Well Child Exams And What Happens
Newborn baby doctors use the exam by the end of the babys first week to look for signs of jaundice and other health conditions. They provide any vaccinations that the child or parent needs and will measure the babys height and weight. If you have any issues feeding your child or producing milk, the doctor can help. Some of the things that you can expect during future appointments include:
- Physical exams
- Skin testsremove!
- Urine tests
Toddlers undergo tests designed by doctors to check their hearing and vision. The doctor wants to make sure that your child doesnt need glasses or hearing devices. You may want to talk with the doctor about social or behavioral issues that you notice in your child, too.
Newborn Checks After Birth
While your baby is still in the hospital, theyll have whats technically their first newborn checkup. If you want to get that technical, they will also have their second, third, and probably fourth checkup, since the doc will literally check them at least three times throughout your stay.
Below well discuss some of the checks and newborn screen tests that are done at this time. Keep in mind that some of these take place in the back and are not performed with you present unless you specifically ask for them.
Necessary to ask to be present? Not so much. Well let you know if theres something to know. I promise. But its totally up to you!
Should You Ask Questions
Yes, always ask questions about your babys health. You will receive a lot of information during the first appointment. If you need to, ask the pediatrician to slow down, clarify, or repeat information.
Create a list of questions and talking points ahead of time to take with you. Newborn medical care hinges on information shared between families and physicians. Schedule an appointment for your babys first check-up to keep them happy and healthy.
Also Check: Is It Safe For A Newborn To Fly
Information On Newborn Care In Conroe Tx
Newborn care is an area of pediatrics that focuses on ensuring that babies under three months old are getting the nutrition they need and developing properly. If you have a newborn, or are expecting in the coming months, take a moment to learn more about what is required when caring for a newborn. Good newborn care includes scheduling regular checkups with a pediatrician during those first few months of the childs life.
Tips For The Four Month Baby Appointment
- Four months is the age that you may receive a green light for starting baby food.The AAP states that your baby is ready to be introduced to baby food if they meet a few qualifications . This isnt necessary, but theres a potential that it may prime your baby for both preference and allergies. If you want to jump on this wagon as early as possible, definitely check with your pediatrician.
- Some babies experience a sleep regression at this age. My advice? Hang in there, mama itll pass. In the meantime, talk with your doctor about what ideas they have to help you both get through this faster. Id love to give you more than that. The truth is that regression is really sometimes just about baby and only something that will be fixed with time. Stick to your sleepy time routine and youll come through it generally intact.
Also Check: How To Get A Newborn To Stop Fighting Sleep
When Will The First Doctors Appointment Be
Typically, a babys first appointment with the doctor will be when they are no more than a week old it usually takes place two to three days after coming home from the hospital. If you have any birth complications, this timing may be altered. Regular well-visits will then be repeated throughout the babys first year of life.
What To Consider About Family Doctors
One doctor can treat your whole family. When you and your child are both sick, you can go to the same doctor together. It may save quite a few trips over the years.
Continued
A family doctor that sees you all may be more aware of issues that could affect the whole family. They may be more familiar with everyone’s medical history, too.
One drawback of a family doctor is that they don’t spend as much time caring for children as a pediatrician does. On average, family physicians say they spend about 10% of their time treating children, according to a 2014 study.
But when your child becomes an adult, they can continue seeing the same doctor. That means their health care provider will have firsthand knowledge of their medical history and an established relationship built over the years. If you think you’ll be moving before your child grows up, maybe this won’t be as important to you.
Or perhaps your child is older and would be more comfortable being around adults at the office rather than “little kids.”
Don’t Miss: How To Get Newborn To Latch Better
The Importance Of Regular Checkups With A Pediatrician
When you bring your child home from the hospital, it is important that you find a qualified and trusted pediatrician as soon as possible for regular checkups. In fact, its probably best to take care of this task before the baby is born. This is the doctor that your newborn will grow up with, so choose someone that both you and the child will be comfortable with. Regular checkups help ensure that the baby is developing properly and in continued good health. Its also a time for you, the parent, to ask important questions. Prepare a list before the appointment so that all of your concerns can be addressed.
Two Week Baby Appointment Tips
- We hope that your little one is back at their birth weight by this appointment. If they arent there yet that CAN be okay, but your doctor will want to keep a close eye on it.
- Log your babys eating and sleeping habits if possible. If a problem does arise, this is a great way for you to have a big picture of your babys habits. Trust me as a sleep-deprived new mama, this ISNT something youll be able to remember unless you write it down.
- Colic is ROUGH and if your baby is one of the unlucky, they can start getting colicky at any time now. Colic is defined as your baby crying for at least three hours a day, three days a week. If you suspect your baby may be suffering from this, try and clock the time they are crying. It often FEELS like they are crying longer than they actually are. Because doctors dont know for sure what causes colic, there isnt a specific remedy. If you suspect your baby is suffering from colic, talk with your doctor because they may have some ideas of things you can try.
Related: Gas Pains and Babies: Your Complete Guide
Don’t Miss: How Long Should A Newborn Sleep
What To Expect At Babys First Doctors Visit
Welcoming a new baby is a time of joy and excitement. But for many, especially new parents, it is also a time of anxiety and stress. At Summit Health, our pediatricians are here to guide you through the ups and downs of the newborn stage and answer your questions about common concerns like feeding, sleeping, and development.
Knowing what to expect at your newborns first pediatrician visit can help you stay organized and get the most out of your checkup. Babies should come in for their first appointment within two to three days of leaving the hospital. Sometimes the doctor may recommend you visit the pediatrician the day after discharge if your baby needs to be checked sooner.
It is important to attend all scheduled visits throughout the first year of life and beyond, says Catalina Scarfone, DO, a pediatrician at Summit Health. There are many things that are reviewed and discussed according to the child’s age and individual progress. As pediatricians, we can provide the most well-rounded care for children when working together with parents. Together, we can ensure good communication, adherence to visits and recommendations, and provide thorough education every step of the way.
Prepare Ahead of Time
Taking a newborn out of the house can be overwhelming. Leave for the appointment 15 minutes early so you are not in a rush. Babies can be unpredictablethey may need to eat or have a diaper changeand this will give you plenty of time to organize yourself in the waiting area.
Setting And Following A Schedule For Newborns
Now its time for you to take what youve learned and put it into action. As a new parent, you have a lot on your mind, but you dont need to worry about the health of your children. Appointments with your pediatrician allow you to talk about any changes that you see and actions or symptoms that concern you.
At the office of Doctor Ana, we accept new patients as young as newborns and work with them until they reach the age of 21. Call today to see what you need to do to schedule an appointment and how you can get the help that your baby needs.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Recommended Reading: What To Do If My Newborn Has Gas
Choosing A Pediatrician For Your New Baby
From the day you learn you’re pregnant, you make decisions that last your child’s lifetime like the name you choose for your baby. To give your newborn the healthiest possible start, you’ll want to find a pediatrician to care for your child from their first wellness visit through the teen years. Here are tips on how to find that doctor.
When To Call The Doctor
If you think your child is having stomach pain, a good test to gauge the severity is to touch their stomach. If your child seems to be in a lot of pain when being touchedlike if they cry when you touch their tummy or swipe your hand awaythen they should be seen by their doctor. If the pain is rapidly increasing or if it increases when theyre in a car going over bumpy roads, that warrants a call to your doctor. We also use the jump test: If your child can walk and jump well, , then most likely the stomach pain doesnt warrant an emergency room visit.
A few causes of stomach pain where your child needs to see a doctor include constipation , urinary tract infections and strep throat, which can present in children around 3 years old with a sore throat, fever, abdominal pain, sandpaper-like rash on the body, headache or vomiting. Signs of appendicitissevere stomach pain starting by the belly button and then moving to the right lower side, stomach tenderness when touched, along with fever, not wanting to eat and vomitingmight mean an immediate trip to the ER.
Read Also: What To Do If My Newborn Is Constipated
What Will The Doctor Do At This Appointment
A nurse will likely measure the baby, including his or her height, weight, and head circumference. The doctor will then perform a physical examination, which will likely involve gentle bending and prodding of your baby to make sure that there are no obvious signs of developmental issues. The doctor will also ask you questions about your babys feeding and digestive habits. The physician will review any potential health concerns and give you time to ask any questions.
What Your Baby Is Up To:
Babies start grabbing things and putting them in their mouth, a stage thatll last about a year so pay close attention to choking hazards and things they can swallow. And theyre getting mobile. Some kids crawl, says Dr. Nicklas. Some scoot along on their butt. Some roll around. As long as theyre moving, we dont worry about their gross motor development.
