Arrrgh I hate the baby clinic

[Izabelblue]

Hello - first time poster (and first-time mum) here so be gentle...

just wondering if there is anyone else out there who struggles with the baby clinic? I'm just back from taking my 8 week old daughter, and I find the entire getting her out of her pram, getting her undressed, settling her afterwards etc difficult with only one pair of hands, which means by the time I get to talk to the HV I forget anything I want to cover and am just keen to get out of there before DS cries up a storm.

it doesn't help that DS has peed on the scales/changing tables both times she's been to the clinic, and that I've been told off for it. Surely my daughter isn't the only baby who does this?

Any advice on how to make the experience more bearable appreciated! I don't want to dread taking her to the clinic....

Don't take her? It isn't necessary unless you have any concerns.

If you do have concerns, or anything you want to discuss or ask advice on, write it on a post it and stick it in your red book so you don't forget.

If you are worried about weeing on the scales, why not take a small towel or terry nappy to lay on the scales. They should be able to zero the scales before putting your dd on.

Firstly, welcome! I have two DS's, one is 4YO and the other 4MO and when I first went to a clinic a couple of weeks ago, I had forgotten how stressful it is. I try and get there early now and then you and your DC won't be sitting around for ages. Put them in whatever is easiest to take off. It does get easier though, it is always the first two times that make you feel slightly....arrrgghh!

I used to write down any questions I had for the HV when I thought of them - allowing for baby-brain fug to take over when at the clinic. May help? Agree put daughter in an easy-on/off outfit & arrive early. I used to take DS out of his pram and give him a cuddle, play, feed, bounce on my lap in the waiting room to chill him out and then wheel the pram whilst carrying him into the room when called. I also put cardy/coat on back in the waiting room as the main room had multiple babies being weighed and was hot/stuffy/noisy/stressful for us both.

Friend's DS never failed to wee on the scales - she said he even coated HV hands on one occasion - don't worry about it, and ignore tutting!

Thank you all so much for such helpful and speedy replies - glad to know that I am not the only one who struggles with the clinic! x

Can't believe you got told off!!! What were you supposed to do, tell your DD not to pee?

Can you work out which clinic a 'friendly' hv does? Sounds silly but I have found that some hv are fab and some make me .

Also if your DD is doing well weight wise you really do NOT have to go, you could ring your hv with questions also.

What I would say also thou is that in the first few months getting out of the house is stressful anyway (especially in winter when you have to worry/faff about with all the layers, snow suits etc. But it will get easier and eventually just second nature.

Good luck!

Oh forgot to say with my PFB I found clinic very stressful! Was always glad to leave.

Its not complusory to go to clinic. Lots of second time mothers don't bother have time. If you have questions about your baby then mumsnet is a good source of information.

Babies wee (or poo) on the scales all the time. Babies are all hopelessly incontinent.

Oh OP your thread sounds just like me. I have a 13 wk old who has also peed on the scales/changing mat/HV hand . Don't worry about it - they've seen it all before. Agree it is a faff though. What I hate is the all pervading smell of fag smoke from those mums who smoke

Don't take your DD there then! After 6 weeks you are only supposed to go once a month at most, you can weigh at home if you don't have any problems.

I can't believe they told you off for your dd peeing on the scales!!! My dd never fails to pee on the scales/hv/me whenever I go and I just laugh (as does hv) They sound a bit mean, no wonder you find it stressful. How often do you go? I was advised to only weigh my dd once a month at clinic unless I have any worries and to call hv with other questions, is this an option?

I always deliberately forget my red book too, as ds' weight is worthy of comment for a bored HV and I don't want to hear it. He's exclusvely bf almost 6 month old, and as they do, he is dropping through the centiles.

Clinic is a bit of a chore tbh and not necessary unless you cause for concern and then you can always go to your GP.

More great advice, many thanks! Sadly my DD was born at a low birth weight so it's important that I keep up to date with her centiles etc so I feel obligated to go every few weeks. I should say it's not the HV who gave me a hard time (she's lovely, and helped me get DD back in her snowsuit afterwards) but the nurse who does the weighing...I think she smells the "career woman who doesn't know what she's doing" on me! ha ha....

Ah, those baby weighers... Almost certainly not nurses, or HVs no matter what they may imply. my GP told me when I said I'd been ordered to take my 'wrong colour' baby to him, "god they are bloody terrifying, those women! If you want a nurse here to weigh your baby any time, I quite understand!"

My local children's centres often have a HV drop in, or a nurse with scales, so with dc2 I've avoided the clinic apart from once. Try calling yours.

I hate it too!

Last time I went (only my second time) it was full of ill babies/ children. The little boy who was weighed before DD had Chicken Pox ( yes they were scabbed over but still), another Mum was loudly talking about the fact that her baby had had a D&V bug for the last week. Also a Mum with an older child said he had a virus and was too ill for school, fine to come to Baby clinic though

Can you tell DD is my pfb

I never went once, I didn't and still don't understand the need for a weekly weigh in when you don't have concerns.

I went once and it was the second level of hell, so I never went back.

DD is now 14 months and seems ok, although I have never known how much she weighs.

Unless you have specific concerns you don't have to see the HV.

Unless your worried don't take her! You don't have to, if you still want to take her then maybe just go once a month. Congratulations on your new DD

You could weigh her yourself, stand on scales then pick dd up and work out the extra.

Izabelblue
If health visitors have serious concerns about weight they come out to you.

We went twice to clinic in dd's first year and she fell from 50th centile to the 0.4th between 6 months and 12 months. The health visitor then came out to us every month for 5 months.

Oops sorry missed your last post in that case make sure you dress her in an easy to get on/off outfit.
Is DD under the care of a pediatrician? It was one of the reasons I have up on clinic as early as I did - my DS was/is under the care of several consultants for a fairly rare condition (which none of the HVs i saw had heard of) and has regular check ups with them.

My hv was being all precious about her scales so we weighed an empty nappy and then changed dd's nappy before weighing her (putting the dry weighed nappy on iyswim) to avoid an accident. You could at least have that up your sleeve. Good luck with your dd putting on weight.

Is there another clinic nearby you could go to instead? Ours has never been anything but lovely. Specially when they get a teeny baby in, they're all too busy cooing to mind how long you take faffing around.

My 9 month old peed on the scales last time we went, assistant wasn't bothered at all just cleared up and washed hands. I suspect assistant who doesn't like baby pee will not last long in that job
Just take your time, give them a smile, sort out baby as long as you want before talking to the hv. When they get a bit older they aren't so bothered by the whole undressing/redressing thing so it'll all be easier.

I went very few times with DS. DS2 being delivered a week today. The weighing is the part I'm dreading! I drive now and live in a different area so hope that this will make life easier and the experience more pleasant...the first time I went I got told off. And the Second time. Once DS hit 4 months i think i went every 2-3 months. Dont feel pressured to go.

And congrats!