1. Introduction
In this comprehensive guide to your baby’s newborn check-up, we talk about what you should expect from your first pediatrician visit with your baby and what, if anything, you should prepare in advance of the visit to make the check-up go easier on you, your baby, and your pediatric healthcare providers.
Your baby’s healthcare provider may also perform some minor medical procedures like blood tests, screenings, vaccinations, or circumcisions. But she should also offer resources on breastfeeding, caring for a circumcised newborn, family planning, and information on how to acclimate a newborn to protecting the ear, a defense mechanism of the baby, so he can adjust normally to his life outside of the womb after leaving what he once considered a close, dark, and safe space.
Most new parents schedule their baby’s first check-up a few days to a week after coming home from the hospital, but the best time to schedule the first visit is typically when your baby is around 3-5 days old. You can schedule the first pediatric well visit at the hospital before discharge. This appointment allows the provider to do a head-to-toe check on your baby to ensure that she’s doing well since leaving the hospital and that her vital signs and weight are in an acceptable range.
Going to the pediatrician with your newborn can be an exciting, anxiety-inducing, and highly stressful experience for both healthcare providers and newborns. But it’s important because your healthcare provider won’t just perform a routine check-up on your baby’s physical health. She will also talk to you about how to care for your baby, answer any questions you may have, and help you keep your baby happy and healthy.
1.1. Purpose of Newborn Check-Ups
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP’s) Bright Futures/American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Guidelines for Perinatal Care recommends that all babies should be seen by a doctor very soon after hospital discharge (at 3 to 5 days old). Examinations, including a physical examination, are necessary at or near birth, on the first day of life, at 2-4 days old, at 2 weeks old, at 1 month old, and at 2 months old. The first office visit should be at 1 week of age (3-5 days old). Newborn care continues with additional doctor visits at 4 months old, 6 months old, 9 months old, 12 months old, and 15 months old, at 18 months old, 24 months old, 3 years old, 4 years old, and 5 years old. All too often, parents wait until there is something wrong with the baby before bringing the baby to the doctor. The purpose of a well-baby visit is to try to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. If a problem is not prevented, then the doctor can identify the problem and treat it when it is still small. Not only can the doctor identify and treat problems during a well-baby visit, but the visit can also give you, the baby’s parents, a good opportunity to ask questions.
The purpose of well-baby visits is to help your baby achieve his or her optimal health. Your baby’s doctor will ask you questions, examine your baby, record your baby’s weight and length, and give your baby his or her shots. You will need to bring your baby to the doctor’s office many times during the first year of his or her life for these types of doctor visits. These visits are called “newborn care,” “well-baby visits,” or “check-ups.” All infants, whether they are breastfed, formula-fed, or both, should be seen after 48 hours of life to check for jaundice, excessive weight loss, and to discuss feeding and any problems. After 48 hours of age, an infant should gain weight with the goal to have back to birth weight by 10-14 days.
2. Importance of Newborn Check-Ups
After the birth of your baby, the first check-up is crucial. The baby is having a new experience outside of the womb and weeks or even days of behaviors and skills that can indicate a baby’s growing interest. The first examination takes place when the baby is only a few hours old so that the doctor and baby can be sure what to expect and prepare for, and when needed, can quickly respond.
Importance of Newborn Check-Ups
1. Identify ongoing health issues 2. Respond quickly to health problems 3. Build a relationship between baby, parents, and doctor 4. Follow-up with prenatal health screening 5. Respond to health issues before fewer siblings are born 6. Early diagnosis and treatment of SDBs 7. Block identifiers in the medical records
Overall, you can expect to face a lot of paperwork at the time of your baby’s first check-up, but it’s important to remember that the time is short and the check-up is not a time-consuming part of your baby’s life, especially since the newborn is still being prepared for it. The appointment will give the doctor an overview of the baby’s health, help the child’s body prepare for the next changes, and provide parents an opportunity to ask questions and partner with the doctor regarding concerns, physical development, and behavior.
2.1. Early Detection of Health Issues
Right from birth, medical check-ups allow your pediatrician to keep tabs on your baby’s health. Some health issues can be detected and treated if picked up quickly, such as hearing problems, vision disorders, and congenital anomalies. In addition, routine children check-ups also allow your pediatrician to monitor growth, development, and pick up any psychological or behavioral problems or learning difficulties early.
Your baby’s first visit to the pediatrician will likely be within a week of birth, providing you with the opportunity to ask any questions or seek advice about your baby’s growth, development, diet, or breastfeeding. Subsequent visits will generally be scheduled from week two right up to your baby’s second birthday. It is important to keep to this schedule so as to pick up any physical or mental health problems early.
3. What to Expect During the Newborn Check-Up
During your baby’s initial visit to the hospital nursery, the fluid is suctioned from your baby’s nose, throat, and mouth. The baby’s mouth, umbilical cord, skin, and genital regions must all be examined. From the vagina or penis, clean any blood, urine, or stool that has accumulated and clean the umbilical cord cotton wool with alcohol on a cotton ball. Your baby’s hearing may be screened using a device. The baby can also have two drops of erythromycin ointment applied to each eye to avoid infection, which can cause swelling and blindness.
