Does anyone not go to the health centre?

Nope. I had a horrible experience when dd1 was first born as they do a house visit and when it was booked for was the day after my midwife (I had midwife home service) had been and we had been having bugger all sleep as she was seriously refluxy and when she arrived I had just settled her and she wanted me to get her so she could weigh her and check her over and I refused as I didn't want to wake her

So once she left she rang my midwife and reported that she was concerned about my interaction with my child as I refused to co operate. Midwife told her it was fine and she should listen to me when I was trying
to explain why I wasn't waking her.

Never saw them again.


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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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

I have been to all appointments up to date for DD (2.75) and DS (7months) and I gotta say my MCHN is freaking awesome! I always leave feeling like the best parent in the world! Gotta love that...

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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.

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I have been to all appointments up to date for DD (2.75) and DS (7months) and I gotta say my MCHN is freaking awesome! I always leave feeling like the best parent in the world! Gotta love that...

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Glad to hear some of you have found great MCHN!!! you are also both in Vic which I think makes a diff as in vic all MCHN must be a nurse and Midwife and then do an extra grad dip or masters in child family and community health to be qualified to work.

Beatrix you just reminded me that with ds she just rocked up! I was out and ds was sleeping so he refused to let her in. And with dd1 they wanted to do the home visit when she was still in the scn.

I've not really gone - mainly because I went back to teaching at 4mths and their opening times didn't match up with when I could visit them. I just drop in for a weigh and measure each school holidays just for my records of how much DS has grown in that time - and for this I actually end up going to one that's not the closest one which isn't able to do drop in & weigh and measures when DS is not at CC. I did go for the 18mth check up at the CHN (only because they had a survey thingy they wanted DS to do - I didn't do one question as I wasn't ready to teach DS to use something to pull things closer to himself was reaching enough things without encouraging him to get things that might cause trouble) most of my checkups for DS have been at his GP; needles we've done in the next council over (we live near the border of the council areas so this one is closer) as they have an immunisation clinic twice a week.

I have never been. I have heard of so many horror stories with them (regarding not accepting breastfeeding on demand, co-sleeping etc) so i just figured that I didn't really need the stress in those early days plus i had seen a GP which just was terrible anyway, and his paediatrician only on a few occasions in total and it stopped by a few months old as we didn't have a reason to see a medical professional, and if there were any issues I would be trying every alternative practitioner first (ie naturopath etc). No doctor diagnosed my son with silent reflux/colic and it was just like talking to a Brick wall. it is sad, really but that was my experience so I never bothered.


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I have always found it easier just to go to the nurses or my dr at my medical centre. I did have the MCHN visit for the 2 week appoint this time, but honestly I won't be going back. I just found her a bit too patronising (this is my fourth child, I would like to think I already know something about babies) and was way to ridge in her thinking for me to feel comfortable discussing any issues I might actually have had. She was very closed minded about there even being any other way to do things other then the way her service recommended, ie sleeping arrangements, breastfeeding, bathing. Plus I didn't like the way she interacted with my other children.

I still take DS regularly. I found the MACH nurses invaluable when DS was little, they were the first to suggest reflux and were very supportive throughout all his sleeping/feeding issues. Recently when DS dropped three percentiles in his weight, every MACH nurse I saw said thank goodness I was still feeding him.

Having said that, I probably wouldn't go as often if I have any more babies unless I had concerns.

Thank you everyone for replying :D It's a shame some people have had negative experiences with their health centre, sounds like there are some great ones out there though!

Our local one doesn't have a very good reputation unfortunately. But I was happy to go along and took Moo to every scheduled appt. I've heard some strange things from her over the last couple of years and would usually leave feeling a bit deflated. When I recently went to his 2 year check I left feeling like the worst parent in the world! She really has very odd opinions.

I'm glad to hear it's not unusual not to go to the MCHN, I was worried I'd get in trouble if I choose not to go anymore! I'll see how I go with this next bub, maybe I just need to be more confident when I'm dealing with her :D I certainly don't feel uncomfortable with not going - I have a fantastic family GP and lots of other support available if needed.

Thanks again ladies!

never taken either of mine to anything like that, i go to my GP for the 6 week, then if i have any problems il see her too!

I have been lucky that niether of mine have had any special needs/problems etc and to be honest, and maybe a little up my self, but i dont need them telling me how i should be parenting. I have chosen to do certain things for a reason...demand feeding, baby led solids, co sleeping, baby wearing, delayed vaxing and i dont need to be told that i shouldnt be doing any of those things!

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i dont need them telling me how i should be parenting. I have chosen to do certain things for a reason...demand feeding, baby led solids, co sleeping, baby wearing, delayed vaxing and i dont need to be told that i shouldnt be doing any of those things!

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ha! This poster sounds exactly like me... I do all those things and feel the exact same way. When I went to see a GP when bub was a few weeks old i got cross examined and criticized for my parenting choices (mind you GPS are totally not qualified to give parenting advice) so from then on I was like f this I'm leaving it to my own devises! And so glad I did. I think confidence is key.


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I couldn't go to mine if I tried - we are currently waitlisted for our 18 month check - they are so understaffed they are only taking urgent appointments at the moment. But I'm not worried as I don't really feel the need to go anyways.

I have gone to past ones and kept alot to myself as she seemed fairly dissapproving, especially about BLS. So I just said she was on solids when she wasn't because I was too tired to argue on the day ;) Second time round I'm not sure if I would go, but I certainly would stick up for myself more re: choices we make as parents.