Human rights health visitor

[Erlisk]

I have seen it here before but the posts are old. Before my baby was born i told my midwife (UK) that i did not want any visits at home. I just like my privacy and want to be able to decide who enters my home. They offer visits as a service so i just decided to not let them in. I was happy to go for appointments.

Then in the hospital when the baby was born, they told me "someone was going to come into my house even if i do not want that". I kept saying no. They kept saying they just wanted to see where the baby would sleep etc. i said no. Then the midwifes came to the door and i told them i did not want them in my house. So they reported me to social services. Social services called me and threatened with official investigation if i do not let the midwifes and later health visitor in my house. Also for the one year visit.

I texted them many times i did not want. I also told them in person. So i have a lot of proof. Ok long story short i let them in.because they threatened with social services investigation = trying to take your baby. I had to let them in, they said everything was fine, and closed the case. But instead of bonding with my baby i was stressed that they were trying to take her away.

So. It is ten months ago so the one year visit is coming and I DO NOT WANT THEM IN MY HOUSE. So i decided to go after them. And yes, it is human rights violation. It is not normal in civilised countries that someone comes to your house without your consent and without a warrant. If you do not let them in they basically threaten to take your baby.

I am not looking for the comments that they are just helping etc. I am not interested in that 😉. What i am looking for here is other moms who went after them. I am researching where to complain. I am also making a list of solicitors who would help me. And maybe some group court case? I will make complaint to NHS. I believe we only have one year for this kind of thing so only people who experienced this last year. Or if you went through going to court and have a good no win no fee lawyer (London or Kent). They are violating human rights you everyone so no, i will not let it go.

the midwifes came to the door and i told them i did not want them in my house. So they reported me to social services.

the issue is not declining the HV it’s refusing to allow postnatal healthcare for the baby.

They do day one and day five and something else. They check things like umbilical cord health and a variety of other things and stitches healing. I fully support this, they’re important medical assessments that cannot be done straight after the birth and as most women leave hospital the day of or day after birth now it makes sense.

HVs no but these midwife checks are a big yes for medical reasons.

Yes I know, I have already said this upthread.

My area - London. 4 kids. My recollection is visitor came to home for only two of the kids. Never got judgy feel from them.

I did bring children in to GP appts as requested. First child was in Spec Care for a week- no health visitor to home. Certain they were getting information to let them know this child was regularly seeing specialists.

I did see the HVs 1, sometimes 2 walking around neighborhood for years after. Late morning, early afternoon. Never got any sinister vibes seeing them - I thought mostly what a luxury that they come to new mums, many of whom have questions.

They also ran new mums weekly groups, nice way to meet others.

Well that's certainly not my experience at all, nor the experience of the mothers group I went to. We've had excellent care (although a couple of issue with ward nurses, but that's about it) and easy access. Weren't discharged immediately straight after birth within hours like they appear to be in the UK, either. Seen by midwife before discharged. Mostly seamless and easy.

@Erlisk i think you’re selfish quite honestly.
Your stance is set to put vulnerable dc at risk because you want your human rights.
Sometimes we act for the greater good.

@FlakyCritic in the UK one is often discharged within 24 hours of birth. The mother often has stitches and is prone to uterine, breast and vagunal infections as well as UTIs. In addition advice is often needed in relation to latch, bf or ff and sterilising, caring for the cord/stump, the baby's weight which can decline rapidly and potential jaundice. Presuming the community midwives are competent.

I would want a professional to check the baby and do the heel prick test. If I had any concerns I would make an appointment to see a doctor.

In my experience there is less of an argument for engagement with an HV.

Maybe different areas do things differently? But we had to visit the midwife clinic for ours. Maybe different birth situations also mean different types of visits, I didn’t have a caesarean, I don’t know if that affects where they do the midwife checks?

Was she kept in hospital for a few days?

In the UK you are usually kept in for 24 hours max unless there are complications.

The lack of gratitude and appreciation for what we have is startling isn't it? Instead some people choose to see it as an imposition.

It is not normal in civilised countries that someone comes to your house without your consent and without a warrant.

Well it's normal in this civilised country for the NHS to carry out home checks using health visitors and people who try to swerve this are viewed with suspicion for very good reason. I imagine it's pretty normal in most highly developed countries in Europe.

If you don't like it, other countries are available, although if human rights are really your main concern then it might be slim pickings.

You are not in hospital for a few days after a vaginal birth. In the UK women leave hospital within 24 hours of the birth. The visiting midwives need to check the baby for signs of jaundice, thrush and infection round the cord. They check that the baby is feeding ok. They also do physical checks on the mother if she has had stiches and provide help/advice on breastfeeding.

