The First Pediatrician Visit for Newborns
The first post-birth visit to a child’s pediatrician is important because, for some parents, it can be the first time they have met their child’s physician or have seen the pediatrician’s office.
What can parents expect at this first pediatrician visit?
- Filling out forms. Prepare for filling out necessary forms for the child’s care. Insurance forms, contact information, providing insurance cards…all of these happen at that very first visit.
- Undressing baby down to a diaper. The doctor will want to look over the child completely, so they will need to be naked with the exception of a diaper. Be sure and bring a blanket in case the room is a little chilly.
- Taking measurements. The nursing staff will take the baby’s length, weight and head circumference. These measurements are important because these numbers will be plotted on a graph and reviewed as the child grows, to ensure he or she is growing at the appropriate rate.
- Visit with doctor. When the pediatrician comes in, this is the parents’ time to ask any questions they may have. Keep a note in your phone with any that may come up, so you are prepared when the physician arrives.
- Review feeding. The physician will ask whether the baby is breastfed or bottlefed, and he or she will want to know how many ounces or how long the baby typically eats and if they are waking on their own.
- Review output. After discussing the baby’s feeding, the doctor will also ask about baby’s urine and stool output.
- Physical exam. The doctor will look at the baby from head-to-toe. This exercise ensures nothing was missed during the exam that takes place post-birth at the hospital, and it also allows the doctor to see if anything new has occurred in the last few days. This also gives the doctor the opportunity to look for weight loss or jaundice, two common occurrences in the few days after the baby is born.
- Review safety measures. The doctor will visit with the parent about car seat safety and other important safety information, including measuring the correct hot water temperature for the baby and ensuring smoke detectors are active in the home. The pediatrician will also ask about sleep safety. Babies should sleep on their back with no other items in the bed with them.
- Schedule next visit. This visit will determine the next doctor visit. Typically, the next visit will be scheduled for two weeks to a month, but if any issues are found at this visit, the physician may request a visit sooner.
Source:
Related Articles:
