MCHN - How do I find a good one????

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, so mods please move if need be.

I've just moved and absolutely loved my old MCHN but she's an hour away and I really don't want to travel an hour away. I've tried two nurses at my new local MCHC and they are both absolutely terrible (e.g. one of them told me I should feed my 7 month old chocolate to fatten her up when there's nothing wrong with her weight!!)

So I'm wondering:
1) Is there a way to test out nurses at other centres? (Try before I buy ;)
2) Am I able to attend a MCHC that is not in my local council?
3) Can anyone recommend a MCHN in Glen Eira council or a near by council (in Melbourne)?

TIA

What do you want from your MCHN? Is it just a measure and weigh or do you ask for advice etc as well? If it's just for the measure and weigh, a lot of chemists will have scales that you can put bubs on etc. But if you want advice, I don't know how you would go about finding another one that you liked without travelling too far.

Yeah I want advice and someone I can ring up any time with questions and feel comfortable with.

Alison at the Elsternwick health centre is really good. She is easy to talk to and is really knowledgeable.

Thanks k.artemis. I'll look her up and make an appointment.

Today I decided to book a few appointments with different nurses in the area. I found out that you can book an appointment and then afterwards sign a form to have your baby's details transferred. So I figure if I find someone I click with I'll get the forms done, otherwise I'll keep looking. :)

One lady at the Bentleigh one did a home visit for me who seemed nice but it was just the one visit so can't be definate bout what she is like. I have same prob cause was seeing a great one at East Brighton who left and now I'm scared what the other one will be like!

There are 3 great nurses at Hampton also. All slightly different approaches but each one is excellent - pm me if you want details. It can be hard to find someone who fits with your needs and ideas but I have found these ladies to be invaluable for both kids.

ETA - Good luck in your hunt!

oooh i have a great one, but am in stonnington, its suzanne at malvern east centre. i don't really have any family around and she has always been super helpful to me, she even makes me an appointment every month just to have a chat and see how where doing, if i have any questions etc... sounds like something you might be after?
i think it is quite a personal think and you just need to find someone you click with.
good luck with your search! let me know if you have any other questions.

I love Marilyn at Cheltenham Farm Road (Kingston Council).

Very thorough and just loves babies and very caring with the mums too. My first impression of her was that she was a bit fussy but I now trust her absolutely. She notices the smallest details and will always push for you to get something checked out if there is any doubt in her mind that something may not be right. In my case with a couple of things (DS' hearing/speech delay and DD's sacral dimple) it turned out to be nothing but in a good friend's case she picked up on her DD's hearing problems when my friend was inclined to write it off to her DD being out of sorts because of a new sibling on the scene.

She will not hesitate to schedule in extra appointments for you if you need the support.

We are moving to Queensland and at the risk of sounding dramatic I am just devastated that I won't be continuing to see her. I always walk out of there feeling 10 feet tall because she makes me feel like such a fabulous mum!

shellbell3 - When will you visit the new nurse? I'd be interested to hear if she's any good. Though it looks like I have plenty of options now. :)

Mak - Hampton isn't too far away from me, so I'll PM you for the details.

jamakin - You have described exactly what I'm after and that's what I had with my old MCHN. I'll PM you for the details, though Malvern might be a bit further than I'd want to travel. However, your nurse sounds so good.. maybe I should travel for her!

Curly - Thanks for the suggestion. It has been hard going from a really great MCHN whom I could call up any time I needed to, to a MCHN who doesn't listen to me at all. If you don't like the first nurse you see then keep looking like I am. :)

Well.. now I'm spoilt for choice. I don't know which one to try first! :lol: I have an appointment next week with a nurse that someone else recommended to me so I guess I'll try her first. Maybe she'll be what I'm after but if not I have plenty of people to choose from now. :)

Thanks again girls!

End of the month I have 4 month appt, nervous, cause I had Val for Ash then moved but still went to see her with #2, had all the paperwork sent and then she left! Was devastated cause now I already don't trust anyone else. Her replacement apparantly isn't great according to a friend but the other woman that works there is meant to be good so we'll see