6 week postnatal check..

[maybebaby23]

I have just called to make my appointment for my 6 week check up, midwife told me to do this. The receptionist said "we dont do them anymore unless you have problems" so thats it then? I didn't know they had stopped doing 6 week checks?? Is it just my surgery? I have just changed doctors and before i did the old one called me to book an appointment for the 6 week check up..

I cant believe they dont want to see women after the birth to make sure everything is ok/discuss contraception or any problems etc. What will i miss? What checks do they do for you and the baby?

Thanks for any replies, im all stewed up about this now

My surgery do 8 week checks for the ba by but nothing for the mother unless she asks for one. There doesn't have to be a "problem" per se to ask for one though. If you want contraception advice could you make an appointment with the practice nurse?

That sounds rediculous! I have 3 DC and have had a 6 week check with all 3 of them! I would phone back and say you want an appointment anyway, they can't actually refuse you an appoinment

Skegness, what checks do they do on the baby? I dont need advice on contraception really just added that in because obviously some women do and they usually get chance to discuss it at the postnatal check dont they.

I think i will make an appointment when we reach the 6th week anyway. Thanks for replying!

Hi again, maybe. With my daughter the GP checked weight, hips/thigh creases, head circumference, listened to her heart, looked at her palate (I think only because there were weight gain concerns in my daughter's case- he missed her tongue tie though!) and just asked if everything was well, really. I think they also check the testes of baby boys to make sure they're both descended. So nothing earth shattering but can highlight quite important stuff sometimes and I think it's well worth having a proper check so that anything potentially problematic can be caught early.

Actually he also he signed the paper authorising her immunisations, now I come to think of it... In fact, I'm quite surprised that they are happy to do away with 6/8 week checks the more I consider it. I'd have thought it was much safer to get rid of older age checks where it will usually be a bit more obvious to parents if something is awry. I think you are absolutely right to make an appointment regardless of their policy!

Congratulations on your new baby, btw.

Thanks Ive been worrying about it all day Not sure why really as i can just make an appointment cant i. They may think im a bit silly seeing as we dont have any real problems (you only get the check if you have problems apparently ) But like you said, it is important to pick up any problems early on and i dont want to slip through the net iykwim.

I always thought the 6 week check was important so cant understand why they have stopped it. I agree about it being a bit safer to stop the older age checks than the 6 week one.

We have the health visitor coming tomorrow so will see what she says about it.

Thanks again for replying.