July, 16 2009

Visit to the Pediatrician

by Rina Shah

Visiting the pediatrician for the first time is exciting. As an expectant mother it can be overwhelming to figure out who to choose as a pediatrician. Once you have solved that you wonder about what will happen when you do visit the pediatrician.

The first year of a babies life is special. The grow and change rapidly. For this reason, most pediatricians will see you between 6-8 times in the first year for check ups.

When you visit your doctor for check ups she will have a few basic questions for you. These questions are centered around 2 main topics, growth and development. How is your son growing? That question is determined by weighing your baby, measuring his length and the circumference of his head. Your doctor then puts this information on a growth chart and over time develops a pattern of how your baby is growing. This information assists your doctor in determining the overall health of your baby.

To find out more about your child's growth your doctor will ask about your infants feeding patterns because this is directly related to growth. Is your baby tolerating breast milk, formula or both? Is your 9 month old eating baby food or something else? Of course what goes in must come out. Your pediatrician will ask about your child's voiding and stooling patterns as well.

Growth and development are closely intertwined. So your pediatrician will also ask you if your 6 month old boy is sitting up with help? Is he rolling over? Can your 9 month old put food in his mouth? These are developmental questions milestones which your pediatrician will need to know. Sleep is an important part of growth and development so your doctor may ask about that as well.

Your child's check ups are a great time to check in with your pediatrician and ask any questions you may have about your infant. Your pediatrician may also give you the vaccination schedule that their office uses. Most pediatricians conform to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for vaccines.

Your pediatrician may ask about your pregnancy,medical history and any family history that could be relevant to your child's health.

If you have questions for your child's pediatrician you should always contact them to get those answers.

Here is a list of resources for all caregivers:

www.aap.org

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infant-and-toddler-health/MY00362/DSECTION=newborn%2Dhealth

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infant_health.cfm

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