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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

HV visit during pregnancy?

37 replies

Littlebean13 · 28/01/2014 20:00

I'm currently 35weeks pg with my first dc and today I got a letter throught the post from a health visitor saying she will be coming to visit me at home next week.
It says the purpose of the visit is to meet her, get baby's red book and to do a safe sleep assessment where she will check where baby will be sleeping during the day and at night.
I'm aware that this is normal protocol for our area but I'm still worrying a little about the visit. Has anyone had a visit from a hv before baby was born and if so how did it go?

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yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 28/01/2014 20:09

I got one, apparently it's also to talk to the mum by herself in her own surroundings about dv. I found out because dh was in the house as he was off work that day at my home appointment , and they asked me later after a scan.
They just came in and sat in the living room talked asked a few questions answered questions then left.
It's also so they know where your house is and if you have pets, like a huge dog as they will be visiting later on.
They don't wander around your house inspecting work surfaces or going in rooms,It's your home, just let them see and know what you want.

fairypangolin · 28/01/2014 20:59

I did and I think it was just because the HV was being proactive. We just chatted for about 20 min and then she left. I wouldn't stress about it. Good luck!

SaucyJack · 28/01/2014 21:12

I had a letter through saying she wanted to come and introduce herself and the "Health Visiting Service"- which I cancelled as I'm a miserable cow and I don't give a frick about meeting people- and our letter was nowhere near as intrusive as yours.

She has no right to check where your baby will be sleeping in your home. I'm getting irate on your behalf tbh.

lilyaldrin · 28/01/2014 21:15

I wouldn't worry about the visit (though it's optional, so if you really don't want one you don't have to). My first HV visit was just filling in the red book, advice about cot death, smoking, and she did ask some questions about my situation/DV/depression so be prepared that they might feel intrusive (eg, employment status, whether I owned or rented, whether the baby was planned).

BikeRunSki · 28/01/2014 21:20

What fairy said, and a bit of what lilyaldrin said.

99redbafoons · 28/01/2014 21:23

Actually I do think HV's have a right to ensure babies are being brought home into appropriate environments.

callamia · 28/01/2014 21:24

Mine said that she came to tell you things before you had a tiny baby and we're horribly sleep deprived and bewildered. This seemed like a good idea. She told me about breastfeeding cafes (total lifesaver), PND, when other appointments and visits would be, asked about my support networks etc. It was quite helpful, and she was really friendly. She didn't even use my bathroom, so I'd scrubbed it all for nothing

SaucyJack · 28/01/2014 21:27

You can think that all you like 99red, but it isn't true.......

bumpybumps · 28/01/2014 21:29

When the hv came to visit me when i was pregnant she just went through what they do, and she did a questionnaire which asked really personal questions to determine if i was at risk from post natal depression or domestic violence. That was all she didn't look around the house or anything.

99redbafoons · 28/01/2014 21:32

Oh right, I'll just climb back in my box then. Please don't have the front to tell me my beliefs are wrong when they simply don't match yours, that's ignorant, not to mention rude, beyond belief.

I don't understand why it's not a safe and appropriate measure to provide guidance and support to new mums when as a pp said you're not so sleep deprived you can't see. I imagine 99% of checks are fine, no issue but in some cases I think these sorts of visits might highlight important safety aspects that perhaps hadn't been considered. I, in no way felt I was being checked up on. It was a brief, informative, supportive visit - where's the problem.

lilyaldrin · 28/01/2014 21:32

99red - they don't have a legal right to inspect your home though.

99redbafoons · 28/01/2014 21:33

Agreed, but I don't think the OP said they had issue with that?

LavenderFox · 28/01/2014 21:34

I think it is a Government guideline that health visitors make antenatal contact with mums but only in some areas their resources reach to this. I know many lovely health visitors but some of their role has been reduced to box-ticking certain topics like safe sleep and smoking and drugs and alcohol and home safety and bath safety etc etc to the point I am sure some people find the visits quite tedious....

Xfirefly · 28/01/2014 21:36

mine just came in and introduced herself, told us what they do, asked of we had any questions and left there was no personal questions or snooping around.

AnnaBanana25 · 28/01/2014 21:38

I agree with 99red... HVs and other agencies are there for support. Risk of DV greatly increases in pregnancy and if you're suffering depression or other MH issues, what a great service to have agencies who can help.

For those it doesn't affect, we/they can either kindly accept or decline as they feel appropriate and carry on with their lives.

