What is the point of a health visitor.

[Amy1996]

Does anyone know what the point of a health visitor is and why they need to come to your house? I feel like they are just nosey and useless :/

The option to have a health visitor or not should be made available. The one I had last time was awful, turned up unannounced when I wasn't in twice, when she finally rang me the second time I wasn't in and said she had sent me a letter (which I never got) said if I hadn't of answered she would of referred me to social services! After seeing her the last time told her I didn't need to see her again.

My HV saved my life. She spotted my PND before anyone else. She arranged for me to see the mental health team. She organised a Home-Start volunteer for me. She arranged for one of her colleagues to come out and do one on one baby massage with me when I was too scared to leave the house. When I was suicidal, I called her and she came immediately and brought a student with her to look after my baby while we waited for the crisis team. She literally cuddled me for over an hour while I sobbed. She came to see me twice a week for months and even now still comes out more regularly than she's supposed to. On top of that she did all the usual stuff, reassured me when I was worried about my baby, texted and called me with answers to any questions, helped me get my head around sterilising and weaning and bathing etc even when my head was completely fogged with PND.

She is a wonderful, warm, kind, compassionate person who gives sensible advice and truly goes the extra mile. I would be dead without her, genuinely. And if any HVs are reading this, I'll say the same as I said to her: what you do and the way you do it makes more difference than you can know. Thank you.

That’s awful Space

I thought they were optional!

I didn’t have a health visitor, I think I must have fallen through the cracks. One came with the midwife to do the heel prick test, but I’d never seen her before and never saw her again.

You sound angry OP? You don’t have to have one but if you do struggle they are worth their weight in gold. Ours is currently finding us a GP practice as all the lists are full and we’ve been kicked out of ours as we have moved out of area.

Consider yourself lucky if you do find her “useless” as it probably means your fairly confident. But consider not everyone is.
Slagging off trained professionals however makes you sound rather ill informed, health visitors improve population health overall.

They check on the progress of little ones. Regular weighing can pick up problems. They provide information about local playgroups etc. They help mothers with problems like bf issues, DV etc. I have had some that are pretty useless but lost of them are great for providing reassurance more than anything. I have had a couple of truly lovely ones.

Op seems most opposed to them coming to her home, which rather suggests there's something of concern there.

But if there is op, then they'd probably be able to help with whatever it is.

Are you worried about something in particular?

I understand what you mean OP. HV came to my house this week and I didn’t understand why as I am still pregnant. She didn’t have any extra information to give me as I have been to all the classes etc that she had come to tell me about. However I do now know who she is before I meet her first with a crying baby! She seemed nice enough, but a bit judgemental about my choices which made me feel uncomfortable. I just smiled and nodded.

Op seems most opposed to them coming to her home, which rather suggests there's something of concern there.

Not necessarily, I hate strangers/people I'm not close to in my house. Not because it's untidy, unhygienic or anything else but because of past history. Whenever I have had the midwife/hv etc in, I get really stressed and uncomfortable to the point of not wanting to talk to them in case it prolongs the visit which surely defeats the point.

I thought they were optional!

Well, they are, but in some cases, repeated reluctance/refusal to engage can be a flag that all is not well.

Done well, Health Visitors are an useful and important link/support for pregnant women and newborns, especially those who might be more vulnerable for whatever reason. They can be vital in picking up early signs of abuse, from whatever source, or PND, or other troubles.

However, that assumes every HV is lovely, well trained and good at their job....

You are having a personalised action from a public health initiative, whereby you can meet a qualified healthcare professional whose job is to ensure the health of your baby and yourself after the birth, but at a relatively calm time. This is at no cost to you directly.

Terrible, isn’t it.

My HV's checked my mental health was surviving twins, fetched a prescription I needed when I couldn't get it and just kept an eye out.
They are an invaluable resource monitoring dc with child protection concerns.

The service is entirely optional. If I was threatened with SS, I would call the HV bluff. I would not be bullied by any HCP that thinks that threats will let them get their way. Not professional and not the best way to form a relationship with a new mother and child.

Rubbish graphista

Lots of people aren’t keen on strangers in their home. I know I’m not. Also if, as has been suggested on here, it’s partly to covertly inspect the house that should be mentioned upfront.

I should caveat that with I don’t live in a hovel

She didn’t have any extra information to give me as I have been to all the classes etc that she had come to tell me about

The HV didn’t know that, though.

No, she personally didn’t soydora but at one of the antenatal classes I had to give my details so the HV could contact me, so I was confused as to why the HV then asked me if I had heard of it/been to it.
It just struck me as not very joined up and if all she was doing was coming to tell me things that I had already been told, why don’t they explain what they’re coming for in the first place and then I wouldn’t have wasted her time in coming.

She didn’t have any extra information to give me as I have been to all the classes etc bit not every one does and good to know you didnt miss anythibg

She seemed nice enough, but a bit judgemental about my choices
Well it depends what those choices are, she is there to offer you the best medical advice she can. We're putting the baby straight into the furthest room away as we believe in CIO from birth is likely to get more judgement than I'm having 4 months mat leave and Daddy is having the rest.

You sound very defensive, OP. Are you worried the HV will pick up on something during the visit?

Seeing a HV is not compulsory. Decline if you don’t want the appointment.

why don’t they explain what they’re coming for in the first place and then I wouldn’t have wasted her time in coming because whilst she was there she was also making a judgement about your home and you. She can't do that over a phone call where you say yes yes right OK

I think I should have made my first post more detailed as I’m clearly coming across in a different way to how I intended sleepingstandingup
Yes, you’re right it means I didn’t miss anything.
The ‘judgemental about choices’ was nothing to do with safety etc. She said I ‘should’ be returning to work part time and taking longer maternity leave. It made me feel a bit fed up
She also said I should have bought bottles in and formula in case I can’t breast feed. I hadn’t wanted to do this and I don’t think it’s that uncommon, since we can always nip to supermarket if things don’t work out.

The HV comes out before the birth to introduce herself and flag any potential concerns. After that she’s pretty much useless for anyone with a healthy baby and no other problems. Her main job is to tick a box to say you’re managing ok and don’t need any help.

HOWEVER if you refuse her pointless visits she may flag you with SS because you’ve failed to engage with her and she can not verify the well-being of your child. So it’s easier to just let her come, do her pointless box ticking and leave.

RowenaDedalus completely agree she shouldn't be shoulding you about lifestyle choices like that. Oh what's made you decide to make that decision is far more helpful

@RowenaDedalus Given HV aren't allowed to recommend formula feeding I'm very surprised she advised you to buy bottles if you said your intention was to breast feed. I would report that.

HV are there to support children and families before they reach school age. I agree quality is very variable, especially with so many health visiting services now being moved to private companies.