Understanding your child's first
well baby visit
Your child's first doctor's
office visit at the age of approximately two weeks is a well baby visit. It
should be a joyous time for you, as new parents. You will be taking your
newborn to a family practice physician or a pediatrician, if there are medical
concerns at birth. Or, you might visit a nurse practitioner on your baby's
initial visit.
If this is your first baby, you
may feel nervous about this visit, but there is no need to be concerned. It
should prove to be interesting and fun for everyone. Your doctor, his nurse and
everyone in the doctor's office, will be thrilled to see your new
addition. Expect to receive a lot of attention. Don't worry if your baby fusses
a bit during this visit, as he may not be used to a lot of attention or extra
stimulation.
There are a number of reasons
for a newborn baby to have a doctor's visit at this time including the
following: to assess the general health status of the newborn baby; to check on
the baby's birth weight, with respect to possible feeding problems or failure
to thrive; to assess the infant for any possible medical conditions requiring
treatment; follow-up with regard to any particular medical problems the newborn
infant may have encountered at birth or to review any medications that may have
already been prescribed for the infant or may be indicated
This may include the
following: to answer any questions that you as new parents, have about how
to take care of a newborn baby, to offer suggestions or appropriate medical
guidance about nurturing your newborn baby, to set up a series of regular, well
baby visits for the coming year, including a schedule for the infant's
immunization shots, to assess how you, as parents, are coping with having a new
born baby in your home, or to discuss any problems that you or other members of
the family might be encountering, as the result of having a new baby
For some new parents, doctor's
office visits may seem intimidating. Be aware that your family physician
is legitimately concerned about you, as new parents and about your new baby. He
knows that your concerns are real and that they are going to be similar to
those experienced by other parents. Even if you have other children, your
physician is interested in how your other siblings react to their new baby.
As new parents, some of the
following statements might pinpoint exactly what is happening at this time:
"I am still so tired. Is
that normal?"
"Am I doing anything
right?"
"Our baby is not doing as
well as I expected."
"Our baby cries all the
time and the neighbor's baby seems to be so happy."
"The baby won't sleep at
night and he is keeping us awake."
"Our baby has a bright
red, skin rash."
"My baby is losing all his
hair."
"The baby won't breast
feed."
"My mother says I have to
do this with the baby. Is she right?"
"My baby's head is
lopsided."
"My baby is running a
temperature."
Everyone wants to help new
parents. Remember that the first two weeks are a trying time for parents of
newborn infants, particularly when the baby is the first child. Parents can be
wondering who is right, when there is too much advice from other
family members. Or, the advice that is given by others, may not be what the
doctor has previously recommended or will suggest in the future.
While there are mixed feelings
about having a new baby, at the same time, there can be a lot of unnecessary
guilt feelings, on the part of the parents.
Be aware that infants are
unique and each one is different. The demands on the new parents can vary. All
parents need time to adjust to having a new baby. The baby needs time to get to
know his parents. A new set of guidelines will be established, with respect to
having an infant living in your home. New routines have to be organized or
planned, sometimes through trial and error. What works for one child, may not
work for another.
Remember that your physician
and the registered nurse are there to assist you during this period of
adjustment. You are not under scrutiny, even though it may feel that way, for
the first while. Your doctor wants to make certain that your infant receives
the best possible well baby care. He is concerned about you and your
family. Do not hesitate to talk to him or his nurse about any issues that are
of concern to you, no matter how unimportant they may seem.
To properly examine your new
infant, the nurse will assist you to undress the infant, so that he can be
weighed, measured and examined thoroughly. It may seem an
inconvenience for you or time consuming, it is important, as it will help to
establish a baseline for future visits. The doctor will check your infant for medical problems and will assure you that your baby is normal, doing
all of the things that well babies do at that age, even though you or others
might have different expectations.
Your family doctor will listen
to your child's heart and lungs and check his abdomen, back, hips and limbs, as
well as other parts of his body, for any previously undetected abnormalities.
He may talk to you about your
infant's eye care or prescribe eye drops for him, if there appears to be an eye infection. He will check the baby's mouth for symptoms of
thrush, as mycostatin oral drops may be indicated.
He may suggest using baby
oil on the baby's scalp or in the baby's bath water for dry, scaly skin. If the
baby has reddened or sore skin in the diaper area, he may suggest a diaper rash
cream, like zincofax or prescribe another medicated cream, if is a yeast
infection.
He will examine the umbilical
cord area and may offer instructions regarding how to clean the skin with
rubbing alcohol.
The doctor may measure the
baby's head and check the fontanel or soft spot on the top of his head.
He will check your infant's
ears and his response to sound, as well as his eyes, to see how they
respond to light or movement. He will check your baby's nose to make certain
that there is no blockage. The doctor may monitor the child's breathing and
check his sucking reflex.
The doctor may offer some
suggestions about feeding your infant, particularly if he is underweight or not
thriving. A change in formula or a supplemental feeding may be indicated. He
may show you how to burp the baby properly or suggest using a prop chair after
feedings, if the infant has a lot of gas or seems to be
colicky.
The doctor will ask you about
your baby's bowel movements to make certain that the formula your baby is on,
is right for him. Inform the doctor if your baby seems constipated, has
diarrhea or you have noticed blood in his stools.
Sometimes, it is a good idea to
keep notes about any questions or concerns that you may have about your
baby or
his care, as you may wind up going home without getting the answers that you
need.
If there is blood work or other
laboratory tests that are needed, like PKU, you will be given a requisition and
instructed where to take your child to have this done. Your doctor may choose
to do a heel prick, in order to check a blood sample.
Or perhaps a stool or a urine
sample is needed. If so, you will be given the necessary instructions about how
to collect these kinds of samples from an infant.
You doctor may offer you drug
samples of various kinds, if he feels that they are indicated and show you how
they should be administered.
If there are other appointments
needed with specialists, your doctor or his nurse will arrange those for you,
at this time or call you later about them.
Remember that because your
infant has just been born, he will need a lot of care and attention. He needs
to be kept warm and to feel secure, at all times. This is not always an easy
time for some parents, but with the help of your doctor and his nurse, you as
parents and your baby, as well as other children you have, will thrive.
Enjoy your infant, because he
will not be this tiny for long. Soon you will see him gurgling and cooing,
as he begins to express his delight. Try to relax because as new parents, you
are doing everything right. You also survived your child's first well baby
visit. Congratulations!
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