Child Health Nurses etc..

[Miss Tazar]

Hi
I live in WA and I was wondering what the laws are on the CHN's. My DD is due in Nov and I am concerned about who has the right to judge the decisions my DH and I make.
Do we have to take our babies to the CHN's or anyone else? Why? How do they know if we don't go? :confused:
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks Roxi
PS: Love the threads and advice.... this is helping me heaps - have lots of support from friends and family but sometimes they really say things that make you cry or want to kill. :eek:

[mumofethan]

you dont have to go to a CHN if you dont want to, all the checks that they do can be done by your local GP.

the only people who will "judge" your bring up of a baby is Family and Youth Services (called something else now)... and they will only come to you if someone has reported that you are "neglecting" your baby, half the times these reports are crap and revenge on the parents from someone nasty. I had this done to me.

Even these people have to follow procedures so no-one will come and take you baby away.

[Ana Gram]

I was given the impression that you had to go to the health nurse. And whether or not they are allowed to judge the way you raise your child, they can and will. I have found that it is just easier to go along with whatever they are saying is "right" for my child and go back to my business when i leave

[TwoBlue]

I really enjoy seeing my MCHN She is so lovely and has never judged me at all. She loves all the babies and toddlers and is a delight to chat to and a great source of information when i need it.
Perhaps you will feel the same way about yours?
I would go along and just see how you feel, if you are not comfortable then stop going....

Good luck with your bub

[Elfin]

No you definitely don't have to go to child health nurses. You are the parent, you decide what is best for your baby not the CHN. Whether you use them or not is stricly your choice. Some CHNs can be great. Very supportive, able to provide lots of good advice and identify if there are any problems with baby. Others can be rude, opinionated, bossy and undermine your confidence as a parent.

Through the CHN you may be able to hook up with a mother's group which can be really good. They are a bunch of mother's with babies the same age and you can exchange information and hear speakers for example about settling techniques. Often these mothers group continue to meet to form an informal playgroup so this can be really valuable.

There are lots of other options for advice if you need it, the GP, Australian Breastfeeding Association, lactation consultants, Chemists often provide a midwife to weigh your baby on certain days of course this forum. :D I guess my advice is give your CHN a try she may be one of the great ones.

[em's mum]

Hi Roxy,

I just thought I would let you know my experiences with CHN's. You don't have to go in to see them. I only go in there to get my DD weighed every month. I don't bother asking them questions anymore because when I was going fortnightly when DD was younger they told me to start giving her morning and afternoon teas to try to boost up her weight. Then the very next visit I made 2 weeks later, after they weighed her they asked what meals she was having. They then told me NOT to give her morning and afternoon tea because it leads to bad habits later in life. :mad: I had the same woman both times. :mad: Another time I went in, DD had been sick the previous day and I had made an appointment with the GP. When the CHN asked how she was going and I explained the previous days vomiting, she turned around and told me what I should and shouldn't do. After I mentioned that I was going off to the GP that afternoon, she turned around and said "well, they will only tell you what I've just told you - and we're free!". As with everything, you get good CHN's and bad CHN's. I think I've just been unlucky! As long as you have your GP keep regular checks on bubs growth and weight, you should be fine. Besides, they do all that when you go in for immunisations anyway. And the way I see it, they have absolutely no right to judge how you and your hubby raise your child - no-one has! Do what works for you and your baby. Hope this helps you somewhat, good luck with it all.

[mumsthewords]

you don't have to go if you don't want to, CHNs are free service run by the govt, there's no law or obligations that you HAVE to go there, this service is to help new mums/mums with new bub/s to settle in, which can be handy esp if u new to the area they have broad knowledge about the area.

you might not like their advices, and thats ok you don't need to use them, but remember these people are professional plus mostly with experiences, so do try or don't this entirely up to you :)

but for serious stuff or medical stuff your GP is the one you should go.

[Mahjong]

you dont have to go to a CHN if you dont want to, all the checks that they do can be done by your local GP.

the only people who will "judge" your bring up of a baby is Family and Youth Services (called something else now)... and they will only come to you if someone has reported that you are "neglecting" your baby, half the times these reports are crap and revenge on the parents from someone nasty. I had this done to me.

Even these people have to follow procedures so no-one will come and take you baby away.

I had it done to me as well, I have my suspitions (sp) that it was the CHN I went to as I didn't like her and when she asked me for another appointment I said I didn't want one and said I old take Wyatt to his GP instead.

