Parental Advisory 19
How in the world do I find a pediatrician?
by Rebecca Odes & Ceridwen Morris
April 18, 2007
I'm six months pregnant and I just read that I need to find a pediatrician
before my baby's even born. This seems weird to me. Is it really necessary?
How do I even begin? I live in New York City, so there are hundreds (thousands?)
of options, and I don't have any friends with kids I can ask.
— Dr. Who
Dear Dr. Who,
You're not required to sign on with a doctor before birth, but if you don't,
you'll end up working with the pediatric equivalent of a public defender:
whoever's assigned to you at the hospital. These doctors are often great,
but they may not be in the geographic or philosophical neighborhood you'd
prefer. So you'll probably want to find someone more closely aligned for
long-term pediatric care. (You can see one doctor in the hospital and then
switch to a more permanent doctor afterwards — this is sometimes necessary
if the pediatrician you choose doesn't work with the hospital where you
deliver).
Since you don't have any first-hand recommendations, you can ask for ideas
on local parenting websites (the Babble boards are a good resource, for example)
or in person, if you feel like approaching random parents in a playground. You
can also go through your insurance company and get a short list, then ask others
for opinions (or not). If you take any prenatal classes, the instructors may
have
some suggestions. We recommend trying to look for a doctor who is relatively
easy to get to. Babies get lots of check-ups their first year, and then,
there's
actual sickness — and schlepping a sick baby up and down numerous subway
steps is never fun.
The pre-baby pediatrician hunt is always a little odd, like clothing shopping
for a baby you haven't met. But really, your own relationship with the
doctor is as important as your child's — much more so at first.
A good way to check out the vibe of a place/doctor is try to go in there for
a
brief meeting. Prenatal interviews are pretty standard; they help you get a sense
of the office and the pros before you sign on and show up with a newborn (and
all the accompanying anxiety). Most doctors are used to meeting nervous new parents
and will help you through the process.
Since it can be hard to know what you're looking for, these are some questions
that may come in handy:
Who's in the practice?
Will the same person see your baby each time?
What's everyone's experience/years practicing?
What are the hours?
What hospital are they affiliated with?
What's the after-hours policy?
Is there an arrangement for contagious children? Newborns?
How does the doctor feel about . . . breastfeeding, formula, vaccinations, circumcision,
co-sleeping, sleep-training and/or other choices that may be relevant to your
family?
Have a question? Email parentaladvisory@babble.com
©2007 Rebecca Odes & Ceridwen Morris and Nerve Media
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