pediatrician

[rocio]

My workmate gave me the number of her pediatrician. How does this work? Do I make an appointment to see him before the baby is born? Or do I make an appointment for after she's born? I'm such an amateur at being a mom! Someone please walk me through this.

[southerngirl]

Go ahead and call them because they have their own policies and if they are very busy may even have a waiting list.

 

With my childrens pediatrician they required me to call them when the baby was born, just so that he knew about it (the doctor) and bring the baby by the day following our release from the hospital. The doctor did not see the baby at the hospital because there were already doctors caring for my newborn at the hospital. Some doctors may operate differently though.

[Ash]

Call him/her now to see if he/she will be taking on new patients. You may or may not need a referral depending on exactly how things work where you are. You'll find that our if you call the pediatrian as well. If you do need a referral your own doctor should be able to provide that so you'll need to talk to him/her.

[Mythical_Suicide]

Id call now and see what their policy is and if they're accepting new patients, another good thing you should consider is meeting with the pediatrician prior to giving birth to see if he/she is the pediatrician you do want for your child.. How it worked for me when I was pregnant the last two weeks or so when I had my tour of the hospital they asked which pediatrician office I was taking my son to after he was born and then once he was born they called and schedule his first appointment for me.

[justpaisley]

I saw my son's pediatrician before he came home from the hospital (he was born early and spent a while in the NICU) basically because I wanted to feel her out. I think I get pretty good vibes from people and I wanted to know before I brought my son there that I was going to feel comfortable with her.

 

You're allowed to basically interview the guy - he's going to be taking care of your child, you can do whatever you want. Ask him how he feels about some of the things you are going to do with your child that some people may consider controversial, and if you don't like his answer, go to the next guy. For example, if you're completely averse to breastfeeding, you don't want to have a pediatrician who thinks that formula is baby poison. If you're against vaccinations, you don't want to go to someone who will push them on you.

 

Also, google "questions to ask a pediatrician." That helped me when I was developing my interview.

[Mythical_Suicide]

Good Point I forgot to add that,

The first pediatrician I interviewed we butted heads when it came to certain things such a Formula Feeding and Circumcision for boys so im very very thankful I talked to a few different pedi's before trusting one with my sons health and well being

[justpaisley]

Good Point I forgot to add that,

The first pediatrician I interviewed we butted heads when it came to certain things such a Formula Feeding and Circumcision for boys so im very very thankful I talked to a few different pedi's before trusting one with my sons health and well being

 

Circumcision - good one. That was one of the questions I asked, having a son and all - if my doctor had any opinions on the subject. I won't share what my decision was here (since I know it's a subject that can cause "discussions") but I know a lot of people, doctors included, who feel VERY strongly for and against it and won't hesitate to criticize your decision.

[rocio]

I hope for the sake of the doctor that he doesn't start a debate over circumcision. The father and I have completely opposite views on the practise, and I could see us getting kicked out of the clinic for getting into a heated debate over that! lol. We're *special*.

 

Thanks for the advice guys.

[Mythical_Suicide]

Not to be debated, and it's a personal decision but the first doctor I spoke to he was all over me to have my son circumcised even though I was against it for my son (at the time) but then I switched offices and the pedi my son sees now is the type who will do it if you choose to have it done but wont push it. Just choose very wisely as alot of pediatricians are very overbearing with certain issues as they want every to believe you have to go 100% by the books or its just wrong.

[Dilly]

My workmate gave me the number of her pediatrician. How does this work? Do I make an appointment to see him before the baby is born? Or do I make an appointment for after she's born? I'm such an amateur at being a mom! Someone please walk me through this.

 

 

Yeah, my question is - will insurance pay for an interview? How long should the interview last? I think I found a decent pediatrician through one of the classes I attended. She was the teacher. HA!

 

Anyway, my boyfriend wants to shine a projector on our child shortly after birth to obtain a 3D image of her. Complicated procedure, he wants to project a pattern on her using the projector and then, use some software to integrate the pattern which will be modified by the twists and turns of her body. The result will be a data file he could use as a caste.

 

Anyway, I'm QUITE CONCERNED about her optical sensitivities to the bright, bright light and we've already had some heated discussions over this. We agree we need to seek medical advice, but he's pretty determined to do it. I'm pretty determined to find out if that's potentially damaging. I imagine the projection could take 15-30 seconds or longer. And eh wants to take a "ton of '3D images'".

 

Sorry for the aside!

[rocio]

Put sunglasses on the baby. He'll look so cool!

[Ash]

Yeah, I'd be concerned about bright lights too. Everything on babies tends to be more sensitive.

 

It can't be done at a reduced light level?

 

Also, it would be a good idea to know what the UV content of the light might be if it is very bright. Short durations are unlikely to be a problem, but still ... Not the kind of inadvertent sacrifice you'd like to make.

[Dilly]

yeah, I think glasses might filter, but he won't have it.

 

I am going to see a pediatrician next week about this. If it's in any way a danger, I'm not having it. Baby's retinas are extremely light-sensitive and blindness from retinopathy of premature newborns is a phenomena that is well known and quite googlable. My only point is, if it's commone with premature infants, one would think it's possible with full-term babies too. There have been studies done on blindness in nursuries with lighting too bright... sooo, just my thought.

 

We'll see.

[Mythical_Suicide]

Yeah, my question is - will insurance pay for an interview? How long should the interview last? I think I found a decent pediatrician through one of the classes I attended. She was the teacher. HA!

 

!

 

A Pediatrician isn't going to charge for a consultation/interview just call well ahead and schedule one w/their office the interview lasts as long as you need it to. YOu need to prepare a list of questions that you want answered such as those mentioned above and any other thing that is of importance to you.

 

As for your bf's Idea i'd either put sunglasses on the baby or just not do it, this is something you should really ask your pediatrician about after baby is born though.

[Mythical_Suicide]

yeah, I think glasses might filter, but he won't have it.

 

I am going to see a pediatrician next week about this. If it's in any way a danger, I'm not having it. Baby's retinas are extremely light-sensitive and blindness from retinopathy of premature newborns is a phenomena that is well known and quite googlable. My only point is, if it's commone with premature infants, one would think it's possible with full-term babies too. There have been studies done on blindness in nursuries with lighting too bright... sooo, just my thought.

 

We'll see.

 

 

The reason its so prominent in Premature babies rather than fullterm babies is because premature babies have less protection from every outer aspect so where as it's still harmful to a fullterm baby not as much as it would be for a premature baby.

[BornToResist]

I suggest you get a pediatrician picked before you have your baby.

 

I really wish I did. They asked me who my pediatrician was in the hospital and I didn't have one...luckily they called one in for me (who has the best reputation around) and he checked him out. But after being discharged from the hospital, I was supposed to call and schedule an appointment for that Monday (I was let out on Friday). So on Monday I found out that I have to do the insurance two-step. I have to wait two weeks to get an appointment with my primary doctor just to get a referral, and THEN I can try to get into the pediatrician. So there's no telling how long this is going to take.

 

Definently get it handled beforehand.

[justpaisley]

yeah, I think glasses might filter, but he won't have it.

 

I am going to see a pediatrician next week about this. If it's in any way a danger, I'm not having it. Baby's retinas are extremely light-sensitive and blindness from retinopathy of premature newborns is a phenomena that is well known and quite googlable. My only point is, if it's commone with premature infants, one would think it's possible with full-term babies too. There have been studies done on blindness in nursuries with lighting too bright... sooo, just my thought.

 

We'll see.

 

When my baby was in the NICU (3 months premature) he had to have 3 bright lights shone on him 24 hours a day for almost a week because of jaundice. He had "sunglasses" on, though - I'll see if I can attach a picture. I think if your partner wants to do the lights, it'd be fine, as long as the baby has sunglasses on. It really does hurt a baby's eyes, not just long-term, but short term too - it's physically painful to babies to have that much light on them. They've been in absolute darkness for nearly a year.

 

Can he somehow photoshop her face on there after everything else is done? Sorry if I don't understand the process.

 

Also, the pediatrician probably won't charge you for an interview, rather do it on his/her lunch hour.

[Mythical_Suicide]

The light they use in hospitals for jaundice is different than the light used in per-se projectors as she is talking about.

[justpaisley]

The light they use in hospitals for jaundice is different than the light used in per-se projectors as she is talking about.

 

I know, but still, it's light. Short term (very short term) exposure on the skin to any light isn't going to be damaging, but it really will hurt the eyes. If he can put some sunglasses or something over her eyes then maybe photoshop them in later, that'd provide the ultimate protection.

[Dilly]

Thanks guys, for your suggestions about glasses! We've talked a bit about him filling in the ocular area while using glasses and he's soooo not into it. But I think when we visit the pediatrician next Friday together, they will be able to set him straight. I mean a doctor is not going to give a free pass on this without getting some knowledge. As long as we ask very pointed questions, like, for instance, 1) would a 15 second 1500 lumen light exposure predispose a child to ocular damage? 2) if so, what is the max amt. of light that can be shown for this duration, accounting for repeat exposures (hopefully no more than say 10-15)?

 

Anyway, my boyfriend is quite determined to do this, and we're going to get info on it.

 

Thanks Mythical and Paisely for your added thoughts. I think they are helpful to take into consideration... I'll keep you updated.

 

BTW, I called today and they said insurance normally covers visits to pediatricians as "prenatal visits". Now, to compile a list of important questions!!!

[justpaisley]

Dilly - try calling a pediatric optha... opthal... eye doctor, or just any old eye doctor. The one my son had to go to last week* works with preemies in the NICU and someone like him would probably know better about the effects of exposure to light on a newborn's eyes than a pediatrician would. That's more of a specialist question. I'm sure you wouldn't have to go in, and maybe could talk to a nurse.

 

*I have to share... My son's got perfect vision, which is not common in preemies! The eye doctor was so unconcerned that he doesn't need to see my son again till he's 3! I was so excited.

[Mythical_Suicide]

 

BTW, I called today and they said insurance normally covers visits to pediatricians as "prenatal visits". Now, to compile a list of important questions!!!

 

 

Thats really strange, hrm our Pedi never charged for a consultation. I guess it's good that insurance would cover it if they do charge though!.

[rocio]

Apparently there's a shortage of pediatricians in my city. I've been calling around and can't find one who is accepting new patients. I've called my doctor to ask her for a referral, but does anyone have other ideas? Baby is coming in a month and this is a bit unexpected..

[Ash]

We were really lucky. The on-call pediatrician at the hospital when M delivered picked up our new baby ... and two of the other kids as well. Very, very lucky as the situation is the same in most of Ontario I think. You certainly can't rely on that method.

 

Have you been into the hospital where you're going to deliver to get an orientation? If not (or if you have, perhaps you could go again) do so and ask the nurses in the birthing suite (or whatever it's termed where you're going) to see if they know of any pediatricians taking on new patients.

 

I think I might have run accross a website proporting to help with the search. No idea if it would work, but perhaps worth a try.

 

An additional option may be to look slightly further afield. I realize this is not as convenient, but there are more and more people now travelling distances to see a doctor. It's the times we live in unfortunately. I wish there was a better solution I could offer.

[rocio]

Thanks Ash. I'm giving birth at home, but do you think I should just call around to various hospitals and ask?