Have to visit midwife five days after birth - is this normal?

[atvh]

I've been told that I have to take the baby for a midwife visit five days after the birth. It's a couple of miles away from my home so I will need to use public transport or a taxi to get there (DH and I don't drive).

I just wanted to know whether it is usual to have to do this so soon after the birth? I was thinking that I'd be able to stay at home for at least a week afterwards to recover. The thought of having to organise transport and an appointment so soon afterwards just feels a bit daunting right now.

Usually the midwife will visit you for the first few days but not every day and then the health visitor takes over from day 11. You wouldn't be expected to go to the surgery at all until your 6w post birth doctor check.

Is it for the baby's heel prick test? I think that was around day 5? Might be worth asking if they'll come to you?

It is very odd for you to have to go to them.

Maybe there is a change due to CV - perhaps they feel the risk is lower if the midwife isn't visiting multiple households?

I remember her coming to me on day 5 but I had to go to her, at the health centre, for the last visit before the health visitor took over on day 10. Might depend on areas?

Completely normal. I had to go to a hospital 25 mins away on day 5 for check and heel prick. This was 3 months ago. Some boroughs don't have the staff to do house visits so ask women to visit them.

My midwife came to me on day 2 but after that I had to go to them. Needed to take the baby for some extra weigh ins as he did took a while to get back to birthweight so ended up going 4-5 times. Was couple of miles away so had to get a taxi we wasn’t up to getting the bus. This was in London in 2018.

I had to visit the midwife on my day 5 visit. Normally they come to you in my area but it fell on a bank holiday so they were running a reduced staff and asked if I could come in instead.

I'd refuse unless they can visit you, not worth the risk IMHO

Maybe there is a change due to CV - perhaps they feel the risk is lower if the midwife isn't visiting multiple households?

Yes, in my area they would normally do home visits but are asking us to come to them because of the virus.

I suppose if I'm not feeling up to leaving the house then DH could always take the baby on his own.

We don't want to take public transport with a newborn given the current situation, but will hopefully be able to get an Uber - although even then, could we be exposing the baby to potential infection?

Speak to them. They may well be able to facilitate a home visit if you have no viable alternative.

They may well be able to facilitate a home visit if you have no viable alternative.

I'm guessing an Uber counts as a viable alternative.

I'd refuse unless they can visit you, not worth the risk IMHO

Isn't the five day check-up essential though?

Completely normal it's the day 5 heel prick test. I had to go to a children's centre for our daughters.

I only had one home visit from the midwife, all the rest I had to go to them.

Yes. I had to go to a children's centre five miles away, it was awful but as a home birth they obviously decided I'd be fine! Which I was if my husband hadn't decided it was a good time to thrash around the roundabouts.

It's really important that the Guthrie test is done. It screens for very serious conditions that need to be picked up ASAP.

We had to do the same at day 5, a clinic with no direct bus route and no parking six months ago.

Don't remember having to do it for DS1 though.