Trainee health visitor, could I ask for someone who's not a trainee?

[Baby2018]

I dont have anything really against a trainee, I know everyones got to learn their trade. But this is my first baby and my pregnancy has some complications. Do you think it would be unreasonable to ask for someone who is fully qualified already? or is it a get what you're given situation? has anyone else had a trainee health visitor?

thanks

Your health visitor will generally only be looking after you after the midwife team has discharged you (in my area this happens when baby is 10 days old) so by then your pregnancy having had complications shouldn't have as much bearing.

In some ways I'd be pleased to have a trainee HV. Some of the HVs who've seen DD have had some ideas that are really quite out of date and I imagine a trainee will be very current, very careful and may be more flexible in approach. This might be enough to balance their relative lack of experience.

HVs don't seem to be much use tbf unless you get someone extra qualified. I have seen about eight different ones and only one of them didn't come across as a condescending idiot (she was a really lovely person and very helpful and knowledgeable with a great deal of passion for her work), the rest were all grumpy and rather thick. If you have any real problems you will almost definitely end up with your GP anyway. I wouldn't bother if she's nice.

A trainee health visitor will be a qualified nurse or midwife already and as others have said will visit after the baby is born so I'm not sure what the issue is.

I would rather have a trainee HV with updated knowledge than the one I had.

Thanks all I hadn't actually thought of the "up to date" knowledge side of things thats a very good point, and to be honest I wasn't 100% sure on what a health visitor did apart from check on you and the baby?

@FormerlyFrikadela01 I wasn't saying I had an issue with it as such I just wanted to know what to expect / if I was better off getting someone more experienced given that its my first pregnancy. I didnt know theyd have to be a trained midwife or nurse already thats good to know

I agree with the above comments, I think some health visitors (have worked alongside many, I'm not one) become complacent and have quite outdated ideas/opinions. A trainee will be working alongside a mentor so if they have any worries or questions they will be able to check in with a qualified health visitor.

Not the same, but my student midwife was wonderful...far better than the qualified! X

I’m a paeds nurse, my hv for my second son was a paeds nurse she was fantastic caring and knowledgable, for sons 3&4 hv also wonderful not sure her background but she trains the new hv in our area - I’ve spoken to her about applying myself. 3 of the staff on my ward have left to train as hv and i’d be more than happy for any of them to care for my children in a trainee role most have 10+ years experience on the wards and are fab nurses and will be even better health visitors.

Sure you will have fab care, all trainees wjll be supported by a senior hv trained to mentor them, so you can contact someone if you’ve any questions. I hope you get someone lovely and they put your mind at ease.

I had a trainee health visitor and she was fab. She was quite often accompanied by another health visitor and did her best to find me breast feeding support when I was struggling

You need to be a qualified nurse with experience before becoming a student Health Visitor. Just adding that in.... so they may have more experience in other areas of nursing than a fully qualified HV.