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Parenting

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Original poster

aaaarrgggh, need to rant about health visitors...

36 replies

LadySanders · 15/04/2008 15:07

i just took ds2 aged 8 weeks to be weighed for first time at baby clinic. i politely asked if they could weigh him in his babygro as he was asleep and i didn't want to wake him.

it took 2 Health Visitors to discuss the issue, tell me repeatedly that it would be more "beneficial" to weigh him naked, with me saying "really, it's no big deal, i jsut want to know roughly what he weighs and i don't want to wake him up by undressing him". it then rather deteriorated and ended up with both them and me getting cross.

i should add that he weighs 16lbs, ie is pleasantly huge for an 8 week old so its clear just by looking at him that a) he's thriving and b) the weight of one babygro isn't going to make any significant difference.

are these people just totally incapable of dealing with any tiny variation from the normal routine, and if so, how do they cope with daily life???

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constancereader · 15/04/2008 15:09

I was never able to understand the necessity of stripping my poor ds in a freezing cold room either.

Monkeybird · 15/04/2008 15:09

actually (I normally berate most HVs) they are being absolutely correct - in many cases full nappy and clothes can make a difference and many mothers have been beaten over the head (figuratively speaking) by HVs whose weighing is inconsistent because they haven't taken clothes off, then they have etc... and then advised to give up BF etc etc

So am on their side on this rare occasion

numptysmummy · 15/04/2008 15:10

They are all plebs.Spent an hr (an hr ffs) trying to get ds2 to make a bloody brick bridge for his 3.6 yr check. Like he wants to do anything for someone he doesn't know. Told her he can write his name,make planes with lego but no,had to be a bloody bridge!!!
Pah!

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kittywise · 15/04/2008 15:11

Yes, I'm with them on this one too.

numptysmummy · 15/04/2008 15:12

And unless you are specifically test weighing,what odds a full nappy and vest etc? Most times the scales are out anyway.

lulumama · 15/04/2008 15:12

ladysanders, did i miss the birth announcment>??? congratulations

constancereader · 15/04/2008 15:13

Well - I see their point if there is some worry about the baby's weight. But for just a rough check on an obviously thriving baby I don't think it is that important. The nappy might be wet, or the baby might be full of milk and the nappy dry.

Original poster

LadySanders · 15/04/2008 15:14

now i am starting to remember why i stopped bothering with the baby clinic after about 2 visits with ds1 7 years ago...

his nappy was dry as i pointed out to them i had just changed it.

thank you lulumama!

OP posts:

ConnorTraceptive · 15/04/2008 15:14

i'm with hv's too i'm afraid - if you're not bothered about accurate measurements and your sure he's thriving why waste their time and yours?

Monkeybird · 15/04/2008 15:14

nobody should do test weighing anymore and they should do naked weighing. if a general idea of his weight was needed, perhaps going to the clinic wasn't necessary anyway since you/she could have got that by standing on the scales? Professionals in healthcare settings as elsewhere are supposed to follow policies decided by their seniors for good reasons.

Original poster

LadySanders · 15/04/2008 15:17

i wasn't wasting time, i was interested to see what he weighs so i went to the clinic which says it weighs them! just thought my request was perfectly reasonable and didn't see why they were put out

OP posts:

verylittlecarrot · 15/04/2008 15:20

Actually, I'm with you here LadySanders. If you expected them to log it in the red book and refer to it later, then no, but if as his mum you just wanted a rough weighing for your own peace of mind without logging it anywhere formally, then why not!

You are not visiting for their benefit, you are visiting for your own. It isn't necessary for them to be so pedantic if you can all agree that the weighing is informal and not to be logged. It seems the options were 1. weigh him roughly to get a general idea but not make a formal note of it because it isn't accurate, or 2. Don't weigh at all because he's asleep.

Seems they chose the lose / lose approach.

windygalestoday · 15/04/2008 15:23

i had to laugh when ds3 had his pre school exm he answered everything properly drew the face etc etc ......can u hop she asks? no! was the firm reply ...can he? she says to me - no i dont really know (hes my 3rd ds) .... hes adamant no he cant do it .....as shes leaving we wave her off and ds3 starts hopping !!!! she gets back out ...u told us u couldnt hop!!! its jumping on one leg says ds3

Sidge · 15/04/2008 15:23

Ah but if he'd been weighed with nappy and babygrow on, and his weight recorded, then you took him in a month and they weighed him naked and he'd lost weight or not gained there would be mass panic and you'd be rushed off to the GP because HE'S NOT FOLLOWING THE LINE!!!!

Yes we know it's not logical, but baby clinics are not logical places. I avoid them like the plague.

AMumInScotland · 15/04/2008 15:26

What I was told (long ago) was that they always wanted to see them naked in case there was any unexplained bruises, not just to get the accurate weight...

numptysmummy · 15/04/2008 15:27

Totally agree verylittlecarrot. Should ban the red book - in my experience it causes more worry than it prevents. And in 10yrs,with 4 children,one with special needs who was prem and below the 2nd percentile for 3yrs,and countless visits to hospital with more than one of them for various things i have been asked for the red book 3 times! The point of it is what?

SmugColditz · 15/04/2008 15:28

They want to check him for marks and injuries, I'm afraid. Some HVs only do it to babies deemed at risk (mine, apparently) but some do it to ALL babies. And yes, it does seem cruel!

frisbyrat · 15/04/2008 15:30

I've heard that too, AMumInScotland.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 15/04/2008 15:31

I was once at clinic with DD and they weighed her and she appeared to have gained 4 pounds in a fortnight. They laughed, and said 'oh these scales area bit dodgy' and used some others.

It made me wonder how accurate they are. It's awful as they put so much pressure on weight and steady gain, so surely they should have functioning equipment?

no1putsbabyinthecorner · 15/04/2008 15:33

My dd is 14 months and we have not seen a HV since she was about 9 or 12 weeks. When recently at the midwife she said it was important my dd had 7 month check.
Appointment card came through several weeks later. Turned up for app to find no HV there. Not bothered since.
I am hoping this time round (due aug) I find one thats not useless.

ggglmpp · 15/04/2008 15:34

if you want a clothedc (inaccurate) weight - take an identical babygro, vast and nappy to clinic, the hv will use that to tare the scales and will then weigh clothed baby.

Brick bridge is perceptual developmental stage marker - otherwise hvs could do test over the phone if it is just a smug mummy list - as in what little josephine can do.....everybody thinks that their child is advanced - ask any elc salesperson!

ggglmpp · 15/04/2008 15:35

that should be vest (or vast as vest with plum in mouth)

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 15/04/2008 15:38

I hate the development checks, they are useless in the environment of a clinic, especially if you are there with another child.
During Ds's he just wanted to go back to the waiting room to play with the friends he'd made there.

ggglmpp · 15/04/2008 15:40

tis a funding issue - most children perform better in own homes but trusts lump tests together in clinic as much more cost effective.

numptysmummy · 15/04/2008 15:41

Could still issue a list to do at home when child relaxed with you and then if not doing it all you could contact h.v for further checks.None of mine would ever do any of the test for h.v but can do everything they are meant to.

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