Health visitor rant!

[kodi]

first question: do you HAVE to have a health visitor ?


secondly!

whos had their health visitor visit yet?
i had mine today, shes ok i guess, seemed friendly but didnt seem to approve of our 2 big fluffy malamutes we share our home with, stupid woman looked at them like they were wolves wanting to feast on the baby!

UGH! if she says anything when babies here il tell her that i actually leave the baby with them and they babysit..........

 

[xemmax]

oh dear! i had my visit on tuesday and luckily i really liked her. she explained what her role will be and to be honest i was really glad to hear that someone will be looking after us once the midwife disappears.

you can request to change though, so maybe you should consider that. not sure it's really up to her to make any recommendations on your pets unless she's some kind of dog expert! xx

 

[leannebabyno3]

well i hope mines not like that i have 4 dogs, 2 greyhounds an american bulldog and a jrt , hope they like dogs!!

 

[gemabee]

my grandma literally chased a health visitor out of my aunty's house.
i've been told to nod nd smile at everythin my health visitor says... but to ignore pretty much everything they say!
xx

 

[kodi]

my grandma literally chased a health visitor out of my aunty's house.
i've been told to nod nd smile at everythin my health visitor says... but to ignore pretty much everything they say!
xx

i think my mum would've if she was here. some of the BS they come out with...!

 

[MaybeMomSarah]

i've been told to nod nd smile at everythin my health visitor says... but to ignore pretty much everything they say!
xx

That's what I've heard too - tell them what they want to hear, and they will stay out of your hair.

I think HVs are a great idea for those folks that want the assistance. Me - not so much! A bit too "Big Brother"-ish for me. I wish you could turn them down.

 

[ttc_lolly]

OMG how rude!!! I haven't had or heard of having a health visitor until after LO is here!! Maybe it's differs in different areas? Or I'm just not special enough! x

 

[kodi]

i've been told to nod nd smile at everythin my health visitor says... but to ignore pretty much everything they say!
xx

That's what I've heard too - tell them what they want to hear, and they will stay out of your hair.

I think HVs are a great idea for those folks that want the assistance. Me - not so much! A bit too "Big Brother"-ish for me. I wish you could turn them down.

can you not turn them down then? are thye a legal req over here/

 

[gemabee]

my grandma literally chased a health visitor out of my aunty's house.
i've been told to nod nd smile at everythin my health visitor says... but to ignore pretty much everything they say!
xx

i think my mum would've if she was here. some of the BS they come out with...!

thats exactly why my grandma did it... my aunty started my cousin on baby rice at 5 months cos milk wasn't fillin him... the hv shouted at her...
my grandma went mental!!
ha xx

 

[MaybeMomSarah]

can you not turn them down then? are thye a legal req over here/

Not in the UK, unfortunately. I've looked into it, and if you refuse their "help", they will report you to Social Services. The excuse being that the HV's can prevent more instances like what happened with Baby P.

Sometimes, my American views on things tend to clash with UK policies - especially this one!

 

[GossipGirl]

I didn't know you had a health visitor come out before the baby is born either, and I've had no sign of one! I'd rather them not come out anyway coz I have a 13 month old hyperactive staff haha

 

[vaniilla]

thanks for posting this I've been wondering the same thing,

tbh I absolutely hate the idea of health visitors, I think its great if people want help but I hate how its forced on people, I hate being told what to do by anyone so I will probably struggle to keep my mouth shut when they visit I'm still looking into refusing one and just going to the gp's for the check ups, health visitors are not medically trained or at least they can't do anything medical, all they can do is refer you to see a doctor and such making them even more obsolete in my eyes.

 

[kodi]

Agreed Vanilla. i too dont know if il keep my mouth shut with them. i really dont want them bugging us! how often do they actually visit in the childs life?

 

[vaniilla]

from what I know they are there until they start school reviews vary on how often they visit, the less the better

 

[AP]

I hate mine, yet in the last while she hasnt been up for about 6 months (bliss!)

 

[kodi]

whattt?
whats the point..ugh! if i need help i'l seek it from my GP. mine today was such a know it all. next time she comes i may just not answer haha!
however, they will get in touch with social services if you refuse, iv just read and i really dont want SS involved for no reason!

 

[MaybeMomSarah]

I'm hoping with all these government budget cuts, the number of HVs will go down, and they will be forced to focus on those parents who want and need their services, rather than those who would prefer to not have their assistance!

 

[GossipGirl]

How often do they come out regularly though at first? I'm all for the midwife coming out to show me stuff which I'm sure I heard is for the first fourteen days (I wouldn't have thought that's every single day though) but I don't want someone coming out all the time after that, it would drive me mad

 

[Mrs Liamxxs]

For some stupid reason i have 2 HV's, one i get along with brilliantly, and she is lovely, she doesnt harrass me o keep nagging for me to make an appointment with her, she just leaves me be but is always there when i need her, the other one on the other hand is the total opposite, she is a mega pain in the rear orrafice!!! boy she really annoys the living daylights out of me, she doesnt like it because i speak my mind and when she really p155's me off she gets shown the door, but yeah hun most of them do go on about EVERY pet you have, the doppy one i have even had a bitch about my son's goldfish!! of all things, xx

 

[MaybeMomSarah]

How often do they come out regularly though at first? I'm all for the midwife coming out to show me stuff which I'm sure I heard is for the first fourteen days (I wouldn't have thought that's every single day though) but I don't want someone coming out all the time after that, it would drive me mad

I think it's based on your trust and how many they have. I've heard my trust is pretty under-staffed, and they tend to leave you alone and get on with things after they've been and seen you a few times for the first couple months. There are more support type groups in my area, and the HVs seem to rather hook you into one of those than trying to solve all your issues themselves. (BFing groups, PPD groups, etc.)

I've also heard some trusts have HVs coming out weekly for a good 6-8 months or so. Hit and miss, I guess.