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Your baby’s first visit to the pediatrician will be soon after birth. You may have a lot of questions about this first appointment, including what will happen and what you should bring.<\/p>\n
As a pediatrician who sees many babies for their first neonatal visit, I get a lot of questions about this appointment. Read on for my answers to frequently asked questions by parents and helpful hints to make this journey go smoothly.<\/p>\n
Typically, the first visit occurs between 3 and 5 days of life, although this sometimes varies.<\/p>\n
Most birth hospitals now require you to provide the name of a pediatrician with whom you will liaise. Usually about 24 hours after birth, your care team at the birth hospital will help you see a pediatrician before you leave the hospital.<\/p>\n
Most babies lose weight in the first week of life. It usually takes about a week or more for your child to reach the number of ounces we’d like to see him or her consume each day. We check babies often during the first month of life to make sure they aren’t losing too much weight and are growing at a steady rate. <\/p>\n
This is also an important time period when we check for jaundice.<\/p>\n
Your child’s examination has already started before I could see it. Before you enter the examining room, I will review your baby’s birth records; looked at their birth weight, length, and head circumference; And read something else about pregnancy or birth that will help me get a better understanding of their health.<\/p>\n
I will ask you to take off my baby’s diaper. (Bring a blanket!) Then, while we’re talking, I’ll begin to do a visual exam of your baby, looking at their skin for anything unusual such as a skin rash or bumps. I look at his eyes to check for possible signs of jaundice. I make sure the umbilical cord looks healthy. I check his hips for dislocations. I check their reactions.<\/p>\n
I also look into diapers and examine their anatomy. I listen to their heart, lungs and stomach. I look at your child from top to bottom, inside and out to assess as much as possible. This happens a lot when I’m interacting with parents. You probably don’t even realize how much is going on while we’re talking.<\/p>\n
Allow yourself about an hour for this first meeting. You will spend 15-20 minutes talking with each of the following:<\/p>\n
We often already have your baby’s medical records from the birth hospital before this first appointment. If we don’t, we’ll ask you to bring it with you.<\/p>\n
If you forget any baby necessities, we have most of what you need, including formula, bottles, diapers, and wipes.<\/p>\n
We recommend that you bring:<\/p>\n
Both parents are welcome and encouraged to meet the newborn.<\/p>\n
In the first month of life, be prepared to bring your baby once every week. This is so we can monitor your baby’s growth and make sure they are gaining weight appropriately. Your doctor will talk to you if changes to that schedule need to be made.<\/p>\n
Then, when you have your baby we will meet with you for a nice visit:<\/p>\n