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Original poster

Visiting the health 'visitor'!!

40 replies

Luna · 26/03/2003 11:37

I haven't been to the baby clinic since my ds was born. I have intended to a few times but it just hasn't worked out - it is only once a week at lunchtime and something always seems to crop up on that day at that time. I decided to pop in yesterday as ds is nearly 6 months and I read that he may need vit. drops as he is breastfed.

I didn't get to see health visitor as too many people were waiting and I had shopping to do before collecting DD from school but it was suggested to me that 'perhaps I could try to find time' as I really should get DS weighed to make sure he is doing OK and to fill in his charts. The whole tone of the conversation made me feel like a negligent mother and I even found myself dwelling on the subject at 3:30 am when ds woke up for his nightime feed! SHOULD I be getting him weighed?

OP posts:

Flick · 28/03/2003 16:41

Have had similar experiences of HVs. In fact, I have been left wishing that I could have just continued seeing my midwives because they were soooo nice. I took ds to be weighed about 3 weeks ago and he coughed whilst we were waiting for our turn. I was immediately pounced upon. When I said he had been coughing for a while but was ok within himself, I was told that this was a well-baby clinic only. So I had to go home without him being weighed!! DH is a doctor and said there was no risk of him passing anything on to any of the other babies there. In any case, when I went for our 6 week check, I remember waiting for an hour in the doctor's waiting room, surrounded by sick people. They weren't worried about my ds then!!!
I am convinced that one of the HVs at my practice hates babies. I took him to be weighed when small and she had a huge go at me about not having a nappy sack with me, despite the fact that she had a proper lidded bin to put nappies in so there was no smell!
Grrr!!!!

zebra · 28/03/2003 18:50

My first HV insisted on weighing babies with nappies on -- I guess she didn't want to run risk of mess? Only we use cloth nappies which can easily add 3-6oz to the weight! So DS's red book has all these zig zag lines between the HV's numbers (50th percentile) and the weights I figured out the next week from weighing at post office (40th percentile)... I loved next HV, but she quit. Now we have a male HV, but I've never met him.

edgarcat · 29/03/2003 13:59

Message withdrawn

SoupDragon · 29/03/2003 14:10

Dear Son
Dear Daughter

morocco · 29/03/2003 14:14

my HV was lovely and helped out loads when I got thrushy nipples (as pleasant as it sounds). My doctor on the other hand was worse than useless and claimed such a thing didn't exist, wouldn't prescribe medicine etc. It was my HV who got it all sorted out for me(from diagnosis to cure) and was very supportive. If she hadn't been there I'd probably still be suffering now
I used to get ds weighed every week for the first couple of months (paranoid new mum syndrome) but now don't bother at all - he looks fine and so I guess he is.
I also don't bother with vit drops - did you by any chance read that you needed them on a brochure from the baby clinic cos that's where I read it and guess what - it was written by a company that makes baby vit drops. Load of rubbish IMO

leese · 29/03/2003 14:50

Got an image of you weighing your ds at the post office zebra......!!!

Tissy · 29/03/2003 15:06

without his nappy on...the inevitable happens

Soly · 02/04/2003 09:24

I wish I hadn't taken my ds to see the hv - he has moved from the 75th centile (birth wt) to the 2nd at nearly 6 months of age and she wants me to see the Dr about it!! He eats well imo - He is breast fed and just getting the hang of solids - she thinks he should be eating three meals a day of about a jar a meal (or equivalent home made). Surely it takes time to build up to this quantity and he is increasing the amount he wants all the time - unlike some friends I didn't start him on solids at 3 or 4 months, he was nearer 5 months old. If he wasn't eating or pooing there might be cause for concern but I don't really see why she is so keen to ram all this food down his throat - imo that could just cause him more problems in the short term.

susanmt · 02/04/2003 09:30

Soly, do take him to be weighed again, and check that he has been plotted right on the chart. It wouldn't be the first time that a HV had either weighed or plotted wrong!!

JanZ · 02/04/2003 10:04

... and anyway, the World Health Organisation recommends exclusive bf for as long as 6 months before even STARTING solids!

It sounds like she is one of the old fashioned ones who thinks you should have started at 4 months - tell her to get more up to date! You did great leaving it until 5 months and should be complimented on that, not berated that you're not yet feeding enough!

That was harsh on your HV. (... or maybe not)

The more important things is - are YOU happy with how your ds is porgressing? It sounds like you are, so don't worry about the referral to the GP - go along, say you don't know what the fuss is about, tell the GP that the HV is recommending feeding that is against WHO guidelines... (oops - I'm going anti HV again!)

Soly · 02/04/2003 10:35

Yes, I was happy with how ds is progressing and at the stage I introduced solids. (I've read threads on Mumsnet where babies have been solely breastfed for even longer - what would old fashioned hv's think of this I wonder). I am not taking him to see the GP - I see no need because, as I said in my earlier posting, he's eating, wetting and pooing nappies and is happy.

Obviously if there is any change I will make an appointment.

Soly · 04/04/2003 12:09

JanZ - can you remember where you found the WHO information you mentioned - I tried looking on the web but could not find anything appropriate. I would like to read up on the latest recommendations myself.

mears · 04/04/2003 12:14

look at website

www.babyfriendly.org.uk

You will find references to WHO guidance

Meanmum · 04/04/2003 12:21

Australia have revised their opinion about when you should start solids and HV's there now recommend 6 months. They say this is because their digestive systems are still not fully developed and some babies struggle with solids because of this.

My little piggy didn't struggle and I started him at around 4.5 mths but I think it is very dependant upon the child.

I wouldn't be worried if your child is eating, weeing and pooing well. Some kids just don't eat as much as others either so its a bit rich being told they should be eating a jar of food for each meal.

It's amazing that people are individuals and this is a recognised fact yet people in the medical profession tend to forget this and just tell you what the book says which is naturally taken as an average. Can't they use their eyes and brains before alarming new mums by telling them to see the GP.

No matter how niave (can't spell) you might think you are no one will know your child like yourself. One girlfriend's ds is 14 mths and he will eat four small spoonfuls of food for each meal. He isn't in to food at all but he isn't unhealthy. He might be lighter than a lot of other kids his age but he eats when he wants and not if he doesn't.

I must admit my HV is really good and doesn't go by the book but I know some do.

Soly · 04/04/2003 13:17

Thanks Mears for that address, I will take a look now.

Since my earlier posting I have spoken to a GP on the 'phone because the HV rang me this morning to see if I had made an appointment to see a doctor!!! (she certainly does her job as she sees it thoroughly). I promised I would ring and I did. GP agreed mothers instincts are usually right but as there is such a big difference between 75th and 2nd centile better to get him seen by a GP soon who would decide if ds needs to see a paed.

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