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Original poster

Health visitor visit ? 36 weeks?

32 replies

JPK1510 · 08/05/2019 13:08

Had a call to say I’ll be having my home visit next week. she said this was normal? What happens at these appointments does anyone know? Thank you

OP posts:

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RaspberryBubblegum · 08/05/2019 13:12

I don't recall exactly when HV did visits but it will just be to check baby is OK in home environment/check they are hitting milestones. Nothing to worry about. HV will make appointments up until 3 years old I believe. Just had mine round for 27 month visit!

Eslteacher06 · 08/05/2019 13:12

What are your circumstances? Are you a young mum?

I requested one just cause I didn't want a stranger coming to my house when I was at my most vulnerable, assessing the baby and my house. They just have a chat to you and discuss any concerns you might have. I found it helpful. It's nothing to worry about.

LivingOnAPear · 08/05/2019 13:16

I had one with my first and the hv said it was just an introduction to the health visitor service. They tell you about services available in the area and about future checks when the baby arrives. She said they like to visit people before hand so that the customer feels more comfortable and are not meeting for the first time with the new baby. If you need additional support then they probably go into more detail but my visit was a fairly brief chat.

I’m nearly 36 weeks with my second and haven’t heard anything so think it might be a first baby thing or dependent on area and resources.

octonoughtcake3 · 08/05/2019 13:18

Standard for everyone in our area. It’s so they can meet you and give information out before you are exhausted parent of a two week old.

Mine was 3 years ago but she talked about safe sleeping, you can’t cuddle a baby too much and told DH he must be a gatekeeper for visitors.

Spicypizza · 08/05/2019 13:20

Standard here too.
Although we didn’t get one when I was expecting dd as somehow we were missed.

spugzbunny · 08/05/2019 13:26

Standard in my area for first time mums as well. She came round for a cup of tea and just had a nice chat! She didn't check the babies room like I'd assumed and just asked if I had everything I needed and if my husband was excited etc. I think it's just to get a feel for how you are doing and if you might need extra help. It's all very positive.

Darkstar4855 · 08/05/2019 13:35

Mine came round at 38 weeks. It was just to introduce herself, explain how the service worked and give me some information leaflets. It’s good to meet them before you are exhausted and hormonal!

Grumpos · 08/05/2019 13:51

Standard procedure here, they talk to you about their services, make themselves known to you so it’s not a complete shock when they start turning up on your door step regularly to visit / check baby.
They don’t go nosing around your house don’t worry, they generally just want to make sure you know what the HV services are and how to contact them.

stiffstink · 08/05/2019 13:53

I didn’t have mine as I was at work up to 39 weeks- the reaction was as though no woman had ever done that before, ever.

She still came round after the birth and did the usual stuff then.

Mintypea5 · 08/05/2019 13:57

Standard here too now. Apparently it's so they get a chance to meet you properly before baby comes and everything's a bit more hectic. I found it reassuring knowing who mine was instead of just some random women turning up after having had a baby

Flamingosnbears · 08/05/2019 14:31

Standard in our area also...
Never had it with last two however this is what they like to do now so they get all the questions out the way so when they visit after birth they can focus on checks for baby.

MollyChandler · 08/05/2019 15:19

Has anyone ever requested to meet elsewhere, rather than in their home?

MyNameIsRachel · 08/05/2019 15:24

I had one early like that because I had antenatal depression I think.
No one said as much but I believe that was the case. Didn’t have a problem with that.

3teens2cats · 08/05/2019 15:41

Yes, totally standard, especially with your first. From memory they spoke about current sleeping advice, checking how you were planning to feed and seeing if you needed any advice. Of course they are checking for any concerns about your living conditions but more along the lines of basic habitabilty rather than your choice of soft furnishings! I remember with my first she commented that it was a bit cold and asked about heating. We had night storage heaters in that house and it was tricky to keep it at a constant temperature.

Russell19 · 08/05/2019 15:46

@mollychandler just out of interest why would you want to do that?

PanamaPattie · 08/05/2019 15:50

Just say no. It’ll save you disengaging with them in the future when you realise what a waste of time the service is.

MollyChandler · 08/05/2019 16:04

*@Russell19 * Several reasons, I'm not particularly comfortable with strangers in my home, I lived in a studio flats for so many years that it just feels weird, even now in a house where my bedroom isn't in the sitting room or kitchen. Also I work from home. Any opportunity to leave the house is one to leap at! As it is just organised to meet the Health Visitor without the baby and receive information it shouldn't matter where the meeting is.

Eslteacher06 · 08/05/2019 16:07

@MollyChandler But wouldn't it be worse having them in your home when you're sleep deprived and possibly up and down with hormones? They need to check out here you live to check it's a safe environment for the baby too. Guessing here, but they may be suspicious if you avoid seeing them in your house?

Pipandmum · 08/05/2019 16:20

The point is to check the baby and you. My visitor looked at my Caesarian scar to check it was healing properly. She asked if breastfeeding was going ok etc etc. Did I have support/any problems/any issues/did I want to join a post natal class...
They are not there to inspect your house. They are there to see if you and baby are ok. They come to you so as to make it as convenient as possible for you. I actually only had one visit and thereafter took my child for weighing/measuring at the health centre. It’s a good thing!

MeredithGrey1 · 08/05/2019 16:43

I had my antenatal visit yesterday. It was fine, but a complete waste of time. She didn’t ask any question my midwife hadn’t already asked (where do you want to give birth, how are you planning on feeding), and didn’t give me any info that my midwife hadn’t already talked about. But she was nice and it was no bother (apart from the extra time off work), I was more just a bit bemused about what the actual point was.

Tobebythesea · 08/05/2019 16:45

In my area you get a home visit for your first child at about 36 weeks. With your second and other children, it’s a TC.

CloudRusting · 08/05/2019 16:46

I’m surprised everyone gets much individualised home visits. Where I live in London absent individual concerns being raised you have to go queue to see the HV at a weighing session and discuss anything in front of a large room of others. Certainly no ante natal visits.

Aimily · 08/05/2019 16:49

I had mine yesterday and I'm 29 weeks, apparently its just a luck of the draw and not all mums to be get them until after birth (midwife told me this)
She basically went through what she does and what support is available in the area to me. Was very nice but it was all stuff I'd been through with the midwife, she was only with me for about an hour.

I worried that it was because I'd mentioned how disconnected and unhappy I'd been feeling to my midwife and they wanted to make sure I was ok at home.

Bluearsedfly36 · 08/05/2019 17:30

I had this when I had my youngest 3 years ago, she just came to introduce herself and double check my details. She was there 10 mins if that.

MollyChandler · 08/05/2019 17:39

@Eslteacher06 Personally, I have insomnia, so I'm not sure how much of an effect a baby is going to have in terms of sleep deprivation.
It seems that locally, going to drop in centres are the norm, but you can request a home visit. Plus the first contact is at 28 weeks rather than 36. I was curious, as it seems the majority of people commenting were just receiving information rather than having their homes inspected, and it took a lot of digging on the health visitor service webpage to find that information.

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