What is a HV?

[britt1986]

I know they are home visitors, but what do they do and what is their classification?

Are they just licensed nurses, midwifes, doctors?

Sorry if it seems like a dumb question, I am in the US and we don't have HV's over here.

 

[Pyrrhic]

They are nurses who have done a specific course to become health visitors

 

[britt1986]

They are nurses who have done a specific course to become health visitors

Do they come to your home just for LO's check-up's and if anyone is sick? Are they just for babies or for adults too? Just curious.

 

[jojo2605]

Hi hun, not a daft question at all, we do things so differently!

a Health Visitor is a registered nurse who then does further training to become a HV. They take over the care of a midwife after the first couple of weeks postpartum and will be responsible for ensuring your child gets the relevant developmental checks, etc, throughout their young life. Also to ask for advise regarding all sorts of issues such as breastfeeding, or feeding in general, general diet, etc, etc.

I'm sure there's plenty others could add to this though!

 

[RJsMum]

They are nurses who have done a specific course to become health visitors

Do they come to your home just for LO's check-up's and if anyone is sick? Are they just for babies or for adults too? Just curious.

They come right after your LO is born to check up on how you/baby are adjusting and to check their weight, run hearing tests, etc. They also come out to your house if you move to a new area -- they schedule a visit when you register with a new GP so they can let you know hours/locations of baby clinics in the area.

As far as I know they're just for babies.

But they don't always come to your house. Sometimes you will only see them at the baby clinics where you take your LOs to be weighed and measured (and you do this as you wish or they may contact you and invite you in for a checkup if they haven't seen you for a number of months).

 

[pinklizzy]

My mum is a HV-they primarily work with families with children under 5 but also work with the elderly, usually in conjunction with the district nurses.

 

[britt1986]

They are nurses who have done a specific course to become health visitors

Do they come to your home just for LO's check-up's and if anyone is sick? Are they just for babies or for adults too? Just curious.

They come right after your LO is born to check up on how you/baby are adjusting and to check their weight, run hearing tests, etc. They also come out to your house if you move to a new area -- they schedule a visit when you register with a new GP so they can let you know hours/locations of baby clinics in the area.

As far as I know they're just for babies.

But they don't always come to your house. Sometimes you will only see them at the baby clinics where you take your LOs to be weighed and measured (and you do this as you wish or they may contact you and invite you in for a checkup if they haven't seen you for a number of months).

Wow! I wish we had them here. If LO needs a check-up or is sick you have to take them to the doctor. Even if you have questions about something or need help with BFing or other things you have to go to certain places. It's so hectic! Bryson had his first check-up at 5 days old and it scared the crap out of me to have to take him to a full waiting room at the doctors office full of sick children running around. Also, I had a c-section and it was a pain getting around especially only 5 days after the birth.

 

[RJsMum]

They are nurses who have done a specific course to become health visitors

Do they come to your home just for LO's check-up's and if anyone is sick? Are they just for babies or for adults too? Just curious.

They come right after your LO is born to check up on how you/baby are adjusting and to check their weight, run hearing tests, etc. They also come out to your house if you move to a new area -- they schedule a visit when you register with a new GP so they can let you know hours/locations of baby clinics in the area.

As far as I know they're just for babies.

But they don't always come to your house. Sometimes you will only see them at the baby clinics where you take your LOs to be weighed and measured (and you do this as you wish or they may contact you and invite you in for a checkup if they haven't seen you for a number of months).

Wow! I wish we had them here. If LO needs a check-up or is sick you have to take them to the doctor. Even if you have questions about something or need help with BFing or other things you have to go to certain places. It's so hectic! Bryson had his first check-up at 5 days old and it scared the crap out of me to have to take him to a full waiting room at the doctors office full of sick children running around. Also, I had a c-section and it was a pain getting around especially only 5 days after the birth.

I had a section as well and I can say without a doubt that with it being during Christmas time, it was the biggest help ever!

Also, as an American in the UK...it's a fine example of the NHS at work. Not everyone may agree with it...but I can't complain based on my own experience here.

 

[Sazzoire]

My Hv came to my home before I had my Lo to intorduce herself and check that I was ok and as ready as I could be... this made it easier after baby was born as I had already met her. I have found my HV really nice, knowledgable and friendly.

 

[moomoo]

They basically never answer the phone, when they do they don't know the answer so tell you to go to your doctors. They pester you for not weighing your lo enough, they pester you if they weigh them to often.

I would come on here rather than go to my hv for reliable info!!

 

[bathbabe]

They basically never answer the phone, when they do they don't know the answer so tell you to go to your doctors. They pester you for not weighing your lo enough, they pester you if they weigh them to often.

I would come on here rather than go to my hv for reliable info!!

Aww they arnt all bad. Mines lovely xxx

 

[RJsMum]

They basically never answer the phone, when they do they don't know the answer so tell you to go to your doctors. They pester you for not weighing your lo enough, they pester you if they weigh them to often.

I would come on here rather than go to my hv for reliable info!!

Aww they arnt all bad. Mines lovely xxx

I'd have to agree. I've had ones from two different areas (since I moved house) and they've all been very helpful and kind.

It's unfortunate that we all can't have a pleasant experience.

I weighed my son every 2 weeks until he was about 3 months old...then once a month after that. I was never told off for doing either.