Is it usual for a HV to do a pre-birth visit? (Not a rant about HVs!)

[ejt1764]

My HV is lovely - was really helpful in supporting us through the horrendous sleep problems we had with ds (who is now nearly 5) ... and she pushed for a SALT referral for us for ds too.

I'm now nearly 38 weeks pg, and have seen her about a couple of times, and she's been quite concerned about me (I'm on crutches with spd, and suffered with hyperemesis earlier in this pg).

Anyway, this morning she phoned me and asked if she could come and visit me next week - is this normal? I certainly didn't get a pre-birth visit from the HV when pg with DS (mind you, the HV we had then was a complete waste of space...)

She's arranged to come next Tuesday morning at about 11am.

I think in some areas it is usual for HVs to come before birth - I know that happened with a friend of mine.

Mine did.

Am relieved - thought it was just me!! Glad to know others have had pre-birth visits!

Yay, mine too. We sat and watched 'This Morning' together....

We did them in my area when I was a HV. The visits got dropped when the staffing was bad which was a shame as I always liked doing them.
I remember meeting one lady for a pre-birth visit when I was pg too. She was 37 weeks and I was 34 weeks and we both delivered at the same time and ended up on the same post-natal ward LOL - both our children have just started school.

At my GP's practice, its standard that you have a meeting with the HV (though in her office not at home) before your first MW appointment. Apparently the idea is to provide some sort of idea of continutiy so that when you get signed off from the MW you've met the next-stage professional before. I think its a great idea (but then my HV is fantastic).

So glad to know it's not unusual ... and it's enlightening, as the HV who used to be attached to our GP practice was useless (very good at giving out leaflets, but rubbish with any actual advice!) ... and, surprise, surprise, she never did any home visits ... except for 1, when ds was 10 days old.

Mine did too, about 2 months before birth. Was dead nervous, as she came to the house (lots of cleaning etc), but v. nice and good to put a face to the name.

Mine did, for about an hour, and gave me a full interview.