September 10, 2014

We asked women to share with us the advice they wished they had received while they were pregnant. Their comments were insightful and often a little humorous. This month’s blog post will focus on your baby’s doctor (a.k.a. a pediatrician).

During your pregnancy, you will have routine visits with your obstetrician. And once born, your baby will also need a pediatrician for routine check-ups.

When looking for a pediatrician, you’ll first want to make sure you understand any limitations associated with your healthcare plan. Most plans have a designated network of doctors, and you may not be covered if you choose a doctor outside of that network. Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start compiling a list of possible candidates. Ask your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers for suggestions or go online. The next step is to interview the doctors on your list. There are resources online to help you compile questions (just Google the phrase “questions to ask potential pediatrician”); you’ll want to ask about things like office hours and emergency procedures. Most importantly, you want to make sure your pediatrician is someone you can trust.

You’re going to have a thousand questions – and that’s okay! Most doctors are more than happy to give you answers, as you’ll find out while you are interviewing prospective pediatricians. Some pediatricians have specific “call-in” times during the day when you can call and ask questions. In other practices, a nurse will answer your questions during regular office hours.