How was your Health visitor??

Out of curiosity what did you think of your HV?  I'm thinking of going into this route when I graduate but would like to know how parents felt about their HV. The mentor I had was good but was very foward with her clients. For example she would tell someone off for not continuing to breastfeed after 6 months. I remember when we were walking to a client's house I spotted one of her clients on the street  the parent spotted her quickly changed direction  Was your HV approachable? non existent ?

Hmmm . . . it's been a while ago now but I don't remember anything out of the ordinary about my HV - positive or negative.  To be honest I quite often felt intruded upon having people in my house when all I really wanted was to get on with being a mother and not have to clean up the house before they came. I know it's not supposed to matter, but I feel very uncomfortable with people in the house if it's not spotless and that was rather stressful.  She was nice enough but I don't think she went out of her way for anything. However, the assistant she had with her (junior HV? apprentice? don't know what they're called) was not particularly nice.  Probably just a case of learning how to deal with people, I suppose. That's not really much, help is it? Good luck to you, though! I'm sure you'll be a superlative HV.

My initial HV was brilliant.  Lovely lady, chatty, approachable.  If she didn't agree with something I was doing, we would discuss my reasoning and other options without her being accusatory.  She never told me what to do.

Now, the woman that sees Niall for development check-ups (replacement for initial HV) ... well, I haven't much nice to say about her.  We went in for a 21 month check up and with nearly every response she requested, she'd cut me off within a few words and tell me HER way of doing things.  I was told off for not giving him crayons, told I was to take him to the library for books despite the fact that the little man has 50+ books at home, and the one that really got me going was her attitude towards potty training.

In the scheme of things, my complaints may seem rather small and insignificant, but if a HV is overbearing and high-handed, she risks parents dismissing her as such and totally ignoring anything she has to say, regardless of how valid it may be.

So my best advice to a potential HV: never put parents on the defensive or you risk them dismissing you as a nuisance.

The HV I had in Islington was really nice but I felt she was too busy and couldn't remember who I was and contradicted herself a few times because she'd obviously forgotten what she'd said previously.

Where I live now there is a whole team of them so they  aren't so stressed out and amazingly they do remember you!

I haven't felt like any of them have really TOLD me what to do except my old HV did keep going on about Ethan not being fat enough. I talked to one of the HVs here about his weight and she said he's in the normal range so what are you worrying about?

She's pretty good.  She was an older mum herself, and a maternity nurse for years before she decided to go the HV route so she could have more regular hours to spend w/her family.  I feel comfortable w/her level of medical and practical knowledge.

She's great w/kids and mums.  She checked up a lot of me whilst I was being treated for PND, and phoned the midwife team when I told her I was pregnant again to make sure it was highlighted in my notes. 

the HV i first had in bedfordshire (after calvin was born) was great. she was friendly, would come around anytime i needed her and would always return phone calls. i never felt pressured to do one thing or another with her and she was always giving helpful advice.

the HV i have now in kent, is friendly as well, although not as personable. she's a bit harder to reach by phone as she is the only HV for our immediate area.. but none the less, i like her.

oh, it was so long ago.  But pretty much  she was nice and not too opinionated.  Sometimes you had the feeling htat they'd gotten a memo about telling everyone to go to Toddlers or swimming or something. 
I will say that she was very good when my youngest was two and was not talking and it was not something that I'd picked up on.  And she had to tactfully point it out to me. 

My health visitor is wonderful.  She always listens, is full of good advice, and is non-judgemental.  Good luck if you decide to go that route Alicia because a good HV is invaluable.  As a nurse, I have kicked around the idea of going that route myself.  I decided against it when I realized that I hate giving injections to babies!!  I had to do it in nursing school and nearly cried. Other than that I think it is a fantastic career for a nurse.

Alicia, I really liked my HV.

I was fortunate that I had the same lady for both of my boys.  She listened to my concerns, answered my questions objectively and always discussed things with me on an equal par.  In other words, she never "dictated" to me, rather she helped me find the solutions that were best for me and my situation.

She was particularly mindful of the fact that I had experienced loss and that I was grieving during my last pregnancy.  She made phone calls to check up on me and ensure that I knew what my options were, if I needed further resources.

She also was a member of the golf club that one of my closest friends was a member of and we knew several mutual people.  I lived in a south Warwickshire village, which was rural.  In an urban situation, I'm sure it would have been different.

Overall, I had excellent care from my HV and GP.   

I decided against it when I realized that I hate giving injections to babies!!  I had to do it in nursing school and nearly cried. Other than that I think it is a fantastic career for a nurse.

Aw, but it's for a good reason - protecting them from diseases which could otherwise kill them.  And they don't remember. 

All our daughter remembers from her MMR is that she got a chocolate button!  Now she goes looking for a treat every time she sees the HV.

oh how interesting I've not have a major problem giving injections , not that I enjoy jabbing needles or anything. It's the fact that the injection is minute pain and temporary. I know it's the look of being a bad guy that gets me but most of the time they don't hold grudges against you


It's quite interesting the responses as the placement I did last offered me to return as the will be positions opening soon but I'm not sure yet wether to go this route or in public health. It's good to hear what parent just think about their health advisor so I know what to do (or not do)

My HV was completely and utterly useless, and didn't seem to care one little stitck about anything I had to say, so I quickly stopped saying things. I was lucky to have the Best Midwife in the Universe however, so it sort of made up for it. Sorta.

My H.V. was okay, I wasn't terribly impressed with her, but she was good, and professional. However I had p.p.d. at the time, and everytime she saw me, she would ask me to take one of those tests, even if she just happened to pass me in the surgery, she would stop and ask me if I had time do the test, but it was to no avail, because I just started lying on the test, just to be left alone. Really, it felt like she was just doing her job, and didn't really care, but I certainly wasn't in a good state of mind. Curious, how would you handle a new mother with p.p.d. as a health visitor?

I absolutely LOVED my H.V. She sorta made up for the hard time I had with the midwife. She had a busy schedule but I honestly never felt like she was in a rush or anything and she simply talked to me like a normal person and that was the only regret I have about us moving was we moved out of her coverage area. I was struggling to deal with p.p.d. as well and she honestly made me feel better about everything and its something I will always be grateful for.

Our first HV when we moved here was great. She was caring and informative and I felt free to call her anytime I had any problems/questions.
Then she quit after having a baby so we got a new one which I met just after having Jack. Her name is Debbie and she was lovely! I talked to her about my personal issues I had going on at the time. She gave me some good advice and again I felt I could call her about anything anytime.
Then two weeks ago we had a NEW HV come to the house to give Coby (3) an assessment. Basically drawing pics, building block towers, etc. When this girl came to the door I thought she must have been lost. She looked like she was playing hookie from school. This couldnt be her! She sat in my living room and told me what I NEED to be doing with Coby. I was so shocked I was at a loss for words. I called my old HV, Debbie and found out what office she is working out of and I am going to take the little ones there.