"I felt judged from the outset"

I live in South Ayrshire and I am prompted to write about my experience of my son's 27 month check by his Health Visitor this week after reflecting on it and discussing it with colleagues and family.

My son is an intelligent, happy 2 year old and I therefore had no qualms about completing the questionnaire for this check and felt prepared for the visit to my home. However when the Health Visitor arrived at the door with a student and I welcomed them inside they did not introduce themselves by name and sat on the sofa without being asked. I introduced my son to them by name but they still didn't volunteer theirs and the Health Visitor proceeded to ask if I was "mum". She did not seem interested in my real name.

There then followed a quick box ticking exercise where the Health Visitor immediately asked if I was a smoker and if there had been any supervision orders. I don't smoke and neither does my partner.There have never been any such thing so I don't understand why supervision orders were even mentioned if she could clearly see that on her record.

When sleep was discussed I mentioned that my son still breastfeeds morning and night. While I don't expect a medal for breastfeeding a toddler, some encouragement or recognition that this is a good thing for his health, or that it takes effort and commitment would be nice rather than complete dismissal. It really is no wonder breastfeeding rates in this country are so poor when some health professionals place so little value on it.

When asked about my employment and I explained that I worked for a charity, I was then questioned about whether this was actually paid work. 

We live in quite overcrowded accommodation at the moment which I had explained was due to a delay on a renovation project and I was then quizzed about whether I owned or rented my property. I fail to see the appropriateness of these types of questions to my son's welfare and development and readiness for preschool education ( which I had believed the purpose of the check to be).I got the impression I was being judged from the outset and that assumptions had been made about me based on my address and home. Not only was this upsetting and left me feeling vulnerable, but it also begs the question, does this Health Visitor think this is an acceptable way to approach a conversation with any parent, regardless of their social or living status?