 21/02/2019 21:59

we had the before baby visit, the 10 day check (i think it was?) and then 4&6 weeks and 2yrs 4 months. But as my son was referred on the a child development centre (he’s autistic) we had a few more visits and observations.

Both mine have been wonderful for both kids and really helpful in regards to having a look at stitches after natural birth and then c/section scar as it had opened slightly. My daughter also had jaundice though hence the extra visits

Mammyloveswine · 21/02/2019 22:02

Mine is amazing. I'm very lucky.

Hunter037 · 21/02/2019 22:17

I only see a health visitor when I go to the weight clinic. I dont see "my" health visitor (not sure she even works there any more Confused) but there is someone to talk to. Actual visits have been minimal. Once at 10 days PP and at 1 and 2 year reviews.

However, I wouldn't go to a HV with an actual medical concern. After various ones told me or friends the following "facts" then I just dont believe what they say

  • breastfed baby must feed for 20 minutes each side or they wont get enough (DD would only feed for 5 mins)
  • baby is on 75th centile at 5 months so I need to cut back her food (EBF)
  • leaving a baby to cry for more than 30 seconds kills part of their soul
  • if your period has returned while breastfeeding a baby under 6 months there is something wrong

Also they were too short staffed to visit my friends premature baby the week the came home from hospital. They said "this visit is to check for PND, you seem happy enough don't you?" in front of a group of people in the weigh clinic.

Notquiteagandt · 22/02/2019 18:54

Mine has been fantastic. We had some issues st hospital so didnt get discharged until baby was 2wks old. She phoned me to check in regularily on both my mental health and how baby was doing.

They have their own hv hub and clinic. They offer baby weigh and walk in appointments as well as all the usual stuff.

Baby has been really refluxy so she gave me loads of tips.

Shes been invalluble tbh.

Bobbycat121 · 22/02/2019 22:15

Loads near me, and you can always see one at the walk in centre. I chose not to though as I didnt find them helpful. They always right when the “checks” come up though.

IWantChocolates · 22/02/2019 22:39

I've seen mine at home at least 3-4 times already and my son is only 8 weeks. Plus I have her work number so can text her anytime if I have questions.

It does seem the luck of the draw.

SoyDora · 23/02/2019 04:48

I haven’t needed one TBH. If I did I’m sure I could get hold of one.

MaverickSnoopy · 23/02/2019 06:08

When I had DD1 the health visitor was very involved, too much for my liking and I kept trying to fob her off, especially as she wasn't great. There were a large team of them and there was a weekly weigh in service too.

I've moved house since then, not far but next town along. The HV team is depleted. A couple of people left, one is on mat leave and another on long term sick. There is now one part time HV covering a town of nearly 30,000 people. She has her work cut out for her but is mega organised. Unfortunately because of this it's mostly the standard checks that she does so none of the "why don't you get the health visitor over" type visits. There is a weekly weight in service and a feeding cafe. She is helped by a couple of nursery nurses and some volunteers. So it's functional but stretched. They still try and come out though if you need help. I have a nursery nurse coming next week to weigh baby and help with some feeding issues, where I can't manage to get to them at the moment.

Definitely not mythical but certainly very limited in a lot of areas. I consider us to be very lucky in our even though they're short staffed. It really comes down to who is providing the service - some people really go above and beyond.

hatriet · 23/02/2019 06:25

Mine were thoroughly useless and made a very bad call re a friend's unwell baby). We're not contactable at all unless you turned up to see them and they always made me feel like a nuisance. Told me I would be depriving my child of socialisation by being a SAHM (because obviously there are no play groups, classes and I had no friends to see....)

I don't see the point in the service....

PennilessPaladin · 23/02/2019 07:38

I've had 3 DC, 3 different HV and they've all been fab.
Realise I'm probably in the minority though

Teddyreddy · 23/02/2019 08:02

Round here they are supposed to see them at 2 and then 8 weeks and if they think you are low risk that's it. The health visitor team do 10 month and 2 year checks but it can be any of them doing it.

However, there are weigh in clinics I can drive to in 20 minutes or less 3 days of the week. There's always a HV there (used to be 2 or 3 so we have been hit by cuts too). I've taken a lot of little niggles there and they have always answered. Depending on the HV sometimes it's been a rubbish answer, but enough times its been useful it's always been worth asking.

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