Health visitor - what do they do?

[afrikat]

I have a health visitor coming round on Friday (I will be 35 weeks) and when my DH asked what they are coming round for I realised I have no idea what they actually do!

Anyone? Are they just checking I don't live in a crack den and am somewhat prepared for the baby arriving soon??

Yeah I think it's partly to make sure where you're living is suitable but they'll also make sure you're aware of local services like weigh in times, groups etc as well as provide will with info and leaflets on all the latest guidelines like the back to sleep campaign. You should also be given your baby's red book and be told what the procedure is once baby is born (usually both midwife and hv will do home visits during the firat few weeks) and go over any tests (like the 14 day hearing test and heal prick test)

Excuse spelling mistakes (I'm on my phone! )

Thanks for that!

I didn't get my redbook til baby was here, but I had a very helpful chat talking about family inherited illnesses, problems I was anticipating, local services etc. unfortunately they repeated all this again at my 14 day check up and then varied between being useless to wrong, with a healthy dose of patronising on the side but all that is to come

Must be different by area. I didn't meet my HV until after baby was born and then I only think I met her once. Oh, and we got issued the red book on leaving hospital after the birth, except when I got home and looked more closely, I realised we'd been given the wrong red book - it was for a different baby!

Can I just ask, how do you get the red book if you are not going to use the HV service?

i had a terrible experience with them when my ds was born, I deregistered from the NHS and went private. From 8 weeks, he had all vaccinations with a private ped.

I have a private GP, so I don't even have a dr surgery, but will need a red book. Any ideas on what I do? This time round I won't be using HV, will be having private anti natal care etc and this baby will be seeing ds private dr.

Any ideas on what I do? HV's are linked to an nhs surgery - neither me or the baby will be registered.

humour me ladies, what is the red book? i live overseas....

Makqueen - do you want free nursery provision from age 3 and state schooling? Because the local authority uses info from who's registered with the doctor...

From NHS website - Personal Child Health Record or 'Red Book'...

Shortly before or after your baby is born, you?ll be given a Personal Child Health Record (PCHR). In England, this usually has a red cover and is often called "the red book". This is a way of keeping track of your child?s progress. Wherever you are and whatever happens to your child, you?ll have a record of their health and progress, which can be shared with health professionals.
When you visit a clinic, your GP or a hospital, your baby's healthcare professional will use the red book to record your child?s weight and other measurements, vaccinations and other important health information.
You can also add information yourself. It?s a good idea to record any illnesses or accidents and details of any medicines your child takes. You?ll find it helpful to keep the developmental milestones section of the PCHR up to date and to fill in the relevant questionnaires before the review. Don?t forget to take the book with you when you take your child for a review or vaccination. Also try to bring it if you have to go to accident and emergency (A&E) or a walk-in centre.

"Makqueen - do you want free nursery provision from age 3 and state schooling? Because the local authority uses info from who's registered with the doctor..."

she can just phone her council and ask to be put on the list.

The red book is a book given to all parents when their baby is born. it contains info about vaccinations and all the growth/height charts which the health visitor fills in periodically to check the baby is developing.

My health visitor didn't come until after the baby was born.

oh - and I have never been asked to produce my red book when I go to the GP with my son.

longtalljosie My son goes to school. His not being registered with the nhs has never been a problem.

"Makqueen - do you want free nursery provision from age 3 and state schooling? Because the local authority uses info from who's registered with the doctor..."

Not hey don't. You get your nursery provision by signing up to a nursery yourself. You find out who offers the 15 hours and ring them up. For starting school you pick up a form from a school, library etc and fill it in, usually in the autumn of the school year before your child would start.

To the OP your HV is there from birth to school age. They mostly on a dependancy basis so if you need more support they visit more, if you don't they leave you alone. Of course all areas differ slightly. They will start visiting form around day 10 and take over from the MW when she signs you off between day 10 and day 28. The HV will weigh the baby. Most areas have set times they weigh and then you can take baby to a drop in clinic at other times if you want. You can of course refuse services if you want. They are there for advice and for standard developmental checks at certain ages, this varies form area to area. They can help you with weaning, sleeping, potty training etc. Through your HV you might get invited to classes such as baby massage or a weaning course. When your child reaches school age the school nurse takes over.

Why do you need a red book now if you've never had any hv services etc?

I'm pregnant again - I'm thinking about the new baby.

DS has one as he was registered when he was born. His paediatrician has always filled it in, put in the vaccination stickers etc.

I was just wondering where I'd get one for the new baby, that's all.

I met my health visitor at 28 weeks! Total waste of time if you ask me.

It was good to be introduced, but she gave me lots of information on sleeping guidelines and breastfeeding, most of which i already knew and all of which has no value until baby is born!

here you dont meet the hv untill 15 days after babys been born

Indith - they certainly do around here. But different local authorities do so things differently. Makqueen might like to check...

I didn't see a HV until after being signed off by midwives after both my two were born.

They came, gave me the red book, checked weight, reflexes and if all was well re: feeding etc...

I didn't bother with HV once I knew they were gaining weight, but for some they can be great for access to speech therapists, special needs services, someone to talk to for support etc...

Never even heard of the red book til I started this thread so that's useful!

I am a staff nurse in a health visiting team so I can answer this! We do the New birth visits at 10 days old, 6 week follow up visits to screen for post natal depression, 1 yr and 2 yr development checks on children and run the child health (baby weighing clinics). We provide health education and promote good health for families and children - things like SIDS prevention, immunisations, feeding, sleeping etc.

However this is only a small part of our work, most of our time is take up with child protection work and working with families who need additional support such as parents with mental health issues, families where there is domestic violence, children or parents with disabilities.