4 Questions to Ask Pediatricians

Your first pediatric visit will be within the first week since birth and may be done in or out of the hospital. You can expect many things to be covered during your first visit to ensure you and your baby are managing just fine. First, your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference will be measured. We do this to establish a baseline to compare during future visits and verify they are growing well.

Your pediatrician will also check for signs of infant jaundice, such as yellow-tinted skin or eyes. This condition is common, often goes away without treatment, and doesn’t usually cause any harm. Infant jaundice occurs when your baby has an excess amount of bilirubin, a yellow pigment, in their blood. In the first few days of life, a newborn’s body produces and breaks down red blood cells at a high rate. When red blood cells are broken down, the yellow pigment is produced as a by-product.

Bilirubin is then processed in the liver, which in infancy is often too immature to match the red blood cell breakdown rate. This results in excess yellow pigment in the blood. Your pediatrician will also ask about feedings. Are you breastfeeding? Do you use alternative food forms? How are your baby’s bowel movements? Do you experience any discomfort or difficulty with breastfeeding? These questions and more alike will be covered in your first visit. All three of our primary physicians here at All Better Pediatrics, Dr. Folz, Dr. Welch, and Dr. Hoffman, are International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) and can assist you in breastfeeding or help answer any questions you may have. It is also routine for a complete physical assessment to be performed. A head-to-toe assessment will include vitals such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and pulse oximetry. Your pediatrician will listen to the sounds of the heart, lungs, and bowels to assure there are no issues.

Your baby’s reflexes will also be tested. An example is a rooting reflex, in which a pinky is placed at the corner of the mouth, prompting your baby to move their head towards the stimulus as if it were a nipple. The doctor will also perform an overall visual examination with finger palpation, noting the condition of body structures, such as the skin, muscles, and skeletal system. Lastly, your doctor will want to hear about you and how you are genuinely doing.

Life with a newborn baby can be a whirlwind of emotions, responsibilities, and lack of sleep; we understand this and want to help. At All Better Pediatrics, our physicians strive to provide optimal care to you and your baby. Any, and all health concerns, like breastfeeding side effects, should be brought up during visitations.

Generally, your newborn’s first appointment should be within the first week after birth. These appointments may be conducted at the hospital before the baby goes home or in an office setting outside of the hospital. It is best to consult with your provider regarding when and where your baby’s first appointment should be.

At All Better Pediatrics, we recommend your first scheduled check-up is on day two after birth. Here you will see one of our three extraordinary doctors, also international board-certified lactation consultants and mothers. Appointments may be scheduled online, over the phone, or in person. We also accept walk-ins and can get your baby seen the day you call!

Your first newborn check-up with a pediatrician should be within the first week, ideally between the 2nd and 5th day of their new lives. During week 2, another appointment is made to administer your baby’s first Hep B vaccine. For four months following the 2nd week, well-visits should be conducted every month. At the four-month mark, scheduled exams occur every other month. After your baby turns one year old, visits may be scheduled every three months until two years old. If you have any concerns about your child’s health, there is no harm in giving us a call or visiting our office to discuss your worries.

Yes. A pediatric doctor and a pediatrician are the same things. Both are physicians that specialize in the pediatric field of medicine. A difference that sets some pediatricians apart from others is their FAAP status. That is their certification as a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is the highest membership status in the organization.

This certification ensures your pediatrician uses the most up-to-date approaches to care and has a place to vote on issues in the field. All three of our pediatricians at All Better Pediatrics, Dr. Folz, Dr. Welch, and Dr. Hoffman, are FAAP certified. We serve patients from Memphis TN, Germantown TN, Bartlett TN, Cordova TN, Collierville TN, Oakville TN and Lenow TN.