A newborn check-up is a very important appointment for the baby and parents to attend. In this appointment, the pediatrician and nurse will first review with the parents all the information they need. You will then weigh the baby, measure the circumference of the baby’s head and stomach, and measure the baby’s length, if applicable. Finally, at this appointment, you must ensure the health of your baby’s body and respond to any questions a new mom may have. You should also be given a set of vaccines that protect your baby’s healing.
3.1. Physical Examination
Your baby’s physical examination will check on a variety of physical symptoms to ensure they are developing properly. The examination will check on these things: the presence of a protruding or draining umbilical cord, the nature of the fontanelles, the condition of the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, and the presence of sneezing, nasal stuffiness and/or discharge, discharge from the eyes, excessive tearing, swelling or redness in and around the eyes, difficulty with closing the mouth, ear asymmetry and/or discharge or inward or outward turning position(s) of the eyes.
The ears will be examined for abnormalities such as excessive wax, foreign objects, asymmetry, injury to the pinna, redness, odor or discharge, or hearing issues. The mouth will be examined to ensure that it is pink, moist, and has a normal suck and swallow reflex. Any problems during sucking, swallowing, or when putting anything in the mouth will also be checked. Any cleft of the lips or unusually red or white gum texture will need to be tested.
Additionally, at this time your baby’s movements will be examined to ensure that they are balanced. Any involuntary movements of the other infants, any asymmetry, pain during movement of the extremities will be checked. Your doctor will also assess your child’s tendency to stay in one place, weak or tense muscles, strong distal fingers, and anything else that may have been noticed by the staff.
4. Preparing for the Newborn Check-Up
After all of your preparation, you are on your way to the clinic with fingers crossed that everything goes well to get the best results. While you are in the clinic, there are a few things that you can do to ensure that things go smoothly. If you have any health records from the hospital, be sure to take those with you. Any health records that you have for yourself should also be taken with, as they will be beneficial to your healthcare provider. Your baby will need to have some vaccinations while at the clinic. Helping your baby to feel comforted is a good way to react after getting any vaccinations. When you are getting ready to leave the clinic, be sure to have written down a few questions to ask the nurse about, such as when and how to feed. As the doctor’s office can get very busy, having a list will ensure that all of your questions get answered before you leave. Some of the main things that you will need to ask about and find out before you leave the clinic will include:
– Weighing the baby – When and how to care for the umbilical cord – Bathing routines – How your baby’s eyes should look – How to prevent and clean diaper rashes – What the baby’s bowel movements should look like – Feeding the baby – How to tell if the baby is getting enough to eat – Sleeping arrangements – When to set up the appointment for the first check-up beyond the first visit at home
Bathing a baby should begin in the doctor’s office as they will need particular care for it in the opening days. They are naturally very relaxed after this check-up, and this is a nice time to start learning the ins and outs of bathing them.
4.1. Essential Items to Bring
Essential items to bring: your baby’s blue book. This should be in your hospital folder. All your baby’s hospital papers including immunization certificates (needle book). Comforter for baby, e.g. a clean, warm blanket and a toy or dummy that your baby likes. If you are able to, bring a buddy or relative. You may both need support in lifting and carrying your baby. Since you have recently been pregnant, lifting and carrying your baby’s already increasing weight of 3 or 4 kgs may strain your back and pull on the muscles of your tummy. This may slow down the firming up of your tummy and can make it continue to bulge out 2 or 3 months after your Caesarean operation.
Remember, you may still be feeling weak and harassed or hurried baby care can make you more anxious. You may feel that you are not caring for your baby properly and in the absence of your husband, partner, mother, sister, or friend, you can feel quite lonely at this first busy baby check-up. Since there are many other new parents attending, the sister or the staff may not have enough time to answer all your questions. They may want you to direct your questions to the doctor. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to make another appointment specifically to discuss your worries and your health with the sister or with the doctor. The clinic sister is available to answer most of your questions or complaints.
5. Common Concerns and FAQs
It’s normal to have questions and to feel nervous about the check-ups. Your pediatrician should be familiar with the unique needs and concerns of all parents, but this is especially true with first-time parents. It’s important to be able to trust your doctor and to feel comfortable asking questions. Before the check-up, write down any concerns or questions that you may have. Some common concerns include:
– My baby’s crying just won’t quit. How long does a typical episode last? – I can hear my baby’s tummy rumble. What does this mean? – My baby’s breathing seems to be irregular. Is that normal? – What can I do to comfort my newborn’s constantly fussy behavior, warmly known as “colic”? How about comforting a gassy baby? – Is my baby eating too frequently (or too infrequently)? – Is this sniffle something that I should be concerned about? – My baby’s skin is peeling and turning yellow. Is this normal? What are the splotches on my baby’s face? – What’s causing her hiccups? What about these spells of breathlessness? – How can I prevent or treat diaper rash? – My baby startles even in her sleep. Is this common? – Why is my baby’s head shaped so oddly?
It’s normal to have questions about rearing a newborn, particularly if you don’t have a lot of experience in dealing with infants. After all, babies don’t come with instructions. Don’t hesitate to ask your pediatrician any question that concerns you. It’s far better to ask than to worry about something that is simply a normal part of infancy.
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