When do I need to start looking for a pediatrician?

totallyexcited

So much to do and I want to make sure I got everything covered.  How soon after the baby is born do they go to their first appt?

 

TIA

kck329

Some pedis do a hospital visit before you check out. Other hospitals, its just whichever pedi is on call. Ask your doctor/midwive about how it works. They will likely have some suggestions for you as well-ours gave us a great list of local options.

Callidryas

We met with out Pedi before birth. They saw DD in the hospital and then about 3 days later due to jaundice.  We will be using the same pedi, so just need to put in a phone call and let them know when we plan to deliver. 

The hospital we use also has a pedi on staff incase you haven't selected one yet.

janice74

I would start looking in the 3rd Trimester.  Our pediatrician is affiliated with the hospital, so he came in and checked on DS every day that we were there and then we had to bring him to the office when he was a week old.

IU_baby

We started looking in 3rd tri.  Our pedi saw DS in the hospital (both days) and then we scheduled his first appointment 1 week after his birth.

rssnlvr

janice74:

I would start looking in the 3rd Trimester.  Our pediatrician is affiliated with the hospital, so he came in and checked on DS every day that we were there and then we had to bring him to the office when he was a week old.

ditto this. I think we started looking around 30 weeks? We wanted time to call around, get recs, go and meet with them, etc. It was important that we found a pedi we meshed well with personality-wise. You definitely need to have one picked out before your baby is born.

Lisa102304

janice74:

I would start looking in the 3rd Trimester.  Our pediatrician is affiliated with the hospital, so he came in and checked on DS every day that we were there and then we had to bring him to the office when he was a week old.

I had the exact same experience.

DD was jaundice and had to be in incubator thingy (yes, that is the technical term, lol) for a couple extra days. Ped checked on us every day.

kristennd

Our OB is part of a massive clinic/hospital and they gave us a brochure of all their pediatricians at the first appointment. We haven't done anything with it yet but it's a nice reminder.

BecauseICan

Our pedi was my pedi.    But even so, we met with him when I was in the 3rd tri, and then a dr. from the practice saw DD in the hospital, and then we saw them @ a few days old and then again a week later for a weight check.

kristas

Like others said, 3rd tri is typical. 

I started looking a bit before that because I am quite picky on things such as vaccinations, attachment parenting, cosleeping, etc. I wanted to make sure I found someone who was on the same page. After researching I came up with a list of two pedis in the area and ended up only visiting one.

I actually delivered at a hospital that she did not have rights at, which was kinda a mistake. I wish that I had had our own pedi looking after dd instead of the on-call idiots (oh, I mean doctor?!?!).  

This time I will be making sure to see my own pedi at the hospital. She will see the new baby at least twice while at the hospital and then once that first week and then again at the two week appt, so it is nice to have someone I trust.  

lnyeager

I asked my OB for recommendations and one was the pediatrician he uses for his own kids.  I figured if he was good enough for another doctor, then he was good enough for me!   I think I called to make sure he was taking new patients, etc. but I don't remember going in to meet him or anything like that.  He did come do a visit before I was discharged from the hospital, too.