You May Like: How To Make Newborn Baby Sleep
Md Or Do: What’s The Difference
Pediatricians can graduate from medical school with either an MD or a DO degree. Both degrees train doctors to diagnose and treat diseases and to try to prevent them when possible.
Programs for DOs usually focus on a holistic approach to medicine. MDs study medicine in the traditional way. All MDs and DOs must complete a residency supervised hands-on training before they are licensed to practice medicine.
Choosing a DO or MD is up to you. Both are equally qualified. But you do want to make sure that your child’s pediatrician is board certified.
One Month Appointment Tips
- Make sure youre still writing out any questions that come up so you can ask your doctor when you go in for your appointment. These things will come up and you will forget otherwise.
- Continue writing down your babys eating/sleeping/diaper habits. This includes keeping track of what their stool looks like
- Make sure youre giving your baby tummy time at home. Yes, many babies hate it but its still considered developmentally helpful for them, so its worth doing. Ask your doctor about the results for the newborn screening tests. The timing in which they can get results back varies among doctor offices, but it doesnt hurt to check in with your doctor and see if theyre available yet.
Don’t Miss: Why Do Newborns Cry All The Time
Does Your Baby Need To See A Pediatrician After A Home Birth
Many of our clients wonder whether they will need to see a pediatrician after they have a home birth. Of course, this answer may be different depending on which midwifery practice you are working with, but in our practice, it is our policy that our babies are seen by a pediatrician in the first week of life.
This may seem like a lot when we are also seeing your baby five times in the first six weeks, but we always want to make it clear that, while we see a lot of babies and are good at discerning what is normal for a newborn and what is not, this fact is simple: we are not pediatricians, who specialize in baby and child health care, and see many, many more babies than we do. A pediatrician is great coverage to lend a practiced ear to listening to your babys heart and evaluate for normal development. Its also fantastic to already have a care provider in place if we run into any concerns in our exams that we need to refer for, such as elevated bilirubin. And getting started early ensures that you have a chance to build a good relationship with your babys doctor that will continue long after our care ends at six weeks postpartum.
As weve mentioned in previous posts, our postpartum and newborn visits occur on or around 1 day, 3 days, 10 days, 3 weeks and 6 weeks. We encourage people to see their pediatrician at around the one week mark so that it falls between our visits, and to get an extra weight check on baby.
Physical Growth Of Your Newborn
Your nurse will measure the kiddo from head to toe, weigh them, and check how big their head is. This is all documented throughout your babys first couple of years.
Remember, whether baby is in the 10th or 90th percentile isnt that important as long as their trends continue at a normal pace. Your doctor is more concerned about consistent trends at every appointment. Despite this, you will still find yourself watching to make sure that little chubbers is still in the bajillionth percentile in awesomeness. Im not going to tell you not to, because you wont listen.
And honestly, theres no harm in it. Just dont freak out if one well check your baby is in the 20% percentile for something. You only get so accurate a result scribbling on a paper liner as a munchkin tries to worm their way out of your grasp. #lovenursing
You May Like: How Many Oz Newborn Drink
Is This Doctor A Good Fit For Me
After you’ve had a chance to talk with the doctor and other members of the care team, do you feel you will work well together? Is the doctor willing to explain things carefully? Does the doctor seem to be a good listener? Will you be comfortable asking questions? Do you think the doctor would mind if you wanted to get a second opinion?
Do you and your doctor share beliefs about issues that are important to you? For example, how does the doctor feel about circumcision? Breastfeeding? Alternative or integrative medicines or techniques? Use of antibiotics and other medicines? Remember that the doctor may be seeing your child for years to come.
Keep your notes about the doctors you didn’t select. If your insurance changes, you may find yourself looking for a new doctor. Or it may take a while to find a doctor you’re happy with.
Choosing a health care provider before your baby is born will help you feel confident about your baby’s care. Knowing you have chosen the right doctor will help you feel calmer and more in control.
Is Paperwork Involved
Paperwork is a necessary part of all doctors appointments. Bring hospital documents, including information about your babys weight and discharge. Pediatricians will want to know about possible complications during pregnancy and birth, as well.
Be prepared to include family health information. Pediatricians focus on family health problems as part of newborn medical care. Dont forget your insurance cards, youll need those too.
Recommended Reading: How Often Should A Newborn Feed On Formula