Question about choosing a pediatrician?

Question

I'm due in a couple of days and I was told I needed to pick a pediatrician for her before she's born. I don't know how to do that because I can't get insurance coverage for her till after she's born. Also, I don't really have any way of knowing who will be a good Dr. for her. Some people have told me that I don't need to have a specific Dr. picked out because there will be one at the hospital to check her out when she first comes. My question is, when will I need to take her for her first visit after she's born and home and everything. I really don't know what to expect.

Answer 1

you can select a pediatrician before she is born. You most likely know which insurance she is going to be on, just call up the pediatricians office and ask them if they take that insurance. Some parents like myself actually interviewed pediatricians before the baby came. I am so glad that I did, because the first quack that I went to told me to roll my baby in dirt ten days after she was born because it will help her build up natural antibodies. Whether this is true or not, I was not comfortable with the holistic medicine that he planned on using so I selected a different doctor.  You are going to want to find a doctor whose practices coincide with your values and how you want to manage you child's care.  

Answer 2

the baby will need  to be checked 2 days after you leave the hospital and a 2 week old visit..so your gonna have to pick one soon..i would prefer choosing one myself rather just any doctor on duty looking my baby over as soon as they're born..normally insurnce covers the your doctor and a pediatrician for the babyup until the baby is 6 weeks and you send in the paper work

Answer 3

The pediatrician will first see the baby while making rounds at the hospital.  This is why you need to pick one BEFORE birth.

The big 3 questions:

1)  Do she take your insurance?  If not, move along.  Unless you're in the middle of nowhere, there will be others to choose from.

2)  Do she have children of their own?  Ages?  A pediatrician for whom personal experience is still fresh on her mind will be far superior to one whose children are in their 30s or 40s and especially to one who hasn't had children.

3)  Does she goose-step to the medical profession line, or will she step out when she knows she is right?  For example, there is a belief going thru the pediatric community that children under 2 cannot have allergies.  Personal experience tell me differently.  Will she believe her own eyes and ears, or what she's read in a journal somewhere?

Answer 4

your first visit will al depend on baby.  If she has jaundice they will need to see her the next day after birth.  If she has any problems like low birth weight they will need to see her a week after birth.  Your baby will get whatever insurance you have so look up pediatricians on your list.  Going to meet them is very important.  The first dr I went to meet when my first son was born was crazy!!!  She wanted me to NOT take baby out of house for any reason until 2months, she wasnted me to stop eating strawberries and nuts because she said the baby will be allergic and she wanted NO one to hold baby not even my mother unless they were touching him only with one of his blankets.  I could not believe it so i talked to some friends and found out who there drs were and then checked to see if they were on my insurance then i visited them, the dr I chose was great, i was soooooo upset when we moved because i would have to find another dr.  I am not happy with the dr they have here but it is slim picking so i am currently looking around for a new one.  Good Luck!!

Answer 5

Insurance companies offer a grace period when babies are born.  Mine gives you 30 days to put them on the policy, but either way she'll either be under your insurance or under your partner's insurance, so that's all you'll need to know when you select a pediatrician.  yes, if you don't have a pediatrician picked when you deliver or if the pediatrician is not affiliated with your hospital, the hospital will use their on-call pediatrician (make sure they accept your insurance) but the hospital records need to be transferred somewhere once you're discharged...so it's in your best interest to know who you're going to use once you go home.  My pediatrician is not affiliated with my hospital and the first office visit will occur within 3 days of coming home.

Answer 6

Most pediatrician offices will let you 'interview' a doctor for free.  

We brought our baby to the ped. 2 days after being released from the hospital- then 2 weeks later, at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, etc.  

Yes the hospital will have an appointed dr. for you if you don't have one chosen.  

Answer 7

They usually like to see babies 2-3 days after you get out of the hospital. Then, after that, it's 2 weeks.

As far as what doctor to choose we just asked friends and my OB. We moved here last year and it was our first so we weren't too familiar with anyone. And I'm sure your insurance can talk to you about coverage and if they have any restrictions on doctors, so give them a call.

Answer 8

Don't worry. Your baby will be seen by a pediatrician before he/she leaves the hospital.

visit:

www.chop.edu

Answer 9

I think it is better to keep your baby at a "family doctor's office" rather than a pediatrician.  I had horrible results from 2 pediatricans, but once my baby started going to the same doctor I went to, it was MUCH easier.

1 example:  I had a sinus infection (but didn't know it), then the baby got sick, the pediatrician brushed it off and said it had nothing to do with me being sick... so I went to my family doctor and he noticed my sinus infection, and then said the baby had the same thing... and he was right.

2nd example: I was breastfeeding my son and got sick (something different) and had to take antibiotics.  The pediatrician didn't know what medicines were safe during breastfeeding, he said call your OB, then the OB said, we're not responsible for this now that you're post partum, call your family doctor.  Finally my family doctor was able to prescribe me with something that was safe for the baby too...

Good luck!  Family doctors have the ability to look at the big picture.