99redbafoons · 28/01/2014 21:40

No, me neither. A brief overview of services, some questions about feeding intentions (so she could highlight provision of service), asked where baby would sleep (co-sleeping, no negative response) that was it really. I would be really surprised if any letter or indeed HV tried to imply or insist on looking round your house?

Original poster

Littlebean13 · 28/01/2014 22:01

The letter pissed me off with how it's worded tbh. 'To keep your baby safe, the health visitor will undertake a safe sleep assessment. They will ask to see where your baby will be sleeping, day and night as part of this assessment'

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AnneElliott · 28/01/2014 22:01

We had one. She came and asked some really personal questions about any trauma we'd suffered in our lives such as incest, sexual abuse etc that was the first thing she said. Err no we said, and then there was a silence and we showed her out!

Reckon HVs are a total waste of space and I refused to see them after that.

Shellywelly1973 · 28/01/2014 22:07

My issue with HV is that they talk a lot but do very little IME.

After my 4th dc was born I developed very severe PND. The HV didnt help. She visited once. My GP gave me prozac on repeat prescription for over 2 years. No counselling, support -nothing.

I'm about to have my 6th dc. I've been a parent for nearly 25 years. I have 2 ds with SNs, I know the reality of the lack of support for families in need.

CrispyFB · 28/01/2014 22:23

They clearly go too far in some areas (I'd be all WTF at this too!) and not far enough in others. Like Shellywelly I even told my HV after DC2 that I was at high risk of PND, given my father had died suddenly recently and I'd spent four months on strict bedrest not expecting DC2 to make it, and had to stop work, plus a whole bunch of other things.

"Okay" she said, and never came back.

Six months later I finally got the confidence to go to my GP and get referred for therapy. Privately. As the NHS waiting list was out the door.

Ilovekittyelise · 28/01/2014 22:33

after my son was born we tolerated the standard hv appointments. fine, awful things happen to kids; whilst idisagree with the nanny state approach, i can see that these post natal visits might help to identify children in vulnerable environments.

this pregnancy i had a call to say hv wanted to meet me, around 28 weeks. apparently because i have type 1 diabetes and had a difficult birth last time, it automatically makes me a candidate for high level interference.

when said busybody came round i explained to her that the biggest difficulty in my life was holding down a professional job with excessive hospital appointments, and having to take time out for another was about the least useful thing ever. i also made it quite clear that regardless of the difficulties i encountered last time (mainly as a result of heavy handed nhs policies) i am someone that just gets the fuck on with it, and taking care of a baby had somehow been blown out of proportion into something a lot harder than it actually is and no thankyou, i dont need your support.

i think i would have lost my mind if she had wanted to inspect the babys sleeping quarters. that is absolutely invasive and uncalled for. if a casual visit postnatally raises any questions in a health visitirs tiny mind about the parents ability to provide a safe environment then a referral should be made to social services.

Strongecoffeeismydrug · 28/01/2014 22:45

My hv came to visit me at 35 weeks and has already pissed me off!
She asked me if I was formula feeding because of my son with special needs! WTF
I said no I'm formula feeding because I want to and last time I looked it was me who had boobs not my son !
She also said she would be visiting more often as my sons challenging ( she's never met him).
I've politely told her no she's not and if I want to speak to her I have her number but not to hold her breath.
Interfering arses but offer no help if it's really needed

Ilovekittyelise · 28/01/2014 22:51

strong coffee they are a special breed arent they. my son arrived part way through (as in my husband brought him home). hes 2. she asked how his speech was; it would have been nice if he'd piped up and said "none of your fucking business", to be honest.

Original poster

Littlebean13 · 28/01/2014 22:56

I'm glad it's not just me that feels slightly peeved about them wanted to see where baby will sleep. It feels abit like they just want to have a good nosy around my house

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ShadowFall · 28/01/2014 23:06

HV came round to visit when I was about 35 weeks pregnant with DS2 (but we had no antenatal visit for DS1).

She just sat in the living room, talked about current advice re. cot death, feeding and so on, and told me about clinics, groups in the area, and about what post-natal visits they normally do. And left a stack of leaflets.

She did ask where DS2 would sleep when she was talking about reducing the risk of cot death, but there was no request to be shown a crib set up in our bedroom or anything like that. She didn't give us a red book either. The midwives gave me that when DS2 & I were discharged from hospital.

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