Seton Baby Talk

I never realized how busy I would be during my pregnancy. Every week brings me closer to delivering my little one, which means time is running out to get ready! Picking out the right name, figuring out what baby supplies to buy, signing up for prenatal classes...the list goes on and on.

During a recent conversation with a friend, she asked, "So, have you chosen a pediatrician?" Uh, what? To be honest, the only doctor I'm focusing on right now is my ob/gyn. Don't I have time to find a pediatrician later?

Well, not really. Hospitals require that your newborn be examined by a pediatrician or family doctor before they are discharged. You also need to have your baby examined again soon after being released from the hospital. After the excitement and stress of your delivery, it might be difficult to make a decision on your baby's pediatrician while you are still in the hospital. Selecting a pediatrician beforehand will ensure that you are able to start your baby's healthcare experience on the right foot.

So, how do you find the right pediatrician? If you have other children, you should have experience selecting and evaluating pediatricians. But if you're a first-time mom (like me), you might not have dealt with a pediatrician since you were a kid yourself.

One of the best ways of finding a pediatrician is to ask for recommendations from other parents. You can also ask your healthcare provider for a recommendation. You might also want to refer to the list of pediatricians who accept your medical insurance.

Many parents decide to interview potential pediatricians before making their final decision. Call the pediatricians on your list, and find out about their interview processes. Some pediatricians will schedule a group interview with multiple sets of parents-to-be. Note that some pediatricians charge an interview fee.

Before you actually meet a potential pediatrician, you can ask their receptionist or office manager a few questions to determine if the practice is right for you:

Does this pediatrician accept your insurance?—If a pediatrician does not accept your medical insurance, you will need to decide whether you want to continue with the interview process. If this isn’t an issue with you, find out if they have payment plans available.

Will you be able to have your questions answered on weekends or after-hours?—If you’re a first-time parent, you will likely be full of questions once your baby is here. Is her temperature normal? Is that a rash? WHY WON’T SHE STOP CRYING? Find out if your pediatrician’s office offers a special phone line for questions. If they do, what hours do they operate the phone line?

Do they offer extended or weekend hours?—If you work during the day, you may want to find out if the office offers extended hours. Also, if your baby gets sick during the weekend, do you have an option, such as weekend hours, available?

If you decide to meet with a potential pediatrician, find out all you can about their healthcare philosophy. If you have a strong opinion about a healthcare issue, such as vaccinations, will your pediatrician work with you to come up with a healthcare plan that will make you both comfortable? Most importantly, will this pediatrician listen to you and your concerns?

Finding a pediatrician before you go into labor can help resolve any concerns you may have about not being prepared for parenthood. Then you can worry about other things, such as making sure that you have enough diapers and baby supplies to get you through your first month!

If you need help finding an ob/gyn or a pediatrician, visit Seton Baby Talk’s Find a Doctor section. You can search for physicians by location and find out information about their specialties and practices.