Kim's reply to Querida's questin about well baby checks was really
informative  - thank you Kim.

Thought you might like to know what happens in the UK, as it's a bit different.

All health care is free unless you choose to go privately. Few families -
even middle class, even the wealthy - use private medicine for routine
family health care.

New mothers are seen by the community midwife at home,  then she transfers
care to the health visitor at day 10-12, though she can if she wants to (or
her employers allow her) 'keep' the mother to 28 days. The HV may visit
once as a routine; therafter contact is mainly at the baby clinic where
mothers can choose to visit as often as they wish. They tend to go weekly
or fortnightly at first and then less often as the months go by. Second and
third and subsequent babies may be taken less often.  There is usu. a
doctor in attendance at the baby clinic but he/she cannot normally
prescribe meds - this is the province of the GP (family doctor).

There is always, always a routine weighing. HVs differ widely in how
seriously they take this, and how much emphasis they give to it. Mothers
often ask at the baby clinic about feeding, and the advice and information
they get may be totally useless, totally harmful, or quite good, or really
excellent.  The weighing often affects the mother's perception of her
ability to nourish her baby - to good or ill - and I wish very much the
weight was seen alongside other aspects of the baby's growth and
development.

Immunisations are given opportunistically (at around the age the baby is
'due'' for one) at the baby clinic or at special immunisation sessions at
the clinic or at the doctor's surgery (office in US English).

Personally speaking, I value our system of health care for mothers and
babies and it is good that mothers can go as often as they wish for some
reassurance and information - and ultimately, this should be good for bf as
well. ...as long as the info is good, of course.

I would be v. interested to know what goes on in other countries
represented on Lactnet. I don't think it's off-topic - is it?

Heather Welford Neil

NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK
NCT bfc,