HV Service

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

My baby was born at the very start of lockdown and is now just coming up to 5 months old. He was born big, on the 95th centile and because of this was put on a 'healthy weight' pathway which means he was supposed to be weighed more than usual. I was told that this is because big babies weigh tends can fluctuate more than usual, so they're monitored more.

I haven't heard anything from them, despite trying to contact them about it. Its like the service has dried up. I did get through to someone once who told me they'd get back to me. Nobody did. My baby hasn't been checked since 6 weeks. Im annoyed about it. Im annoyed that I was told that my baby would need extra monitoring and then hasnt got anything. Im annoyed at the lack of communication about it.

Im in the Portsmouth area. Does anyone else live here and have had contact with their HV team? What are the HV services like in other areas around the UK? Is Portsmouth just woefully inadequate, or does this sound similar to other areas?

Are you concerned about him? If he is healthy and growing then he shouldn't need lots of weighing - only essential services have been happening face to face.

I'm in London - all HV services were pretty much stopped here. I got a message the other day saying they were now doing zoom appointments if I wanted one. To be honest, I only took DS once to be weighed because it took hours and I could do it myself far more easily.

I don’t know about the healthy weight pathway OP, and I can see how worrying it would be for you with your pfb to be told they needed a bit of checking and then no checks follow.

So why don’t you pop your baby on a set of scales at home if your worried?

Mark it’s weight on your graph in your red book and keep and eye. If your baby crosses two centile lines get in touch with your GP.

My baby is tracking on the 2nd centile, so when the service stopped running at lockdown I kept an eye on it myself.

Bare in mind that initially there will be a bit of a change as the scales won’t be set the same, but then all subsequent measurements should allow a comparison.

PFB?! I dont think im being 'precious' about anything. Im trying to follow up on a pathway my son was put on.

Im more trying to compare HV services to find out if im expecting too much.

I read that "pfb" as meant kindly OP! We all worry more about these things with our first born.

I think you are expecting too much honestly - weighing healthy babies is a very low priority at the moment. If you are concerned about your baby then definitely phone your HV though.

I'm Bucks and my HV have been running all through lockdown. They only came out for the newborn visits and then doorstep weigh ins for the babies that need follow ups (mins is small with health issues and has been weighed at least once a month). They have also been on the phone whenever I have needed them (and I have needed them)

She came and sat in my garden last week for my baby's 10 month check

My health visitor is amazing. She is a massive support to me with my daughters health issues

My SIL has a 7 week old, in midlands and has had 1 phonecall. Appalling.

I had my baby at the end of feb and he was weighed at his 6 week check with the GP. During lockdown I called the HVs with some queries about feeding and asked about weighing and they said that they weren’t doing any until lockdown eased. My health visitors have a duty health visitor who will always call you back on the day (I’m in the midlands) so that has been helpful.
He was recently weighed but that was only because I weighed him at home on my scales and he’s shot up a few centiles so they wanted to check him otherwise I doubt I’d have heard anything. A local midwife told me that they were told that during lockdown it was essentially only emergency care being offered.
It’s not the best and it’s difficult when you’re told how important it is to weigh them regularly and now you’re told actually it’s fine not to.

I'm in Portsmouth and have had contact with the HV (baby born a few days before lockdown), but only because I was suffering from PND. Other than that I've heard nothing. I have various contact numbers if you want me to share?

@elliedh yes please 🙂

Mine (in Devon) have done absolutely sod all for us. I got a phone appointment rather than a visit, at the beginning. They did then schedule a phone follow up with me because I think they were a little worried for my MH, but to be honest by the time out rolled around I couldn't be doing with them so I just 'fine'-d my way through it. (I am, indeed, fine).

I think the bit that really hacked me off was that I did at one point call to ask them about something, only to be met with a long recorded message that essentially said 'we're too busy to talk to you, email us and we'll triage your problem and get back to you' and then reeled off a really stupid email address full of random letters and punctuation, that would be a massive faff to get right. I can deal with the busyness part but at least set up a user-friendly email address, ffs. So I just wrote them off altogether and figured out my problem myself.

Most recently they have taken to sending random emails with flowchart sort of things in them - things like who to contact 'if any concerns have been raised about your baby's weight' (which, who the hell knows what that is anyway since nobody is weighing him!)

Actually, to be fair, the Infant Feeding Team did an online appointment with me which was really helpful, so I shouldn't be too harsh. The rest of them can bog off, though.

My DS is 13 and a half months old now. I had horrendous, crippling postnatal anxiety when he was born, and my HV said she'd like to visit fortnightly while I waited for support for other services. After one visit, at the end of which she said she'd be in touch to arrange the next appointment, I never saw her again nor did she make any further contact.
We're now 6 weeks overdue for my son's 12 month checks. There is also a few minor medical issues that had previously been identified that we were told would be reviewed at the 12 month check, so it feels important. I've tried chasing this numerous times but I get a stock 'we're catching up post-Covid' answer even though they don't ask for my son's details to check the system or anything. Fortunately I'm in a much better place with my mental health now but I'd really like the reassurance of the 12 month check.
I hope you get the reassurance you need soon. It's unlikely but is there a local Sure Start drop in/weighing clinic or something close to you that's reopened by any chance?

I’m not in Portsmouth but agree that the HV service is shocking. I’m sick of Covid taking priority over everything else, including little babies’ health!

OP, I've PMd you.