Weigh and go at the baby clinic? Is this normal?

[MrsSpoon]

I was at my Doctors' surgery yesterday and the Baby Clinic was in progress. They now have the baby weighing scales in the waiting room with a big book next to it presumably for Mums to mark in their baby's name and weight and go. Is this the norm in other surgeries?

I always thought that part of the reason HVs were so keen to have new Mums in to get their babies weighed was so they could have a few minutes chat and try to get a feel for whether everything is OK or not.

This is what we did, unless there was a problem with the weight or we had something to discuss, then we would see the HV.

Thats one of the things that really winds me up about HV's. Not one of them has ever asked about how things were going, or if I wanted to discuss anything. All they care about is if baby is following the 'correct line' in the book

That's what happens at ours too, except the scales aren't in the waiting room, they're in the same room as the HVs, so it's easy to have a chat if you want one. It does seem all rather hands off to have the scales in the waiting room though..

It's not so unusual then?

same as here. that's why I hardly went. HV could not be bothered one bit, not even about the baby TBH.

Not so unusual now, I don't think. My HVs kept a regular check on DS1 with individual appointments any time I wanted in 2004. Now (with DS2) the same team of HVs have a once a week drop in session in a room with some scales and it's complete chaos. I've only been once. I think it's a new strategy to try and decrease their workload because they are so understaffed

health visitors use local church hall here one day a week. different things go on, mum and baby group, then baby massage, then baby clinic, then anything else they organise. scales are out all day to use yourself, but you can see hv or nursery nurse at clinic if you prefer them to weigh your baby or want to ask anything.

When DS1 was tiny (in my dark pre-mumsnet days) my weekly visit to the HV was a bit of a lifeline. It seems a bit sad that has been taken away.