Don't like my MCHN! Any recommendations - Melbourne.

I have had a really rough time with DS#2 being an extremely unsettled baby. Thing is my MCHN (maternal and child health nurse) has not been a source of support.

With DS#1 we had an excellent MCHN but unfortunately she has moved on.

We now have two that job share which doesn't work for me.

Last appointment was a complete waste of time, all she did was weigh and measure and didn't even check milestones and other things she has been notified to check. (I am not worried about anything developmentally but it would be nice for her to check!) Give me a set of scales and a tape measure and I'll do the measuring myself - it will save me time.

As we see a Paed with DS#2 every so often I am thinking of just sticking with that.

Has anyone else moved centres?

I really need a recommendation for an excellent MCHN (eastern suburbs melbourne). I don't want to move centres and find that they are just as useless.

TIA
TICKLISH

I will be in a similar position when this baby comes. Im in a newer area of out suburb and there is only 1 MCH centre for a ridiculoulsy huge population - every else in my coucil area has so many you can always walk to one, but ours is a 10 minute drive away. Still, I wont be going to that one other than the first visit that they set up for you. She is anti b/f, anti gentle parenting and I just dont want to be a part of it. I would prefer to go to the MCHN I had for DS, even though its an extra 5-10 minutes in the car

Your local council should have a Maternal and Child Health co-ordinator, call them if you can and have a chat to them they may be able to help you out as they should know at least a little bit about all the MCHNs in your area.

You are allowed to change centres and not go to the closest one regardless of what they tell you, most MCHNs would just rather you saw someone than no one.

where out east are you looking??? i go to chirnside park and LOVE my nurse

Good suggestion rayray. Yes, there is a co-ordinator.

AJP - glad to hear you are happy with yours. I'd prefer something a little closer - Manningham/Whitehorse area is closer for me.

BTW - I was probably spoilt having an awesome MCHN first time around but when you have severe problems you really miss that when you get stuck with lack lustre MCHNs.

TICKLISH

I go to the Forest Hill maternal child health centre and see Margaret who has been really helpful and thorough with both my boys, she is also very friendly. I don't know of any others in my area that people highly recommend sorry!

Thanks for the recommendation Trish. Forest Hill is quite convenient.

TICKLISH