Just curious if anyone has chosen to not attend their local MCHN? Did you have any issue with the non attendance?
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Just curious if anyone has chosen to not attend their local MCHN? Did you have any issue with the non attendance?
I never bothered taking either of the girls to our local Community Health for checkups. I just took them to our regular GP if they were sick, or for things like immunisations, and never had a problem. Both girls thrived, I never had any doubts about their weight gain or health, so it didn't bother me. Actually I think I took DD2 to one 'drop-in' appt with the MCHN, it was the day Michael Jackson died (I remember watching the news on the TV in the waiting room, absolutely shocked to the core) but the MCHN was critical of my parenting methods (I told her I was co-sleeping and BFing on demand) so I just didn't bother going back. My GP wasn't a fan of us co-sleeping either but always expressed her concern and advised me to be 'fully informed' in a much kinder way than the MCHN so I preferred to go to her :)
I took my DS to the first bluebook appointment, but never bothered with any others. no one seemed to be bothered, or to notice.
I didn't after the first couple of appts. Didn't see the point, saw the GP for all regular needles, etc. I just weighed DD1 when I felt like it in between, at chemists and the like. I did take DD1 back for her two year old check up, but that was it. No real reason, other than that they went through a few developmental things at two and no real need before that.
I very rarely go, but I regularly see a pead for my two youngest.
I found that they didn't really have much experience with very early prems and because both of them where never on the charts she would make me feel like I was starving them and I was neglectful. She also seemed to expect they reach all their milestones for actual age :rolleyes:
Ds went to one check up at 2 weeks I think it was and we had a pead visit which happend to fall around the 6 wk mark. He hasnt seen anyone since including a gp. There if nothing we wanted to ask and ds is healthy. Oh forgot to add, we haven't had any problems as we haven't been to any main stream medical people for them to say anything! I'd like to see the look on their face when I confidently give them 'what for' if they were to be rude about our choices ;)
Yes. I went with DS, & they made me feel like crap when I asked about comp feeding him. I needed to make the switch as I was going back to work & had tried expressing without success. Even though they didn't "say" anything, they gave me that "look" that says everything IYKWIM. So I didn't go back & didn't take DD in at all. I figured I would be able to tell if she wasn't growing properly & if I had a problem I could go to my GP who also specialises in kids.
Me, I havent taken Annabel to one. I did with, my first two children, but I have enough support and see a GP for Annabels checkups and weigh her at the chemist weekly to check shes putting on weight.
Never have taken DS. The service was inconvenient so we just used the GP. Then we moved here and it's even worse, so I guess it will be the same for this one.
My first one was actually really awesome - she was supportive of co-sleeping and a BF advocate and really didn't care much about parenting as long as we were happy so I saw her lots because I found the reassurance and support comforting. Since my Mum is dead and my MIL has subtle undermining down to an art form I kind of needed the IRL validation that I was doing ok.
With my second I had moved to a different area and there were a couple of nurses and they were all kinds of annoying so I only went once.
I was really happy with my MCHN, and I used a different centre for each of my babies. We have 2 centres very close to us. I've never taken either of them back after 6 weeks though, purely because I never needed to, my GP is like a friend to me so I just make an appt with her (she's close as well! Im very lucky!!)
Both the MCHN centres gave different advice regarding comp feeding (DD received comp FF upon being advised to, DS did not) and co-sleeping.
I was also more knowledgable 2nd time around though, and far more confident, relaxed and happy. Perhaps that's why different advice was encouraged for me? Yeah probably, it was.
Do whatever feels right, but there's no harm in a visit :)
I took DD1 but I think I've only taken DD2 twice, lol. And that's only coz I wanted to know her weight to put in her book. It's not compulsory to go.
We take DD. The MCHN we see is awesome, she supports and encourages BLS, BF, co-sleeping, attachment parenting and baby wearing. Like Onyx, it's great just getting that validation an reassurance from someone like-minded.
Similarly to Onyx and PZ - I go because it makes me feel good about how I am doing IYKWIM.
I also like to know how they are going in their growth etc.
And lastly, it is good to be able to see someone that is more independent than a GP that can put a bit of a monitor on my mental health.
On top of that the first two visits so far she has been able to help me talk through the birth of DD, and that was invaluable.
I do tend to not tell them things they don't want to hear - my current one would not support co-sleeping for example.
So I don't tell her about it. The way I do it (when I need to) is safe, so I am not worried.
She is a lactation consultant so I know that I don't need to worry about BFing, it also means I know where I can access one if and when necessary.
My last one thought bLS was great so that was reassuring for me.
Also some MCH centres, depending on the local council organise mum's groups.
My one doesn't, absolutely shattered as I am too anxious to just rock up to a playgroup to meet people.
I took DD to all the appts up until whichever age the one is before the 18 months one...? When I took DS to his 6 week check she noticed DD hadn't had it and did the check then, even though she was over 25 months my then. I had DS's 8 month check booked a few weeks ago, but when I got there the doors were locked and no one was there :o I haven't called to rebook and don't think I will. I have always dreaded going cause she is rather strange and I find her really patronising, but kept going cause I felt like people would think I was a bad mother if I didn't go to the check ups. I think I will take this last situation as a reason not to go back. If I have any concerns with their development I will take them to the GP.
we dont really go.
With DD1 the MCHN that we saw was a moron and potentially dangerous for families that were suffering mental illness (she made comments to me that PND doesnt exist, that it's just an excuse for parents to hurt their children :o).
With DD2 we had moved and so had a new MCHN, she was lovely and we got on great guns, but then she moved and i got an old school lady that had issues with us having a HB, doing BLS and using amber teething necklaces lol. so we stopped bothering as we werent really getting anything from her. no support, or relevant information.
My first MCHN always made me feel like crap and whenever I mentioned anything I was concerned about she automatically directed me to groups like Panda etc because we had lost a baby before DD. IF she actually bothered to listen she would have known I was concerned about THIS baby and some early issues we had with her :rolleyes:
Then I found out through a friend who lives int he neighbouring Shire and she said how fab her MCHN was so I made an appointment with her and it turned out I actually knew the MCHN from my time in hossy with my first baby. She knew my history and was able to address any concerns I had so I have never looked back.
I ONLY see her for DD but if it hadn't been for finding her I wouldn't have gone the MCHN in my closest town again and now I JUST go into the Drs for DD's jabs as the nurse in there is lovely too.
Nae x
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.
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.
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.:
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...
:
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!
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.
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....