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Scheduling Well Baby Visits
Scheduling Well Baby VisitsAs new parents, you want to make sure your baby is healthy and happy during the busy first year of life. Oneimportant way to keep your baby healthy is by scheduling well-baby visits with your pediatrician after your babyleaves the hospital. Well baby visits give you a chance to discuss your child’s milestones, social behaviors andlearning with your pediatrician.The timing of well-baby visits can vary but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends your baby see apediatrician 3 to 5 days after birth and within 48 hours after hospital discharge, especially if you are exclusivelybreast feeding then at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months.To be prepared for each appointment, write down a list of questions or concerns beforehand to make sure youdon’t forget to talk about them with your pediatrician.“If you have concerns, you need to bring them up and if you’re wrong and your baby is doing just finethat’s great because then your pediatrician can reassure you. But if you do identify a developmentaldelay or a problem early on you have done your child a world of good by advocating for them.”Your baby’s first well-baby checkup will be when he is three to five days old. Your pediatrician will measureand weigh your newborn to make sure his growth is on track, and he is eating enough. Your pediatrician willcheck the soft spots on your baby’s head and the shape. The doctor will check your baby’s eyes, check forfluid or infection in their ears, as well their response to different sounds, including your voice.Your healthcare provider will listen to your baby’s heart and lungs to detect any abnormal heart rhythms ortrouble breathing. Your doctor will examine your baby’s tummy to check for tenderness, enlarged organs or anumbilical hernia, which occurs when a bit of intestine or fatty tissue near the navel breaks through the muscularwall of the abdomen.Your baby’s mouth will be checked for oral thrush or yeast infection. As your baby gets older, the pediatricianwill ask you if notice more drooling or chewing than usual. These are the first signs of teething. Your healthcareprovider will check your little one’s skin for rashes. Skin rashes are common in newborns and usually go awayon their own.The doctor will look at your baby’s hips and legs for any joint problems. And your doctor will examine thegenital area for any signs of infection. Immunizations are an important part of your child’s well-baby visits.Immunizations will be given at your baby’s checkup at two months, again at four months, then at six months.The American Academy of Pediatrics has a schedule of immunizations and screenings recommended at wellchild visits from infancy through adolescence. You can find the schedule at www.aap.org.If you notice anything unusual between visits, don’t hesitate to call your baby’s doctor. It’s important to keepyour appointments for your baby’s regular checkups to make sure your baby is healthy and developing welland hitting all those joyous firsts.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.VER58854C EN SchedulingWellBabyVisits.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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