Women in the UK are sent home from hospital very soon after birth. Sometimes the same day for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, often the day after birth even for a C-Section. So checks that are done in hospital in other countries may be done at home by a visiting midwife in the UK.

After the shit shower of community midwives with DS1, I refused to let them discuss my recovery after ds2 and dd. However, I did accept their visits to check up on DD although had I had any concerns about her, I'd have taken her to the GP.

The service was receptive to me limiting visits with dd to no more than two community midwives and at agreed times with a call if they had to be changed.

It's around 3 days to a week here, even with no complications. Maybe that's the problem, they're released far too soon in the UK.

That is one of the most idiotic convolutions of thought I've ever seen.

You haven’t just banned the HV, you said you didn’t let the community midwife have access. Does that mean your baby didn’t get their 5 day old heel prick bloods done? That would be a worry if so. The MW also checks on you, any post birth injuries and your mental health. They need to ensure you know about safe sleeping and baby is feeding ok. They have a duty of care to you and your baby which is why they reported their concerns.

They came here too. Midwives and HVs. We could also go there.

We did have a midwife call a few days after birth to do some follow up checks (heel prick being one). I was discharged from the hospital the day after giving birth and actually only kept in because of the time DD was born.

Refusing to allow midwives to check on and provide care for a baby at the time they need to do it is terrible behaviour.

@FlakyCritic -
from a physical point of view :

for women who have had c-sections they have had major abdominal surgery the same as that you would have to have bowel cancer removed. There could be bleeding / infection / evidence of retained products of conception that has developed since they were discharged from hospital. For women who have had vaginal births - again bleeding / infection, severe anaemia .

for the baby : breastfeeding support, multiple physical issues can be picked up at home that are not picked up in hospital especially as some women are discharged 6 hours after vaginal birth - baby also has a blood test on day 5 of birth which picks up genetic conditions. Baby gets weighed on day 5 to make sure not losing too much weight. To ensure no problems with gastro / urinary system. Check for neonatal jaundice - the list goes on.

From a mental health point of view - as many have pointed out here PND is massive and has historically been massively under diagnoses. Unfortunately the statistics show from MBRRACE 23/24 that the second biggest cause of df death in pregnancy and post partum women is suicide.

finally support - it’s a vulnerable time, and these visits help identify people who could benefit from increased support.

now I’m not saying these checks have to be done at home and there does have to be individualised care so I think it is an interesting debate to be had but I think you’ll struggle to find anyone who disagree that these checks by midwife need to be done altogether

What about your babies human rights! They are a person in their own right and the health visitors have a duty of care to them. They are not out to get you!

Yes I agree it is terrible behaviour and extremely unsafe. As I said to someone else, I wonder if different midwives in different counties do things differently? We never had one the house, only the HVs wanted in.

Sorry if it's already been said but I think what you're missing @Erlisk is that they're not reporting you for declining a check as such, they're reporting you for putting your own wants above your baby's needs. It raises questions around whether you're capable of making the right choices for your baby's health and safety.

After reading this, you don't think there might have been something in the OP's interactions that haven't been reported by her that might have raised valid concerns?

I am a foreignerer in the UK and come from a country where women get discharged 7 days post birth and are given a family room to stay in and after that there are bo such things like HVs but baby has checkups at the family doctor. But,this is UK- HV service is voluntary but you would be mad to try to go after midwives,jaundice can turn up day 3, and conditions like tongue and lip ties etc not many first time mums could detect these common issues u til baby starts loosing weight. I have had 5 kids and wouldnt opt out hv and midwife services- its reassuring to have another set of professional eyes to have a look at the baby. In fact i actually prefer the Uk system, in that sense- that a week after section i dont have to go sit in a gps waiting room with coughing and sneezing people but have people coming to my home where baby wont be picking latest cold strain up

While I agree with HV checks, I have to point out some misinformation on this thread. HVs cannot do much, if anything at all about unsuitable living conditions. The UK has a massive housing crisis and its not looking like it will improve any time soon. Do you know how many children and babies in the UK are currently living in highly unsuitable temporary accommodation, some with water literally pouring from ceilings, and health visitors have no power to do anything about it. They used to write letters to landlords and local councils, but they don't bother anymore because nobody listens to them. And social services don't have the resources to help these families secure suitable housing, that's how bad the problem is right now.

Yes, I have said many, many times on this thread that there is likely something more going on. This particular quote was about the idea that nothing else was going on and if that is the case then then reporting her is not acceptable. However, I was wrong about who she was refusing - the OP actually said she refused the midwives for the day one appointment- that is unacceptable. The health visitors are not necessary (but understandably welcomed by many and a good idea in principle), but the midwives are.