HV ante natal visit- what to expect?

[thislittlesisterlola]

HV is coming to visit me tomorrow. I, tbh am quite anxious.
Other than ensuring my house is spotless and worrying what she is looking for/judging me.
What do I need to do?
What will she ask me?
Help please!

nothing! pleaser dont worry

everyone thinks the same
yes i assume it's to check you don't live in squalor & also they might get a feel for DV? other than that it's a bog standard "this is me" visit

don't worry nothing much to it. i had a lovely hv with my first and she told me the visit was to introduce herself while i could still remember my own name! She was right because after the birth i didn't know whether i was coming or going .

Mine had a general chat about me and hubby to find out what we did for a living, find out if dh was planning to take time off after the birth and give you the red book to take to the hospital with you.

A home visit BEFORE the baby is born?????

This is a new one to me (pregnant now, but last child is 13 years old!).

I'm 23 weeks and no one has mentioned a home visit - does this vary depending on your health board? I'm in Scotland so maybe it's diffeent here?

Ok. Sorry I just totally freaked out there- toast and tea and I'll be fine.
SPB- DV- what that mean (sorry)
So it is just a meet and greet visit. Ok I can handle that.

mum2... oh blimey you get a red book before they are born?

Thanks for your speedy replies

domestic violence
they ask at the MW appointment but I guess if the HV comes to your house you might open up a bit more etc

I know oldmum I didnt know anything about this, just got a phone call. She seemed nice enough on the phone am 39 weeks to the day so she is coming tomorrow. I just worry

I had DD in 2007 and never had a visit before her birth. In saying that she came 6 days early, so I might have missed out.

Hope it's the same HV as with DD she was very nice.
They will have to take me as they find me, with a toddler I am not as organised as I once was .

nunnie they incorporated mine for DD in with DS's 2 year check

Wow, are you expected to have a tidy house? Our house tends to be a messy most of the time and with a dog and me not liking to lift the (v heavy) hoover now, our carpets often aren't perfect!

thanks spb- does dp have to be here then? I was never asked at mw app.

I dont know, im nesting so its pretty tidy. I hope this goes ok

ok am now worried as dp wont be here- at work. its really short notice for him to make arrangements for him to be here. Agh!

No, mine wasn't.
I just mean in your own home you might feel less intimidated and open up. Obviously if he is there and is growling "Shurrup woman I'm watching the footie" while clouting you round the head then that would help too
Anyway, I'm guessing DV isn't an issue, congratualtions on the pg and seriously please don't stress about the HV visit.

am in scotland and just had HV visit yesterday - no they don't check your house is spotless, they just come to ask how you feel about the pregnancy, and introduce themselves, you get the chance to ask any questions and she'll probably talk you through when she'll next see you when the baby arrives etc. It's all very standard practice and nothing to worry over, honestly!

no your DP/Dh doesn't have to be around when they visit - they are mainly there to see you.

As far as I am aware it is just to introduce themselves. It is also a way of checking that baby is going to be living somewhere suitable. I remember my HV asking about heating as it was middle of winter (I was hot and it wasn't on at the time). It is routine but very useful at identifying those families which are going to need extra support/help because of their circumstances. Nothing to worry about so don't knacker yourself out spring cleaning, they are used to visiting new mums where cleaning is low on the priorities which is how it should be.

I had one with all 3 of mine

yes, I am on 2nd pregnancy and due in less than two weeks time. they visit for every pregnancy I think.

i am a HV. We usually do an antenatal visit for all 1st time mums if time permits or if there have been any problems with previous pregnancies or extra support is needed. It would be lovely to offer for every mum but in our area there just isn't the staffing, although I know it varies in other places.

The purpose of the visit is mainly to introduce ourselves and the health visiting service, also to see if there are any areas that you are concerned or anxious about, or if you need any information. This could cover domestic abuse, breastfeeding, family support,PND anything really.

We are certainly not there to judge or inspect the tidiness of your home - I once had a mum who had insisted that John lewis deliver all the display nursery furniture so that I could inspect it as her order wasn't quite ready!!!

I certainly would rather you were prioritising getting some rest and looking after yourself rather than having a spotless house.

lol at that!

I panicked about my HV visit because my paranoid SiL had advised me that they were government spies hellbent on coming up with a reason to take your baby away.

I can't remember exactly what my HV said but I remember she was lovely and gave me lots of leaflets and things and asked me how I was feeling as well as outlining what a HV does. She did not ask to inspect the baby's room nor go around with a white cotton glove checking for dust .

as greenbeanie has said herself, they aren't out to check the tidiness of your house. I was asked about whether DH was going to be taking paternity leave and for how long, how we both feel about this pregnancy, how I'm feeling in general, and asked about DS and his progress etc. She asked if I'm getting rest in the afternoons.

thank you spb