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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Health visitors?

21 replies

Pickles77 · 07/08/2012 15:35

I've got a health visitor coming tomorrow, I'm 32 weeks with my first dd. I thought HV's only came after the baby is born?
Is it normal her coming tomorrow and if so what is it for?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RhubarbCrumbled · 07/08/2012 16:09

HVs are a law unto themselves. I had loads of missed visits just after DS was born when I actually needed them and then loads when I didn't. It'll be nothing to worry about and will just be them ticking boxes. Expect them to be late and ask lots of pointless questions.

tamster83 · 07/08/2012 16:16

ive never seen a health visitor untill after the birth and im on my 4th baby ! so does seem abit strange ,,,,, probably something new there trying out i wouldnt worried there all about the ticking boxes.

ellangirl · 07/08/2012 16:55

Here it's normal for one to visit before birth, it's just for them to introduce themselves and what they do, and for you to ask questions. Bit pointless but there you go!

Jods1 · 14/08/2012 16:19

Our area does health visitor visits about 6-8 weeks before your due.. to ask questions etc, most info they give you will probably forget by the time baby arrives.. on in my case within a day or two of their visit! lol

rubberducky24 · 14/08/2012 17:22

Hiya - I am 35 weeks and had a health visitor appt last week. It was a 15 - 20 min appt while she went through some leaflets on various support groups, and then explained the various times she would be seeing me after the baby arrives. She gave me the baby's red book and went through the various tests the baby would need and when, then gave me a copy of the 'Birth to Five' book which is great but apparently they no longer give out due to funding so she was just giving away her last remaining copy!

daisydee43 · 14/08/2012 17:27

In my experience just go along with what they have to say/want you to do but I wouldn't take their advice as they all dispute themselves and cause more problems, GPs, mums net and pharmacists are best for advice.

Hope it all goes well

MoonHare · 14/08/2012 17:28

It's normal to get a home visit from your HV when your expecting your first.

She'll stay about 15-20 mins probably and give you a few leaflets, red-book (which is what they record baby's weight, head circ, details of vaccinations etc in) that sort of thing.

I think the main reason for coming is to see you in your pre-baby state. The HV usually comes back to your house when baby is about 10-14 days old, after you've been discharged by midwives.

So if you've met in advance you'll feel more comfortable seeing them and asking questions plus it gives them a base-line for you!

elizaregina · 14/08/2012 18:02

"In my experience just go along with what they have to say/want you to do but I wouldn't take their advice as they all dispute themselves and cause more problems, GPs, mums net and pharmacists are best for advice."

Totally agree and it seems ridoiculous that they do all come along and contradict each other, and were no help at all, DD wasnt a great eater and was under average percetile line - got F all help from them.
wonder how much they earn

ellangirl · 14/08/2012 20:26

I think that's unfair on health visitors. Seeing as there is no definitive right answer when it comes to babies or children, what's wrong with a well intentioned and usually experienced health visitor offering another opinion. They are nurses too after all. The appointment before birth can be a bit of a waste of time as I already said, but they are there to support you, and I have met some great health visitors who know an awful lot more about young babies than a lot of GPs.

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 14/08/2012 20:30

it depends on the area, ours has more high risk families so we see HVs loads, before the birth, home visits after, lots of clinics, any families that are new to the area gets a home visit etc

moved to a posher area and didn't see one one! never met mine

it varies

brettgirl2 · 14/08/2012 20:30

I think keep an open mind, I've had 3 health visitors and liked all of them tbh. The key is to keep in mind that they offer advice.... therefore if you want to you ignore.

Wowserz129 · 14/08/2012 20:33

She's probably just coming to introduce herself!!

I have found HV nothing but a pain in the arse tbh!

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 14/08/2012 20:33

they're like any group, there are shite GPs and great ones, shite pharmacists and great ones, shite advice on some MN threads and some fantastic ones!

when it comes to baby things there isn't often one size fits all answers

ellangirl · 14/08/2012 20:35

Indeed lacking

elizaregina · 14/08/2012 20:35

I think that's unfair on health visitors.

depends on which ones you have had.

obvioulsy some of us have been left more in teh dark and confused after they have stuck their oars in. not helpful at all to nervous first time mums.

brettgirl2 · 14/08/2012 20:36

How is the hv a pain in the arse? If you dont like her then dont see her - you dont have to.

elizaregina · 14/08/2012 20:37

"but they are there to support you"

MINE DIDNT support - i really needed alot of help on a range of issues after dd1 birth and was left confused - upset - etc etc...after each one gave diff opinion.
the problem is - they dont tell you - by the way this is JUST MY OPINOion, you only wake up to that after you have seen a few and then got the hang of this....

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 14/08/2012 20:46

eliza you've had bed experiences, you could easily find people who've had bad experiences of dentists, doctors, nurses etc etc

but overall they provide a useful service, I'm sorry you didn't get a good service, but its not helpful to impose your own experience on someone who hasn't even met hers yet! they can be an absolute life-line (literally) to some women so the OP is best keeping an open mind for now!

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 14/08/2012 20:47

BAD experiences, .. but obv bed experience too in order to require a HV

brettgirl2 · 14/08/2012 20:48

I agree eliza that people dont realise. If you keep that in mind they are much more bearable. I had to laugh second baby, middle class area, me opinionated, my health visitor this time seemed a bit scared of me ;-)

whatsoever · 15/08/2012 12:24

My mum still raves about how amazing the health visitor she had when I was a baby was, and I'm 31! She sounded like an amazing woman and was incredibly highly thought of in our area.

I have however heard stories of totally useless ones but never any that actually caused harm.

Worth keeping an open mind and promptly discarding any advice if it sounds like bunkem.

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