Does anyone not go to the health centre?

[black_rose]

My first one sucked but dd1 was a premmie do my pead asked me to go, it was either that or pay to see him. Finally got a good one with dd2, so went with her and got great advice and she knew my pead, they had worked together so I trusted her then she left. Wasn't going to go at all with ds but he was struggling with weight loss and reflux, he lost 20% of his birth weight and barely put on 50g a week so again my pead made me go. Now that he is thriving I have stopped as we moved and don't like the one here.

[Charlotte91]

No. DD gets her needles on time from the MCHN. I was sick of being told that she's not eating enough, not growing enough, not developing enough.
I'd be put down by her, and then the following week go to Royal Children's for her other appointments and be told how big she is, how great her growth and development is, and how happy her surgeon and physio/OT were with her.

[feeb]

I am saddened to hear how many of you have had awful experiences with MCHN's in your area.
They are ment to be there as a support and resource for you and to assist you with any worries or concerns re yourself or baby. And also to educate and guide you on what to expect developmentally.
Like everything not everyone has the same opinion on things BUT they are ment to give you the knowldege to know how to go about things safely.

As for the prems the developmental checks should be attended to when the child would actually be that age and not when they they are that age.

[Traveller]

I had a wonderful MCHN with my first son, but she moved to another centre and her replacement was much less approachable so I stopped going when DS2 was a couple of months old. When we came back from Scotland with the twins I never bothered registering them for one as I don't really see the point with subsequent children once they are out of the newborn stage. TBH the only reason I let the UK equivalent of a MCHN see the twins when they were tiny was I knew she needed to meet them for her own paperwork requirements. However boytwin became very sick I can honestly say she stepped up to the plate and was an amazing support and resource for me. So I guess for that reason I would always sign up with a newborn even if I stopped going after a few months, just so I had the name and number of someone who could help should the unexpected happen.

[RainbowBrite]

As for the prems the developmental checks should be attended to when the child would actually be that age and not when they they are that age.

Of course but my CHN wouldn't do anything by the corrected age (and when you are talking 3-4 months early it is a big difference) which is why now I only see my peads and an occasionally weigh in at the chemist.
Same as chalotte91 I walk away from the pead feeling good and like I am doing the right thing where the CHN made me feel like a bad mother.
I know other prem mums who have had the same problem.

[feeb]

Of course but my CHN wouldn't do anything by the corrected age (and when you are talking 3-4 months early it is a big difference) which is why now I only see my peads and an occasionally weigh in at the chemist.
Same as chalotte91 I walk away from the pead feeling good and like I am doing the right thing where the CHN made me feel like a bad mother.
I know other prem mums who have had the same problem.

So sorry you have had that, as at uni it is stressed the importance of using corrected age and being aware re delays of prematurity. Frustrates and saddens me as I know that Victoria service is fantastic but some people do not demonstrate this by there practice, and I am sure other states services are similar.

[HotI]

My local MCHN is great so i still take my DD to the appts listed in the blue book. Earlier, DD had low weight gains so it was nice to get weighed on the same scales by the same person each time. When another council nurse who ran the breastfeeding clinic told me i needed to give my DD ABM, my local MCHN was happy to support me to continue breastfeeding (without top-ups of anything)- and over time we realised that was just a slow grower.

[BeautifulMadness]

Well my eldest has stopped now as he is 5 now..i took him to his appointments and got told alot of not so nice stuff...like he is too fat, needs to eat less and i told em ty but bugger off

with my 2.5 yr old ive taken him to all his and she has been lovely....