Getting the Most Out of Your Health Visitor
Your health visitor is a qualified nurse, usually linked to your doctor’s surgery, with specialist training in childcare. A month after you’ve given birth, your health visitor visits you and takes on some responsibility for your child’s health and development up to the age of 5 years. Health visitors often see families at home, but they also run regular clinics based in local general practices, where you and your partner can take your child. The clinics offer a good chance for you to voice any worries you have about your child’s health and development, such as feeding, weight gain, teething, sleeping, and immunisations.
Your health visitor’s also a source of information about your local area and childcare amenities. He’ll be able to tell you about your local parent-and-baby groups, play care, nurseries, and childminders.
Your health visitor is likely to contact you in the last month of your pregnancy, depending on the healthcare policies where you live. He then visits you at home about 10 days after the birth of your baby to check on you both and answer any questions you have. However, you can see your health visitor at the local clinic (usually your GP’s surgery) at any other time if you need to.
The length of each appointment with your health visitor depends on the age of your child and the questions you need to discuss. But on average a new birth visit lasts about an hour and subsequent visits half an hour.
To make the most of your health visitor, follow these suggestions:
- Be prepared. Make a list of any questions or niggles you have in order of priority. And keep your notes handy – for example, jot down your child’s weight or height measurements if you need to discuss them, or a diary of events if your baby’s been ill.
- Bring in a babysitter. Ask your partner or a friend to be in the house and look after your child while the health visitor’s there so you can talk without being too distracted.
- Say what’s on your mind. Your health visitor’s there to help you, so don’t be afraid of asking obvious or silly questions.
- Make plenty of time for the visit. And try to relax and enjoy it.
- Keep your own medical history to hand. Your health visitor can advise you on your own health and well-being issues, such as dealing with postnatal depression, employment and benefit rights, and where to look for childcare.
- Ask your partner to be there. Your health visitor can advise new mums and dads on their roles.
- Find out about between-visit hours. Ask whether you can call your health visitor between visits or whether he runs a pop-in clinic at your GP surgery.
Tags: Getting the Most Out of Your Health Visitor suggestions, health visitor guides, health visitor tips
Posted in Children's Health
