Baby Corner

[^_^ 5,021]

I wanted to add: We had our pedi picked out when Sebas arrived, and the hospital took note of that. All the tests and information they had on him since birth they sent a copy to our pedi, which I really liked. When Sebas was born he had a small heart arrhythmia, and our head pediatrician, cardiologist and hospital pediatrician all followed up and stayed informed on his progress. Thankfully the arrhythmia solved itself a couple of weeks after birth.

Saludos,

Caro

I'm glad it resolved itself. That must have been a tough few weeks. Sounds like a very good reason to have a ped picked out in advance. I'm going through listings on my insurer website right now, I assume the ped and my wifes OB have to have privileges at the hospital she plans to give birth at?

[anya-D 8]

Joyce,

count yourself lucky!! Sam is now 7 month (where did all the time goes?) and still wakes up at leat twice to nurse. I tried to wait till he would go back to sleep but he wouldnt so I had to nurse him to sleep everytime he woke up. He was good at 2 month - 3 and a half though.. went down at 8PM then woke up once at 3AM then 7AM. But his teething or something made him woke up like 5 times a night for a week then reduce to 3-4 times a night for a long long time. Then our trip to Thailand and the fact that he's more aware made his sleeping out the window so now it's a miracle to get 5 hrs straight!

I'm still not set on the car seat.. I read that some babies get car seat from the head support of the Marathon and the Boulavard (yes I plan on the Marathon this morning but now not sure!) Then at BBRUs has the old Boulavard CS for sale, now price at the same as new Marathon 70. meh.. i'm so torn.

I just got this cute keepsake box and diary for Sam. it's so much fun to put pictures and comments in them for him. And I leaned that when Bram told his mom about the pregnancy, he told her 'Well, the rabbit died' has anyone heard of that expression? lol

Sam is now scooting EVERYWHERE!! he would just drag himself to places and he's so fastinate with electricle cords. He would even scoot AROUND me to get to the cord. We really need to get a TV stand with doors or something

[tnh9479 1]

@/ : I asked around about a peds office that was near me and got great reviews. So...I then called them and they have a night once a month for expecting parents where you can talk with their main nurse and the lead pediatrician. It was great as I found out I LOVED the main ped and we see him. He has my same philosophy - avoid meds, except when necessary. He let us take pics of their first appt and is a really nice guy. The good thing, they are one office in a large practice so someone is there 356 days a year.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

OK. Also the OB said we should "interview" peds. Is that what I should say, I'd like to schedule an interview?

My OB/GYN gave me a list of recommended pediatricians, and I just called the practice closest to my house. I made an appointment to meet with with one of the doctors. They called it a "prenatal visit." I think it's common. I'd steer clear of a practice that doesn't allow you to meet w/ a doctor and ask questions before delivery.

I'm pretty sure the pediatrician would have to have privileges at the hospital in order to examine the baby there, but if you find one you really like, this shouldn't be a dealbreaker. The pediatrician on staff at the hospital will make sure the baby's OK, and you should be able to have your chosen pediatrician see the baby a few days after birth. I think newborns are typically seen in the pedi's office when they're three or four days old.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Thanks for the advice. Everyone is telling me I need to hurry up and get the baby room ready already. I feel like it's too soon for everything! Besides, it would eat into VJ time.

People kept asking us if the nursery was ready. I was being kinda Jewish about the pregnancy and didn't allow myself to buy anything until the third trimester. My husband's aunt gave us a bunch of clothes when we were in the UK (at that point, I was about 22 weeks), and I couldn't even look at them! I relaxed a little in the third trimester. I was about 36 weeks when we had a shower. But I've never understood the the pressure people put on themselves to get the nursery ready well in advance, especially for a first kid. You don't know exactly what you'll need until the kid arrives, aside from the obvious basics like a place to sleep, diapers, changing surface, etc.

And you don't want anything to eat into your VJ time! God forbid!

[chnst 6]

OK. Also the OB said we should "interview" peds. Is that what I should say, I'd like to schedule an interview?

