Health visitor home visit.

[Grimmfebruary]

What happens?

I'm 28 weeks and she's insisted on a visit to my in laws as we aren't due to move into our own place for a week and she apparently can't wait until we move to do the visit.

So what will she do at this visit?

I've never heard of a HV visiting before the birth, to be honest(and I have a large family). I'd be finding out what she can insist on, to be honest, and I suspect the answer is "not much".

My mum thought it was strange as well. She phoned 3 weeks ago insisting I was 28 weeks then (I wasn't), that I was due in January (due date has always been February) and she phoned Wednesday and insisted she needed to visit at 28 weeks and could do Friday and not in a week after we move.

I don't know what she's expecting to see or find out. baffled.

It is a prebirth visit just to introduce themselves and explain what the health visiting services are.
Not a check up and a universal service. It's a chance for you to ask any questions you may have before the baby arrives incase you are too tired etc after.
And a chance to give information about safe sleeping and see how you are prepared for being a parent. Midwives are often focused on labour and birth not the rest of their life bit
You can, like any health visitor visit refuse it but you may as well listen to what they say.

They aren't checking up on your house either but I would be annoyed about the insistence on dates etc
Mine came about 3 days before my elcs but did say that was a but last minute!

I had mine today, rearranged due to work from about 29 weeks to 34 weeks.

The answer is she didn't do a lot at the visit. She just introduced herself and explained their role, which is to visit after the birth and oversee the child's development at various intervals until school age. She asked about my pregnancy, birth plan, feeding and discussed how my husband and I were feeling about it all. Then left a booklet about breast feeding and made sure I had their contact number in case I had any questions. It was pretty relaxed and she didn't have a nose around or anything. I think it's quite a new thing for them to come and introduce themselves before birth.

Was gonna say she's not getting past the front room as we have half our old house in the bedroom we're staying in and it's a pigsty 😂 Feel a bit better about it now but she has got my back up being so pushy about needing to visit now. Especially when she didn't have any correct info the first time.

I Had mine a few weeks ago, it was just for her to introduce herself we just chatted for half an hour and that was it

I had my visit a couple of days before I was due to be induced. Like PPs, it was just a visit to introduce herself and find out a bit about me. She only came into the living room, there was certainly no checking up on the house.

They will be used to that sort of thing grimm so don't worry.
You can always ask for them to visit once you've moved but to be honest I imagine you'll be busy getting things sorted out before the baby comes. May be easier now.
Like every job you do get some stroppy people. Hopefully she may be better when your face to face

I had my antenatal visit this week, the day after my due date. It's like they knew I would go overdue! I received a letter stating when the appointment would be, and it had a line explaining that I could call to cancel if needed.

The HV just introduced herself and explained the services offered, and asked me a few questions like whether I have thought about breastfeeding, have I previously suffered from depression etc. It all felt very standard and not intrusive at all. She certainly didn't do a tour of the house or anything like that.

I had mine at 33 weeks rescheduled from 31 weeks. Health visitor just went through when she would visit and why as well as asking questions about feeding, family situation and how I was doing.

Very informal but not really worth her time.

We just had a bit of a chat and mostly played with my toddler as she tends to take over everything.

I think the idea is that they get to see how you are 'in yourself' before the baby arrives to help them spot any post natal depression indicators.

Thanks for all your help!

In our area they fill in all the paperwork for the baby too so that when they're born they just have to fill in the name / date of birth / weight and it's all done. It's so much better than having to do it when they're a few days old.

Here where I am we have a HV visit either at the children's centre or at our house depending on availability. Mine was done at home. She went over the use of the red book and made sure I knew about all the possible risks to look out for ie SIDS and a few others (especially as we had a rather bad case of infant death here not due to violence but they're on high alert about it now)
She also suggested a few things for us in our flat. We've been busy sorting through things and making lots more space after I finished uni this year so she saw it in all its messy glory. Made me feel a bit meh but it's been sorted now. DH was busy working 2 jobs at the time and he'd not been able to help me.

Oh, and she also let me know that if I ever needed anything they were there to help, even if the baby wasn't born yet. I didn't have to wait until then to speak to them. And that they'd help me with any problems, including PND if it happened.

Usually HVs visit just before the birth, around 34 weeks. It seems odd that she is demanding to visit at 29 weeks, if I am writing what you posted correctly. I've not known one to visit this early and I would suspect she either has your dates wrong (you might want to point them out) or a concern has been flagged up with the midwife (is there any reason you can think of why this might be?). They do now try to do one antenatal visit prior to the birth in most areas (where they have the resources). It's just to introduce themselves, check and see if you need anything specific so they can provide that support before baby arrives, answer any questions and give you your red book which you'll need to bring with you for the birth. But usually it's between 34-36 weeks.

She phoned when I was 25 weeks insisting I was 28 weeks and I told her what my actual dates were and she's phoned back middle of this week and insisted she can wait a week to do the visit when I would be in my own home and 30 weeks.

I gave her my correct due date 3 weeks ago so unless she's lost it all again I have no idea why she's doing it so early.

It could be something like she is on holiday and wants to fit you in before she goes

They visit from 28 weeks in my area. Something to do with perinatal mental health and midwives not having capacity to do antenatal classes etc. Everyone gets a visit at 28 weeks.

Don't see her if you don't want. It's a service not compulsory

Well she was very nice, just went iver immediate family medical history, gave me leaflets to read, chatted to dp. Stress over! Now bring on moving house!

Really pleased it went well
Good luck with the new house and baby