MamasHealth.com Home Pregnancy Information Back Pain Babyshower gifts Bed Rest Birth Control Birth Plan Breast Feeding Bowel Problems Braxton Contractions Breast Feeding Benefits C-Section Cat Precautions Choosing a Pediatrition Due Date Education Classes Ectopic Pregnancy Gestational Diabetes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Gifts for Moms Healthy Pregnancy Labor Stages Miscarriage Morning Sickness Natural Births Nesting Osteoporosis Packing for the Hospital Pelvic Muscle Exercises Postpartum Depression Preeclampsia Pregnancy and Calories Pregnancy and Drugs Pregnancy and Fitness Pregnancy Myths Pregnancy Tips Premature Births Prenatal Care Rh Negative Sex after Pregnancy Sex and Pregnancy Shopping List Skin Changes Stillbirth Stretch Marks Teenage Pregnancy The Right Doctor Water Births Links Email Mama First Trimester Second Trimester Third Trimester Child Development Children's Health Save Umbilical Cord Financial Assistance for women's healthcare Adoption Surrogacy options Sign up for the MamasHealth Newsletter	Choosing a Pediatrician The person you choose to be your baby’s pediatrician will most likely be your child’s primary care doctor until he or she reaches adulthood. It is important that your choice of a pediatrician not be made in haste. Start researching pediatricians by the end of your second trimester. This will give you enough time to make a good decision. How Do I Find a Good Pediatrician? You can begin your search for a pediatrician by asking your OB/GYN for a copy of pediatricians in your area. Most OB/GYN practices will have a current list of physicians who are open to taking newborns. You should take a look at your insurance plan to see if there is a list of pediatricians which the plan covers. If so, this may do much in helping you narrow down your search. You can also ask friends or relatives about who they use for a pediatrician. You can learn much from these personal accounts. How Do I Choose a Pediatrician? Once you have narrowed down your list of candidates, schedule an appointment or consultation with the pediatrician. Spend the consultation asking questions which are of concern to you. Below is a list of possible questions which can help you get started on a list of questions. Which hospital is the doctor affiliated with? What is his or her policy for after hours sickness? Is someone on call 24/7 for emergencies? Will the doctor personally be seeing your child at each visit, or will your child be seen by a nurse practitioner? If you are having a male child, what is the doctor’s circumcision practices? Does he or she use a local shot to numb the area prior to circumcision? If not, would he or she be willing to do so? Does the facility have a separate waiting room for sick children? Does the facility offer anything in regards to breast feeding, nutrition classes, or free clinics? If the physician is in an office with other pediatricians, will the other doctors also be seeing your child? Is the doctor able to deal with any special needs your child may have? This could include any special concerns you may have in regards to your family’s history of illness or disease.	Featured Book
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