I went with a list of peds my OB gave me and we hit the jackpot. We made a "prenatal" appointment (some pedi's have open houses for expecting parents). We just talked about things when to come in for the first time after delivery, vaccines etc, and you get a feel for that person who will be on your speed dial for the next uhm 18 years. My peds office has 4 pediatricians, each one of them is fantastic, and from day one we really felt that they truly care about every single child and they are extremely comptetent.

They know Ben by his name and medical history and they even remember our personal stuff like my job and that I'm from Germany. When Ben had to be admitted to the hospital last year they called us every day (sometimes mutliple times) to check on him, they came to visit us at the hospital when he got worse and now with his surgery they called us a few times to make sure he is ok.

They also have very short waiting times. No matter what we call them for, they always say come bring him in and we never waited longer than 10 minutes even without an appointment.

It's such a bummer, we now live over 1 hour away from the pediatrician since we moved so I am thinking about switching to the local pediatrician and it's going to be very hard. Between all the well baby visits and the sick visits within the first year you really develop a (hopefully wonderful) relationship with your pediatrician, so it's definitely important to pick someone good, try to ask your OB or people at the library or just visit an office.

You should have a pediatrician picked out by the time she goes into labor, it's one of the first questions the nurse will ask you. "who's your pediatrician?" If you haven't made a decision, they will give you a list. If you pick a pediatrician who is not affiliated with the hospital where she delivers, the baby will be examined by the hospital ward sevice and then after discharge you give your pediatrician a call and inform him of the birth and make the first appointment (usually within a few days of discharge)

As far as circumcisions go- that is done by the OB or midwife at the hospital, not the pediatrician, but you can certainly discuss it with the ped at the prenatal visit. They don't recommend it anymore, it's a personal choice but some OB's will still tell you it's a "necessary" procedure.

Mommies/Daddies: Babies R us has a trade-in sale, you can trade in baby equipment like old carseats, high chairs etc and get 25% off of new stuff. My babyshower is next weekend and we will get the rest of the things we need after that I guess.

I am a little procrastinator too, I got the bedroom set up last week, but there is still so much to buy and to do.

[^_^ 5,021]

The good thing, they are one office in a large practice so someone is there 356 days a year.

What are your feelings on single MD practices?

My OB/GYN gave me a list of recommended pediatricians, and I just called the practice closest to my house. I made an appointment to meet with with one of the doctors. They called it a "prenatal visit." I think it's common.

I went with a list of peds my OB gave me and we hit the jackpot. We made a "prenatal" appointment (some pedi's have open houses for expecting parents).

Awesome. That's exactly what I wanted to know. I hate calling offices and sounding like I don't quite know what I'm talking about. Prenatal visit sounds great.

I'm pretty sure the pediatrician would have to have privileges at the hospital in order to examine the baby there, but if you find one you really like, this shouldn't be a dealbreaker. The pediatrician on staff at the hospital will make sure the baby's OK...

The on call resident?

[chnst 6]

The on call resident?

worse. the on call PA resident. No. Usually (if the hospital has a nursery/level 2 NICU like the place where I work for example) your baby will be seen by the pediatrician who works the NICU, usually very seasoned and experienced people who can hear murmurs without a steth and diagnose jaundice in a dark room. They usually come in within 24 hours after birth until then your baby is screened and assesed by an OB nurse/NICU nurse. My pedi is too far away to come in for the baby so we will be seen by the ward service which is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage, but since I work with this guy I know the babe will be in very good hands even tho we won't see him again after discharge. If you get lucky they will give you a copy from the newborn screen, baby's discharge weight, vaccine papers (if you opt for hepB), hearing screen results and whatnot to bring to your new best friend, your kids pediatrician at the first visit.

[^_^ 5,021]

Usually (if the hospital has a nursery/level 2 NICU like the place where I work for example) your baby will be seen by the pediatrician who works the NICU, usually very seasoned and experienced people who can hear murmurs without a steth and diagnose jaundice in a dark room.

