Health Visitor Visit... before bump arrives

[ReikiMummy]

As subject - is anyone else due to have a HV visit before bump is due?

Do you mean someone coming to see you at home before the baby is due?

I've had a phone call and asked if I wanted a visit before baby comes.

From memory, HV always came after the birth of my DCs. Maybe they do it differently now?

Nope

reiki mine came before. They give you the red book that you used to get in hospital.

Thanks everyone. Yes - someone coming to visit before baby arrives.

Asked my sister, but she couldn't remember!

Currently in a bit of a spin... nesting has kinda kicked in and everything MUST be CLEAN (even cleaner...) before they come see us next week!

My wonderful OH has been a star. Trying to think of a way to make it up to him because he's now had one hell of a week....

I had a midwife come round early on in pregnancy and haven't been asked again, found out they prefer you on your own not with your partner so than can ask you questions you might not answer in front of partners.

Reiki I was informed at AN classes last week that HV now routinely comes pre-arrival (at least in N Somerset) I've not heard re my appt yet but trying to work out what to do with slightly barky/growly dog

I'm sure they wont be checking the dust under the sofa tho :-/

If its your first or they have a particularly large caseload they might try to squeeze you in earlier. Mum is a HV and likes to offer additional support/ build up a rapport with her clients before baby has arrived so the relationship isn't so forced when youre tired, emotional and not too happy with a stranger in your home. Nothing to worry about usually

Mines coming next week. I don't particularly want one to come as have always found hv's to be....nosy, to be polite. But I didn't get the phonecall to ask if I would like anyone to come, I got a letter stating that someone will be coming on such a date at such a time. Go figure.
I also have a pain in the arse dog I'm just gonna shove her in the kitchen and shut the door. X

think it depends on your area - I didn't see a HV before dd arrived, but my friend (who lives just across the border with another NHS trust) did. both babies were born late last year.

No, only after the birth once the midwife had signed us off.

My midwive care is community based, so most of my MW appts are at home. Probably because of this, I have no HV appointments until after the MW has signed me off.

Thanks all. First I heard of it was a letter saying they'd be visiting on x date...

Feel a bit better about it though now. :) Just quite erm, 'particular' as to who I let in my house though generally... so goodness knows what I'll be like with a brand new little one in the house too!!

The thought of a HV in my home bothers me...I don't know anyone who has found them useful. And yet everyone I know (bar one person who found the HV so rude he through her out in the first visit) has submitted to the visits for fear of being thought "difficult".

Mine came, I had the whole house sparkling and was ready to show her round for inspection (I'm carrying my first child, not sure what goes down) and she stayed for 5 mins and then left. Asked me some Bizzare questions about whether I'm looking forward to being a mum and stuff but was writing what I was saying which made me uncomfortable, other than that it was all fine.

I'm with euro
Couldn't wait for home visits to finish
I found more useful, helpful information in 5mins on MN than all those visits
Nothing more than ticking boxes IME

Interestingly enough my friends felt the same....

I was offered an antenatal visit this time because I had pnd after my first - I declined.

In defence of HVs, though, my first ever HV was a calm, compassionate and wise woman who really bolstered my confidence at a very low time.

Just wish she hadn't accepted the free aptamil gumpf that gets pushed on them.

No not with my two (youngest born last year). You know health visitors are an optional service, you do not have to see them in your home if you do not want to. You can always visit the clinic directly to have your baby weighed, although I found the early visit (after midwife) useful as I had CS both times and wouldn't have made it to the clinic easily. The only useful part of HV visits for me was weighing the baby.

Stitch I think that is the point.
No one realises you don't HAVE to see the HV
I've had 3dc and only just realised
I would also worry that not having them would indicate a "cause for concern"leading to more issues IYSWIM

Op
Remember make sure house is clean and presentable when HV comes
Remember they make a point of looking at kitchen and bathroom / toilet
Smile and agree to everything she says

Try not to let them upset you. They look for non issues so they can put "advice given" on their forms. This does NOT make you a bad mother.

I used to arrange for a friend to visit me after the HV had gone, to calm me down, and for reassurance

Good luck

Thanks all... house is just about sparkling... kitchen and bathroom has been steamed and cleaned to within an inch of its life... living room is todays job!

House wasn't exactly dirty... but a bit cluttered.. we "do stuff" like hobbies and whatnot... as well as run businesses from home... so its never going to be a "showhome"!

She can ask to see baby's room if she likes... however its an empty freshly plastered shell at the moment!!! ;)

As my sister said to me yesterday, if we didn't do a fettle and sort they'd want to see everywhere.. as we've done it all - they'll probably stay 5 minutes and leave!! ;)

Yellow that's interesting - my midwife wants my DH to come to all my appointments.

I am only 21+2 though so maybe a bit different.

I did think it was weird that my first ever MW appt was at home though! :-)

It's optional you know. My (non nhs) midwife asked if I wanted referring to the Health visitor, and she'd come round and visit before the baby was born. We discussed what the health visitor actually does, (arranges weigh ins and developmental reviews and is a contact point for any concerns) and I realised none of that was helpful with my first so I declined.

After my first the hv came round to introduce herself before baby was born.
She said it was just so I knew who she was before she dropped in on me after midwife signed me off on day 10. Just so this strange woman wasn't turning up at my door talking about blood loss and sore boobs

Noone came before DD was born, but this reminded me about MW arriving unannounced a day or so after we went home and telling DH to wake the baby and me up for her about ten minutes after we had finally settled. She then got all stroppy because I wouldn't let her exam me (didn't have any stitches and frankly quite enough focus had been on my nether regions in the few days previous).

Sorry complete digression. Poor form...