Health visitor visit during COVID

[KateSz]

Hi,

I have another health visitor visit coming up and I have started to feel a little bit uncomfortable with my health visitor coming to see us during COVID.

How politely tell her not to come ? Especially when we told our families not to visit.

Why can family not visit?
Why don't you want to see a HV?

Why are you uncomfortable?

Your family is allowed to visit. Are any of you particularly vulnerable?

Just ask for a phone call instead? I've been in touch with health visitors throughout the pandemic and have done a mix of in person or telephone appointments. They don't seem to mind which it is, just let them know.

I would allow them to come, they should check baby and babies weight. You could ask them to wear PPE and open some windows for fresh air.

I would also raise your covid anxieties, most people are back to normal living now

We have a month old baby and we are limiting visits, especially few people from our families tested positive for Covid.

We have seen our HV last month but she want to visit every month.

It's not unreasonable for them to visit once a month. Do you think you might need some support with your anxiety? The HV can help with that.

@dementedpixie

Why can family not visit? Why don't you want to see a HV?

Irrelevant.

It's fine to say you don't want a visit.

Honestly I think your baby’s welfare needs to trump your fear of getting covid. HV are very careful and test regularly. Your baby will need vaccinations soon which will have to be done in a surgery.

@CorrBlimeyGG

It's not unreasonable for them to visit once a month. Do you think you might need some support with your anxiety? The HV can help with that.

Why would I need a support ?

Don’t think I’m paranoid for saying no to people who are not taking covid seriously.

They want to visit every month? Even pre covid they came at 2 weeks and 6 weeks and that was it until they were older?? Is there another reason you don't want them to visit?

@KateSz

You might need support as being worried about a HV visiting sounds like you are very anxious

You do sound very anxious. The hv will be doing regular ltf tests. It isn't the same as family popping round, it's to check you are all doing ok

you absolutely sound very paranoid

You can take baby to a HV clinic instead of you don’t want them to visit. Regular checks in the early days are normal.

They wear PPE, test regularly and vaccinated and will keep distance from you
If they need to see your baby monthly for your baby's welfare you need to deal with your anxiety. Ask HV for support for your anxiety over Covid at her next visit perhaps?
Or video appointment if your baby doesn't need actual weight or examination. But they may need to physically see you for various reasons, so perhaps this isn't appropriate for you.

You sound paranoid I’m afraid, I think you should let the HV visit. Do you not go out of the house?

You're within your rights to decline visits however if this is your first baby I would recommend you see them at least for the first few months, I found their support invaluable with DD.

Please be careful when advising OP. You do not know why they need to see baby at home. The OP obviously doesn't want a visit. But for all we know they could be vulnerable, the Child on a plan etc etc.
Remember all those recent news stories!
Op you are lucky someone is offering to come and check your baby, but you also need support for anxiety.

I'm a social worker (not child protection)and I work in a team with HVs. Give them a call and explain your worries. With my families who are concerned about covid I do things like arrange to meet them in the garden or book them in for a visit first thing after doing an lft etc etc there are ways to make things safer.

Babies are not at very high-risk of getting very sick from covid. One person wearing PPE and regularly testing coming into your house is not particularly risky. It is important your baby gets the checked. You sound unusually anxious.

I would try to overcome your fear of getting covid op otherwise it could take over everything. Where does it end - avoiding all baby groups, avoiding play dates? Your child will miss out on so much. The risk of having a HV in your home is absolutely minimal. My dh directly treats covid patients and is always bringing covid directly into our home on a constant basis. 3 year old ds is absolutely fine as am I and I'm pregnant.

If you shelter yourself child from covid you are in fact sheltering them from lots of other germs and bugs that they need exposure to in order to develop properly. This winter has been horrendous for children with bronchiolitis and RSV and doctors have made a direct correlation between this and the covid restrictions. Covid is here forever and life has to carry on.

@Sidneysussex

Please be careful when advising OP. You do not know why they need to see baby at home. The OP obviously doesn't want a visit. But for all we know they could be vulnerable, the Child on a plan etc etc. Remember all those recent news stories! Op you are lucky someone is offering to come and check your baby, but you also need support for anxiety.

This

Health visitors are optional and if very very little use, just decline the service all together. If your baby is unwell use the GP if you need advice it’s all online.

I've seen the HV twice in the last 3 months or so - each time they've worn masks, used hand San throughout their visit and kept their distance from me/DH. They've taken more measures to be "Covid safe" than I have with any of my family or my friends since lockdown 1 ended.

I would be less concerned with them visiting and more concerned with the frequency. Health visitors rarely visit they often to my knowledge. I saw mine 5 times total between my daughters birth and the age of 5.