OK. What's the difference between a level 2 and level 3 NICU? The hospital my wife wants to deliver at has a level 3. I prefer a different hospital which has a level 2.

[chri'stina 190]

Question. My wifes OB wants us to start "interviewing" pediatricians after her 20 week appointment (which is just over 2 weeks from now). Is her OB insane? Non-clinical judgmental responses are welcome.

I had read that too online, but I didn't actually do it. I'm sure it's a good idea, but I just didn't. My midwife didn't suggest it but I might have asked about who goes to the hospital if you don't pick one. The pediatrician who came to the hospital after Kavi was born we met then and there(they sent whoever was associated with the hospital and available), then we just stuck with his office.

[chri'stina 190]

I don't recall asking about that on this thread, but I have expressed my concern over daycare costs on other threads from time to time

Thanks for the advice. Everyone is telling me I need to hurry up and get the baby room ready already. I feel like it's too soon for everything! Besides, it would eat into VJ time.

Really? You know how I am, and I liked getting some baby stuff done early on from excitement, but even I didn't start getting his room together until I was 27-28 weeks pregnant.

[Eveline 9]

wow, I didn't even think about a NICU. I was just hoping our kids would never have to be in a NICU, let alone a level 3.

[chnst 6]

OK. What's the difference between a level 2 and level 3 NICU? The hospital my wife wants to deliver at has a level 3. I prefer a different hospital which has a level 2.

my hospital is a level 2. We take preemies from 32 weeks + up. We also do sick babies on vents for a maximum of 5 days or until stable enough to get shipped to a level 3. We do CPAP, phototherapy, feed&grow, meconium aspiration, birth defects, pneumothoraxes, pretty much all kinds of bad case scenarios that we get from L&D and treat them if they are stable or ship them out if they are unstable or require long term ventilation.

The tricky thing with a level 2 is- there is not always a doctor present. They are on call at nights/weekends and the NICU is small (6 intensive care beds) and on nights a lot of times it's just me (1 RN), so I have the responsibility for a bad baby until the doc comes in. Plus I have to attend the delivery and leave my NICU babies with a "sitter" who doesn't know much about NICU. This is something I am still trying to get used to, becasue I worked at a level 3 before and this kind of stuff would never happen there. In larger hospitals with level 3's there is usually way more staff and 24 hour pediaticians&anesthesia present.

If you anticipate complications, go with the level 3, if your wife has a normal pregnancy, a level 2 or less is just fine. Only 1 in 10 babies needs some assistance after birth, like blow by O2, suctioning, bagging and 99% of them will do just fine. And even an idiot can do that. It's just that 1 percent of the 1% of term babies who need help that will need more invasive care but there are usually warning signs like meconium in the amniotic fluid or a bad heart pattern and you can prepare for that accordingly.

[^_^ 5,021]

If you anticipate complications, go with the level 3, if your wife has a normal pregnancy, a level 2 or less is just fine.

OK. I don't anticipate complications, but it sounds like it would be nice to have a Level 3 nearby in case. Especially since both hospitals are so close to home.

I also just looked up a pediatric group practice which is half way between work and home. They offer tours for expecting parents according to their website. But they are affiliated with the wrong hospital, this is a smaller hospital with no NICU at all. Also close to home but my wife has pretty much decided there has to be a NICU after hearing horror stories of botched transfers from other moms.

Thank you for all the input.

Edited January 23, 2011 by \

[tnh9479 1]

You are lucky to have a choice of hospitals. My OB and peri had me go to the one with a level 3 NICU because I was carrying twins and was having issues. I was happy to know my peds office was affiliated with them. Every day we were in the hospital after the c-section, a doc from the practice came in and evaluated them. I got to see a couple of them in action.

I know some of my friends prefer a 1 doctor practice. They feel it is more intimate and they have less waiting time. I prefer the experience a large practice doctor has. I really think it all comes down to how you like their philosophy.