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Original poster

6 week check-up for babies

12 replies

fairy · 10/01/2002 16:56

Hi everyone!

Can someone remind me what they look for on your baby at their 6 week check. I know what they do for me, but for the little one I can't remember.

At least it won't be as bad as ds 3 year check, when all he did was ignore the doctor!

Any info gratefully received!

OP posts:
MalmoMum · 11/01/2002 12:04

My memory is a bit hazy. I think they check weight, length and head circum (ds was born on a busy night so he had only been weighed at birth so there was nothing to compare with to see how he was progressing).

Check testicles (on the boys only, apparently) and for dislocated hips. Can't remember if they take any blood.

I think it's just a general butchers to check you are on course.

Hope yours goes well

Dixie · 11/01/2002 13:28

I recall it being a quick check over as well, but it does list certain aspects in your baby health book (presume same system nationwide - red baby record book?)

Mine had a a few questions & points to ask section as well, this helped bring up the topic of things not listed that I needed reminding about - if that makes sense.

Ems · 11/01/2002 16:31

fairy, look in your red book, I'm sure it lists the check in there.

Original poster
fairy · 12/01/2002 12:24

oops forgot to look in the red book, so logical!

thanks!

OP posts:
Nance · 12/01/2002 19:36

Hi Fairy

Ds had his 8 week check 10 weeks ago and basically the doctor checked that he was able to respond to movement by following a side-to-side movement. They also went over the clinic notes i,e weight gain, feeding etc. They seemed to leave it up to us - i.e did we have any concerns? As we did not, it was a fairly short visit!! The red book was sort of used as a checklist.

By the way, unlike for my earlier ones, ds had an 8 week check instead of 6 weeks like I had. In my area, they have not separated the two.

Hope this help.

emags · 13/01/2002 21:39

Hi, The 6/8 week check is the first joint assessment by the gp and health visitor, it involves checking weight, length, and head cicumference by the health visitor and the gp usually checks vision, hearing, testes in a boy, hips, spine, belly button. The gp also puts the baby through a little 'work out' to check the usual reflexes are present, like the startle reflex. This is what is done where I live but I guess things are not always done the same everywhere.

VickiW · 13/02/2002 13:00

Hi all worried new mum here. My son is 3 months old, at his 6 week check and subsequent visits by the HV and to the Dr for jabs he will not follow the small ball on a string that they wave in front of his nose, so they have 'worries' about his eyesight. He responds to dark, light, bright colours and sudden movment, he is a happy wee chap, very contented and smiles away.Consultant says he is not focusing as well as he should. Now my mind is working overtime has anyone come across this situation. Think I need some reassurance.

Rhubarb · 15/02/2002 15:25

VickiW - we never had this test. My dh has only had the hearing test which she failed twice, but her eyes have never been tested. I think all babies fail their tests at least twice, they don't know they are supposed to look at the stupid ball on a string! He probably found staring at the Dr much more interesting!

Has anyone else here on Mumsnet had this test?

Joe1 · 15/02/2002 15:29

We have never had this test either, just a hearing test. I cant imagine a baby that young would focus on a ball either its abit boring to catch their attention.

VickiW · 15/02/2002 16:34

Hi there, I have spent the morning with the eye Dr at the hospital who after examinging the wee chap stated that babies eyes can take a while to mature especially if they were premature ( ds was 3 weeks prem) he also stated some babies can be born blind only to develop sight months after, my HV didn't even now about that one!
So my ds appears to be OK his eyes are healthy, but he is just not fixing and focusing as he should be.... according to the set standards.The consultant eye Dr isn't concerned and states ds should come on in time.
It has been a very stressfull couple of days and I keep dissolving into tears. It has been good to write this and get it off my chest.If I didn't have PND before I think I might have developed it now.

Rhubarb · 16/02/2002 15:38

Yeah, babies get to you like that. Don't worry, we all have moments when we get overly paranoid about our kids' development. Just read the Paranoid Mother thread! There are some good tips on relaxing on this site too, so delve into those if you can. A good sense of humour always helps, as does lots of support from friends and family. Good luck

janh · 16/02/2002 16:31

Vickiw, a friend of mine had a little boy (I wonder if this is one of those boy things!) who would not look at anybody or anything - you could try as hard as you could to get him to focus: moving things over his eyes, moving him about, talking to him, making loud noises, holding him up close in front of your face, and he just looked over your shoulder or at the ceiling or at nothing. It was quite spooky and scary and as if no-one was home but eventually (can't remember how long it took but quite a while) he stopped doing it.

If yours is responding to bright colours and sudden movement it sounds as if he is doing better than my friend's son, who wasn't even premature. He did look at one of his grandmas, come to think of it, but nothing and nobody else. It was the "wrong" grandma too...

The first few weeks are stressful enough at the best of times without worries like yours so don't feel bad about being upset. I hope the eye doctor has reassured you. Good luck!

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