Do the HVs not assess for PND anymore?

[kickingking]

When I had my first child in 2007, the HV made a home visit at 6 weeks post partum and assessed me for my risk of PND (the multiple choice questionnaire was laughable but that's another story).

I have a 9 week old, and frankly the end of my pregnancy and the birth read like a recipe for problems (pregnancy complications, slightly prem baby by elcs, baby in special care for 24 hours, I had a hemorrage and blood transfusion, we left hospital then baby lost too much weight, back into hospital, baby found to have heart murmur, back out of hospital, I developed an infection in cs scar...)

I have been over the whole story with community midwives, then the health visitors, the GP and the practice nurse. Nobody has asked me if I am OK, or offered any support or anything. I find this really suprising.

I don't think I have PND by the way. I just find it suprising that my experience hasn't caused any concern from HCPs at all.

[likelucklove]

From my expierence, my HV wasn't concerned with checking for PND until I had spoken to my doctor about it. I went to my doctor for something else and just burst out crying and was diagnosed with pre and post-natal depression after a long talk with her.

The HV only seemed to want to know then after only seeing me once after my doctor phoned her with my permission. At my DD's 8 week check-up/injections was also my check up where they would ask how you felt and try to identify any symptoms.

[likelucklove]

PS If you feel at all you may have PND, definitely after such a stressful pregnancy and birth and after, then please go to your doctor. Mine has been amazing and I think she has helped me so much.

[kickingking]

I've had the eight week check. All they seemed interested in was marvelling that I was breastfeeding (low rates here) and that I'd lost all my pregnancy weight (I actually haven't, they thought I must have done!) .

I really don't feel down or anything. tbh it suprised me how little I was bothered by it all. I just found it bizarre that after a straightforward pregnancy, I was assessed for PND. After a complicated pregnancy and a shitty birth and post natal experience, nobody is interested. I feel bad at the thought of somebody else struggling and going unnoticed because nobody does any assessments anymore.

[lotsofcheese]

I know what you mean! I had DS at 29 weeks via EMCS following severe, early onset pre-eclampsia & HELLP syndrome. I thought we were both going to die. He spent 95 days in NICU, came home on oxygen.

I was NEVER screened for PND. Never offered counselling or support. To this day I remain pretty traumatised by the whole experience.

I don't understand how a woman who has an uncomplicated pregnancy, term birth & healthy baby is screened for PND & has daily support from HV, midwives etc

Yet others like myself, who are at high risk of PND & PTSD, are left to go it alone

[frasersmummy]

I had a stillbirth at 39.5 weeks and almost a year later I had ds2..

It was co-incidence that my hv arrived on ds1 birthday complete with her stupid questionnaire... I told her I wasnt filling it out and did she know nothing etc etc... I know it wasnt right and I am not proud of myself but she left sharpish .. said she would be back soon.. that was 8 years ago.

Surely she should have realised I might need some support ..

[newbielisa]

I wasn't asked to do the questionnaire but a friend of mine, babies same week, same hv team was. She was definitely struggling and still 2 years later regularly sees hvs. I guessed at the time that they are looking for obvious signs, she displayed them and I didn't. That's my guess.

[kickingking]

I think you are right, they look for for obvious signs. When the community midwife cane round at 5 days PP (before the readmission to hospital, heart murmur and infection...) she saw DH making lunch and wrote on my notes in big letters VERY GOOD SUPPORT AT HOME.

But then I haven't seen a HV since 14 days pp. And she didn't ask me anything about how I felt.

Apparently seeing a woman's partner making baked beans on toasts is enough to tick the 'not at risk' box?

I'm all very about this, I'm thinking about writing a letter or something.

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

I wasn't screened with either of mine. In fact with DC1, the HV turned up at my house looked around and declared that I 'wasn't the type to get PND' so not to worry about it. WTF? I'd say that if there were a type (not convinced there is), I may well have been it. I'm a major control freak and went from a massively stressful, full on job which I loved to suddenly being in charge of this little newborn who wouldn't conform to my routines and with no clue what to do. I reckon PND testing should be mandatory for all new mothers because otherwise you get people like my HV making arbitrary judgements on the basis of prejudice.

[HRHerrena]

My midwives in antenatal care made a big fuss about how I was high-risk for PND (previous history of depression) and filled out a few forms to that effect. After DS1's (relatively straightforward) birth no-one said a word about it. We had one visit from a HV PP and she checked my stitches and weighed DS.

That was it. I'm with you op, I am grateful that I had no problems but a bit about their level of care wrt other people who might not be so lucky.

[perplexedpirate]

Totally agree OP. I've mentioned this on here before, but my HV gave me that questionnaire, and basically said 'but obviously this doesn't apply to you ha ha' so I told her what she wanted to hear and off she popped. Never saw her again but my notes said she was impressed with how calm our house was. WTF? There was me, DH and a newborn. What did she expect, a meth party?!
DS is 4.5 now and I am just about to start counselling with a view to getting off ADs.
The screening process is way off and families are suffering because of it. Someone also said upthread that it's the women who are keeping a perfect house, looking perfect, keeping LO perfect, preparing perfectly for visitors etc that need the most help.
Couldn't agree more.

[Bellared]

I had the questionnaire 4yrs ago when DS1 was born and didn't have it when DS2 was born last year. Same team.

When we moved to a different area in March the HV came round to do an introduction and I told her how I was feeling then (visited last month) then and was just told to ring them if I needed them. Still trying to get in at the Dr's to get it sorted, been trying for 2 weeks and keep getting my appt cancelled. Grr.

I thought the HV were meant to ask each time too.

[notcitrus]

I was flagged up as being at risk of PND with both pregnancies. Got screened by MWs and GPs, but HVs were almost irrelevant to me - in my area I think if you have a secure home and no violence and have internet access, the HVs don't bother with you.

Luckily the GPs are fab as I actually got PND this time, and now the drugs are kicking in and I feel back to normal. But ad before, the lack of joining up of services for new mothers is still terrible. I actually get most of my support from a bf group simply because it has space for my 3yo to play and I can have tea and cake and chat to some lovely staff including a great HV.

I suspect I've had some opposite assumptions as no way is my house pristine etc!

[DanyTargaryen]

That is awful that it seems like no one cares about your traumatic experience. I had a pretty straightforward labour and birth and my HV would NOT leave me alone about PND and sat waving the questionnaire in my face. I refused and told her I was fine (which DP attested to as well) "No you have to take it or I will have to refer you to your GP" I said well I think I am fine, do i not get a say in the matter? To which she repeated you have to take it, so I did so just to shut the woman up and get her out of my home, funnily enough I didn't let her come back and she wondered why!

Pregnant with DC2 now and I plan on refusing HV visits, especially ones from her. Can someone please confirm I am well within my rights to that as I am sure I am.

Sorry for thread hijack there!

[OhNoMyFanjo]

With dc2 they didn't do tge questionnaire, think they might be taking more of an observational route not tgat I'm bothered as I did lie on my questionnaire