Health visitor home visit

[Penguinandminipenguin]

I've had a phone call from the hv today, wanting to visit on Friday (I'll be 37 weeks). I'm just wondering what the purpose of the visit is, as what exactly she'll be doing? Tia :)

Just to say hello and introduce herself before the birth.
More HV are able to offer antenatal visits these days.

I had a hv visit last week (39 weeks). It was to introduce herself, tell me about the support they'd give once the baby arrives and also ask a few questions for their paperwork. She asked where the baby will sleep etc but didn't ask to see the nursery or anything like that.

Dont forget you can decline hv visit, they have no legal right to enter your home.

Its likely we will decline as its the same hv as when i had ds and i disagreed with her methods and advice

Thanks for the replies. Might seem like a really stupid question, (am new to all this), but what actually is a hv/what do they do? Are they there for me or the baby? Are they the people who weigh the baby and check its getting the right amount of milk etc?

They're for both you and the baby. At around 7/10 days after birth you're discharged by the midwife and the health visitor takes over. They weigh baby, answer questions etc, check health. They are also there to help you. I had post natal depression with my son and they were amazing. Just had my first health visitor visit as we've moved area (I'm 33+6) and she was lovely. My hubby was here and he was impressed too. Very supportive. I'd say accept the visit. It gives you a chance to get to knowt them. If you don't get along you can always request someone else!

I had this and wondered why, but apparently it's just to check up on the family, ask you how things are going, (if it's like mine) go through another sheet of Awkward Questions (dunno if that was just in my area) and then leave you with a whole forest's worth of leaflets you may or may not need and then explain what a HV actually does etc.

They are meant to be there for you both, some hv are great and supportive, some not so. It is such a shame they arwnt all good, as they really can be a lifeline when it comes to spotting pnd.

We used our to the absolute minimum, just weigh ins at a mum and baby group. I didnt like the way she pushed controlled crying, weaning at 12 weeks and stopping bf, all going against who guidelines