It is entirely up to you if you want to go.

[Rell]

As the others have said you don't have to go to a CHN. Some are great some are not so good. Mine is great and picked up on a serious problem my son had when he was 3 weeks old. Look around CHN can also be found in chemists as well as health centres so it is often worth checking a few out.

[CurlyG]

I'm one of the lucky few, because my CHN is great. They do exist and if you're not happy with the one that is closest to you, you can try the one in the next suburb over. Or if that's not an option, just nod and smile at everything she says and do your own thing anyway! As long as bub is putting on weight and is safe, no-one can have any legitimate concerns.

[misskittyfantastico]

My CHN is wonderful...comes to see me if I need the support. She doesn't judge and is a great listener.

However, you don't HAVE to go to one..

[tootiredtosleep]

My CHN discovered something wrong with DD that all the doctors had missed.

I like to go and keep track of DD's weight and length and ask any questions. If I don't agree with what I am told, I don't do it.

They are there to offer advice, not boss you around.

[Tannie]

I've also had great experiences with the CHN I have seen.......I wouldn't have survived without my local Community health Centre and the nurses there! They came to visit me at home, introduced me to friends via mothers groups and were just an experienced, knowledgable ear to lean on when I needed it.
I didn't find them judgemental at all. only supportive and having them check out my babies was just peace of mind. They all seem to love babies and children too!

Give them a chance - you dont'have to see one - but you never know - like others have said, they might pick up on something someone else misses.......and they might offer reassurance and advice just when you need it.

T

[2s'nuff]

I'd give the CHN a go, but if you find you don't like them, or if you find the information they give you doesn't seem right, stop going to them and go to your GP instead.

I didn't like my CHN for the moment go. When they didn't pick up DD's hernia at her six week appt, they lost my confidence totally. I also found it hard to get in to see them as they were only available on Tues and Thurs, so once I went back to work it was easier to visit our GP.

[EskimoMumma]

Yup,. ive had great experiences with them too. But I dont see them. They are not doctors IMO. I've taken DD to the GP for all of her checkups, even though they dont write in the book, atleast they do the immunisations as well (which i know a CHN does) But to be honest, ive been more comfortable with the doctor then a nurse. Just me :)

But its not required by law to be seen by one.

[WeThree]

You absolutely do not have to go to visit any CHN or anything like that, it is your child, you can take them to the doctors, or whoever you want, as often or as little as you like. I only took my kids to them once or twice, and basically have only ever really taken them to a doctor if they need to go because they are sick. Its been my experience that these places only strike unnecessary fear and worry into the hearts of mums, and most of the workers are not even particulary well trained or up to date with their information.
(Obviously this is a generalisation, I am sure their are many luffly, experienced CHN out there, I am just yet to meet one :D )

[KarniF00l]

I didnt go to my nurse.
I just went to my GP.

I dont think they are there to judge you..more to answer your questions and help you.

If you dont like the person then just go to the doctor.

Totally agree! :yes:

I see our Family GP instead of MCHN because i have never had a good experience with one. With DS1 the CHN was more interested in my life style and my relationship with my parents and not my son. DS also had a very bad 'cold' as she kept telling me after many many appointments i made with her and she said it will pass soon, turns out it was bronchiolitis when i took him to hospital and his life was threatened being on all sorts of machines at 8 weeks old.

The following MCHN's i had spoke to me like i've never had a baby/child before and like i didn't know what i was doing. I know it's their job to keep you updated with information but they were going too far.

[SassyMummy]

I saw a CHN for a few weeks after DD was born - but that's only because she came to me (being a young mother, it's something that was offered to me). She was nice...especially since when she came to my house, I'd always be sleeping (and therefore miss her) or in my PJs or pretty out-of-it (as you are with a newborn...).

I didn't go to a CHN after she finished with her visits though, because I didn't see the need. If I had any questions, or concern, I would just go to the doctor.

When I come to BubHub, I always read about CHN's telling mothers when to drop feeds, that it's time to try Controlled Crying (or something)... as though a CHN is a book that tells you what to do and when.

I just left it to my own instincts - and DD is a pretty good child (just ask the mothers at the October BubHub Dinner in Brisbane...she behaved so well!). My DD is close to what I'd consider the "perfect" child... I've never really had any real problems with her... and she was that way without hte help of a CHN.

I think it's just up to you - if you want one, go to one... if not, you don't have to.