Postpartum Checkups: Family Planning
Another big item to cover during your postpartum checkups is birth control options. According to Riley, risk of complications in any subsequent pregnancy goes down if you wait at least 12 months after giving birth to conceive again. Just because youre breastfeeding and not menstruating yet doesnt mean you cant get pregnant. Your provider should discuss when you can safely start having sex again and talk you through your family planning options.
It may seem like its too soon for that discussion, but some people do show up to their six-week postpartum appointment and find out theyre pregnant again! Mustaleski explains, adding, At your six- to eight-week postpartum appointment, many providers will do a Pap smear, if youre due to have one done.
Child Health Checks Up Until 6 Months
As your baby grows, regular check-ups will let you know if your baby is developing and growing at a healthy pace.
Your babys 2 and 6 week checks after birth – HSE mychild.ie
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Nobody knows your baby better than you do. Thats why the doctor will want you to rattle off a list of your babys milestones . Keep a note on your phone to help track your little ones hours spent sleeping, time and duration of feedings, and number of wet and dirty diapers each day all of these will be especially important to report in the early months.
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Video: 39 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms & Signs Babycente
What happens at 39 week check up? Measure the height of your uterus to gauge your baby’s growth. Check your baby’s heart rate. Ask if your baby’s movements are occurring about as often as your last appointment. Ask you to leave a urine sample to check sugar and protein levels Most provide 26 weeks, with some granting as few as 12 weeks and others as many as 30 weeks. Before the American Rescue Plan , the federal government had extended pandemic relief benefits to the.
Sometimes this happens before you leave hospital, otherwise the test should be given no later than five weeks after the birth. If for any reason your baby hasn’t had a hearing test you should ask for an appointment for one now. Physical checks on your baby. Your baby will have been given a complete physical check during his first 72 hours What happens during labour? Antenatal care. You’re likely to have an antenatal appointment at 38 weeks to check on you and your baby. The position of your baby will be checked to see if he is head-down. If his legs or bottom are facing down, your baby is ‘breech’. Your doctor or midwife may arrange for you to have a procedure where the.
Blood Tests After Birth
There is a myriad of newborn screening tests done with new babies. If youre interested, you can see the disorders currently recommended for screening here. The tests are quite simple your babys heel will be pricked to collect a small sample of blood.
You or your partner can hold baby while this happens. The drops of blood are put onto a kind of filter paper, then sent to a lab for testing. The testing is typically done for around 30 of the disorders listed by the Health Resources & Service Administration .
Regardless, sad as it is to have your baby go through the blood draw, this testing can save your babys life if they do come back positive with one of the disorders that are tested for. A few seconds of screaming from a poor little creature who wont remember this moment, versus a lifetime of wishing youd caught something earlier? Its worth it.
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The Ages And Stages Questionnaire
Your health visiting team will send you a questionnaire, known as the “Ages and Stages Questionnaire” or ASQ-3, to fill in before your child’s 9 to 12-month and 2-year development reviews.
This allows you to try out some of the activities covered by the questionnaire with your baby at home, where they are comfortable and in familiar surroundings.
What Happens At Your Baby’s Reviews
During your baby’s reviews your health visitor will discuss your baby’s health and development, and ask if you have any concerns.
If your baby is gaining weight and you and your health visitor have no concerns, they should be weighed no more than:
- once a month up to 6 months of age
- once every 2 months from 6 to 12 months of age
- once every 3 months over the age of 12 months
This gives a clear idea of your baby’s weight gain over a period of time.
If your baby was born prematurely, their developmental age will be calculated from your original due date, not from the actual date they were born, until they are 2 years old.
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Dont Forget To Take Care Of Yourself
Weve spent a lot of time discussing baby checkups and the health of your baby, but lets not forget about your health! Carrying and giving birth to a child really takes a toll on your body, so dont forget to schedule your postpartum checkup. This visit normally takes place six weeks after delivery or four weeks if youve had a Caesarean section.
Its also important to take care of your skin after the radical changes your body goes through during pregnancy. Mustela Stretch Marks Serum is a soothing and effective way to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. And our Soothing Moisturizing Balm is specially formulated for treating dry skin that often accompanies pregnancy.
Between the baby checkups and your own appointments, youll be spending a good amount of time at the doctors office. But its a small price to pay to ensure your health and the health of your baby! All the checkups will give you peace of mind and allow you to truly enjoy every wonderful moment with your little one.
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Is Nbs The Same For All Babies In The Us
Even though every state in the U.S. requires NBS, each state manages its own NBS program. This means that NBS can be a little different in each state.
For example, some states may give parents different options during screening, have different NBS costs, or look for different conditions during screening. It is important to be familiar with how NBS works in your state.
To learn about NBS in your state, visit the State pages.
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Whats Changed In Postpartum Care Guidelines
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has released new guidelines calling for changes to improve postpartum care for women. In the past, ACOG recommended that most women have a postpartum checkup 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth. ACOG now says that postpartum care should be an ongoing process, rather than a one-time checkup. ACOG now recommends that all women:
- Have contact with their health care provider within 3 weeks of giving birth
- Get ongoing medical care during the postpartum period, as needed
- Have a complete postpartum checkup no later than 12 weeks after giving birth
Many of the discomforts and body changes women have in the weeks after giving birth are normal. But sometimes theyre warning signs or symptoms of a health problem that needs treatment. Seeing your provider sooner and more often can help you and your provider spot these signs and symptoms and may help prevent serious medical problems. Your postpartum care should meet your personal needs so you get the best medical care and support.
