Health visitor coming today (34 week visit?)

[PistFump]

My health visitor is doing an antenatal home visit today (I'm 35+2). Due to a bad experience with a health visitor with my last baby, I'm feeling a little guarded and suspicious of why she's coming. Has anyone else had an antenatal home visit and what was it for / about? I feel like I'm being inspected...

It's a new protocol they have started. It's basically just a meet and greet so they can see how you are before baby comes, go through paperwork without the distraction of baby and then when they come and see you with baby they have more time to do their checks. It's nothing to worry about and they aren't trying to catch you out at all!

Mine came round and drank tea. She brought biscuits too. We chatted about a few things, she left.

Round here they do it because it's nice and relaxed. No inspecting.

It's just to introduce themselves, give you leaflets, tell you when baby clinics are, check you have everything you need for the baby, probably ask about your mood and dv (they seem to ask those every time).

You know this is optional though?

Yes it’s new, just smile and nod in all the right places!

Equally some HV can be fab so if you need support then you can ask

New protocol? My DD is about to turn 11!

It's just to 'introduce' you to the service & what the visiting schedule is postnatally. It takes about 15- 30 minutes. It's always happened in my area but I know in others it's only been introduced in the last couple of years.

I think they're quite normal. I've always had one. All it is, is to pick up any issues early so they know what support you might need when baby arrives. I've always leave mine know I'm prone to pnd, so they keep an eye out and got me into baby massage to help with it once it descended.

They've never been judgemental or looking round the house. They don't have enough time for everyone, so if the house is clean and you seem ok they'll be in and out.

Yes not new, I had one almost 8 years ago.

I didn't have one with nearly 7yo ds, they came after he was born. House is "ok" - not brill upstairs because we've just had to empty the loft for some work to be done, but the living room is passable hopefully I will be able to to contain her in here!

Mine at that stage was the one where I got the red book and they gave details of bf support groups and leaflets on sepsis etc.

It's also so that the HV can get an idea of 'how' you are before the baby arrives to help them spot any signs of PND once the baby is here. Nothing to be wary of.

You do realise you can opt out of health visiter involvement don't you? It's not mandatory to have them involved.

I fully expected the health visitor to inspect the property, so I cleaned and tidied like if the queen was visiting. But she just sat in the lounge and went through a load of paperwork
Luckily the health visitors in my area all seem lovely

I didn't have a health visitor at 34 weeks, but I do have a home visit today from a perinatal psychiatric nurse at 37 weeks. No idea what it will entail and am quite nervous even though I have done very well with my mental health throughout pregnancy and the visit seems routine.

But I keep worrying about things like not having a wardrobe for the baby's clothes and that the place isn't baby proofed even though there's no need for it to be yet.

Hopefully it goes well for both of us PistFump.

It's not mandatory to have HV involvement if you don't want to :)
They were trying to book me in for this home meeting and I was working FT and a lot of overtime so couldn't fit it in. Don't worry about it if you don't want to have one.

It's new in my area! My friends 's child is 2 and she didn't have one. She is also a HV and is only just starting to do these visits.

I'm going to go along with it for now but if they start stressing me out like they did last time then I'll opt out. Last time was dreadful!!!

I'm 38 weeks with my first and haven't had any mention of a health visitor or anyone coming to see me at home?