Four Month Baby Checkup
Provided you havent had to drop in unexpectedly, its now been two months since you last saw your pediatrician. A LOT has probably changed for your little one.
Be aware that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for postpartum depression at this time. Make a point of talking with your doctor about the moods youve been experiencing, even or especially if you find it uncomfortable to discuss.
Herere some of the things you can expect at the four month baby checkup.
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Your Prenatal Care Appointments
Check the soil every day or two – it should be constantly moist. Generally, give your sunflowers about 2 gallons of water a week. If your sunflowers are outside, they should be fine with rain water after they reach 1 to 2 feet in height 25 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms. At 25 weeks pregnant, here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing: Sciatica. As your uterus grows, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing hip and lower back pain at 25 weeks pregnant or further along in your pregnancy. To relieve any pain, you can apply an ice or cold pack to the area
Make A List Of Questions To Ask The Doctor
Before the well-baby visit, write down 3 to 5 questions you have. Each well-baby visit is a great time to ask the doctor or nurse any questions about:
- How your baby is growing and developing
- How your baby is sleeping
- Breastfeeding your baby
- When and how to start giving your baby solid foods
- What changes and behaviors to expect in the coming months
- How to make sure your home is safe for a growing baby
Here are some questions you may want to ask:
- Is my baby up to date on vaccines?
- How can I make sure my baby is getting enough to eat?
- Is my baby at a healthy weight?
- How can I make sure my baby is sleeping safely and getting enough sleep?
- How can I help my baby develop speech and language skills?
- Is it okay for my baby to have screen time?
- How do I clean my baby’s teeth?
Take a notepad, smartphone, or tablet and write down the answers so you can remember them later.
Ask what to do if your baby gets sick.
Make sure you know how to get in touch with a doctor or nurse when the office is closed. Ask how to reach the doctor on call, or if there’s a nurse information service you can call at night or on the weekend.
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Your Baby’s General Development
During your child’s development reviews, your child health nurse or doctor will ask you how your child is going and about any concerns you may have. If your baby was born prematurely, their developmental age will be calculated from your original due date, not from the actual date they were born.
Your baby will usually be weighed regularly, especially in the first year of life and at the time of routine vaccinations. If there is any concern about your babys weight, they may be weighed more often.
Parent Options During Screening
States give parents options during NBS. Examples of choices that differ by state include the following:
- Whether and how to refuse NBSAll states require NBS, but most states let parents refuse screening for their baby. Accepted reasons for refusal depend on the laws in a state. For example, some states only let parents refuse NBS for religious reasons. Other states let parents refuse for any reason. A couple of states do not allow parents to refuse NBS at all.
- What happens with your newborns blood spots after NBSSome states give parents choices about what happens to their babys dried blood spots after screening is complete. For example, some states let parents choose whether the blood sample is stored, destroyed, or used for research studies.
You can find out about parent options in your state by contacting your states newborn screening program. Contact information for programs in each state is available on the State pages.
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Newborn First Appointment Tips
- Make sure you take any paperwork you received at the hospital with you, especially if you saw a different pediatrician while you were there.
- Dont worry if your baby has lost weight since birth. Most babies will lose weight after birth , but they should gain it all back by two weeks of age.
- Start writing down questions you have BEFORE your appointment. #mombrain is a thing and this is especially true right now because youre pretty sleep deprived and still recovering from childbirth.
- The biggest indicator that your baby is getting enough milk is if theyre gaining weight and have the right amount of soiled diapers throughout the day While your baby is going to initially lose weight, they shouldnt lose more than 10% of their birth weight. By the way if youre struggling with breastfeeding , consider checking out Staceys awesome breastfeeding course. Having a good education surrounding breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do to maximize your chance of success so consider it!
- If youre exclusively breastfeeding make sure and let your doctor know. They may want to start you on a Vitamin D supplement, as most breastfed babies do not get enough Vitamin D, and supplements can help prevent rickets.
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Newborn Hearing Screening Test
The newborn hearing screening test is done soon after your baby is born. It helps identify babies who have permanent hearing loss as early as possible. This means you can get any support and advice straightaway.
If you give birth in hospital, you may be offered the test before you and your baby are discharged. Otherwise, it will usually be done within the first few weeks but can be done up to 3 months of age.
If you aren’t offered a hearing screening test, ask your health visitor to help you arrange an appointment.
If the screening test results do not show a clear response from 1 or both of your babys ears, your healthcare professional may repeat the test at a later date. Some newborns may fail their first hearing tests, even if their hearing is normal. Research has shown that this may be especially true for babies born by c-section.
If the screening test results are still not clear your baby will be given an appointment with a hearing specialist at an audio clinic. Even if this happens, it does not necessarily mean your baby has permanent hearing loss.
The NHS website has more information about the newborn hearing screening test.