Do you have a pediatrician yet?

Pinknights · December 2013

One of my coworkers asked me this today and I realized I just cannot decide on one, and I haven't made any apts yet! My fiance does not seem concerned, but considering that 37 weeks is this month, I am now semi freaking out. Do you have a pediatrician yet?

mrsjenni · December 2013

Yes, but I have kids already. It was around this time that I did start asking for pedi recs from friends and family when I was pg with DS1, however. It was easy for me b/c literally everyone went to the same place and highly recommended them, so I just called them up and asked them how to schedule the first appt post-birth. Super easy.

sugarland726 · December 2013

Yes, but we're just going with my daughter's pedi.

AnnikaD20 · December 2013

Your hospital should have on staff peds, so if you don't have one picked, you can just be seen by whoever is there. Maybe you'll like them.

We went with a pediatrician close to our house, but she doesn't do hospital newborn visits, so we'll see whoever is on duty at the hospital and they'll transfer records to her the day we're discharged.

My point is that it's not really a catastrophe if you don't have someone picked out in advance. It made me feel a lot better to reach a decision though. One more thing checked off the list.

Munchie2.0 · December 2013

I am freaking out about this... At our baby care class, we were informed that our hospital won't let us leave until we have a peds dr set up/ come to check out LO. They said they do have some on staff, but they are located there at the hospital only.

I know there is a thread about appointments somewhere, and things you need or don't need to do when looking for a pediatrician

moosebaby2011 · December 2013

Yes, but we'll be using the pedi we have for DS.

When DS was born we planned to just use my PCP office as they do family medicine, and ended up switching after his 2 week visit. (Scheduling issues, plus they wanted DS to be seen by residents which was not told to us prior to his birth and DH was VERY uncomfortable with that)

CopperT0p · December 2013

We do, but that's only because DS's pedi takes siblings so she will be this baby's pedi as well.

Pinknights · December 2013

AnnikaD20 said:

Your hospital should have on staff peds, so if you don't have one picked, you can just be seen by whoever is there. Maybe you'll like them.

We went with a pediatrician close to our house, but she doesn't do hospital newborn visits, so we'll see whoever is on duty at the hospital and they'll transfer records to her the day we're discharged.

My point is that it's not really a catastrophe if you don't have someone picked out in advance. It made me feel a lot better to reach a decision though. One more thing checked off the list.

Its funny how easily I can freak out now. People need to not scare me like that. I was really concerned, but I didn't consider that the hospital could have on staff pediatricians. That's true that I can always switch later. I feel better now!

brideandbreve · December 2013

I wouldn't stress over not having one decided in stone yet.

We decided right before DS was born on a practice with 4 pediatricians in-house, and when the one we really liked left over the late summer, we followed him to his new practice - and we're much happier.

salsamommy · December 2013

Yes, but like @sugarland726 and @mrsjenni this LO will be going to the same Dr. as DS.

megs12914 · December 2013

I do but I just did it last week. Everyone kept telling me I needed to at 20 weeks and I was like, "Say what?!"

brideandbreve · December 2013

megs12914 said:

I do but I just did it last week. Everyone kept telling me I needed to at 20 weeks and I was like, "Say what?!"

Um, by 20 weeks? Seriously?

When did these people pick out their nursery furniture and baby names - before the urine on their HPT dried?

megs12914 · December 2013

@brideandbreve It was at one of my baby classes. It made me panic! She also expressed the importance of me talking to baby in multiple languages and all that stuff. Umm, english is hard enough lady!

brideandbreve · December 2013

megs12914 said:

@brideandbreve It was at one of my baby classes. It made me panic! She also expressed the importance of me talking to baby in multiple languages and all that stuff. Umm, english is hard enough lady!

@megs12914 Was she an instructor or just another mom-to-be at the class?

megs12914 · December 2013

@brideandbreve Crazy mom.

FSUNole31 · December 2013

Yep, but like others have mentioned we are using the same one my son goes too. Before he was born we visited with two that came highly recommended by friends/family and we chose the best fit for us and we love him. Good luck!

km_md · December 2013

I was so hoping to use my paediatrician from when I was a child, he was pretty great, but he is packed so full that he isn't taking any new patients right now. We are pretty lucky though and have a bunch of great doctors in this area, so I am going to go with another doctor who is in the same office who came highly recommended.

brideandbreve · December 2013

megs12914 said:

@brideandbreve Crazy mom.

Ohhh.. yeah, no. She sounds like a lot of fun. :-q

angiek1 · December 2013

I would look into selecting one. You'll have your firsts visits post birth the week or so after you leave the hospital (assuming all is well). I wouldn't want to feel rushed to pick someone. Just ask your friends/family who they suggest and pick from there.

KristaBelieve · December 2013

We did a meet & greet with one and I plan on scheduling one more prior to delivery. If I don't get around to it, I feel fine since we really liked the first Dr.

jhjocelyn · December 2013

There are really only two ped options in my area, so it was fairly easy to decide. I just contacted the one I like more this week, she doesn't come to the hospital so we'll see the ped on duty while we are there, then her records will be transferred. EDIT: sorry friends, I'm having technical difficulties and could only post smileys... hopefully this works too.... the first was a "hello world I can't speak to!" :-h which worked, and then I couldn't delete it so added the face of embarrassment over my stupidity $:\$ "> which also worked... I have no idea what is going on with my computer vs the bump! *sigh guess I'll go back to lurking and working.

csandroo · December 2013

I'm a bit frusterated because everywhere I check says that once baby is born I should just call them then and they will see me. I'm like uhhh aren't I supposed to bring the baby in within his first week of life?? Are you sure you'll have an appointment time?? What if by then they say they aren't taking new patients or the pediatrician is on vacation ... I'm probably being a worry wart but it seems too non-chalant for my liking! I'd rather fill out paper work and have baby set up as a new patient before he is born even though we don't know for sure when he will come and need to go to the doc.

SunflowersBride · December 2013

I know which practice I'm planning on choosing, but haven't made an appointment or anything. I'm sort of not sure what to do at this point. I guess call them up and let them know I'm having a baby and planning to use the practice for LO?

LatteLady5 · December 2013

I never interviewed peds with DD. We went with my family doctor for her first year or so and then I switched to the ped who checked her out after she was born in the same town as my OB. He's fabulous and little did I know I had been seeing and talking with his wife at story hour for months haha We are using the same ped for DS when he arrives.

SweetPeaKate · December 2013

Yes…it was actually done 2 years ago when DS came home from the hospital. I wasn't even thinking about a pediatrician at the time, and then they told me they wouldn't discharge him until I had an appointment set up. Pretty much just picked one out of a hat! But it's worked out well for me so far.

ac1259 · December 2013

I'm in a weird situation as I've interviewed to work at the one major pediatricians group in my area so I'm very familiar with all of their offices. But, I chose a different pediatrician based on a friend's recommendation, hours, and location. The office I had interviewed at only had weekend hours in center city Allentown, which I really didn't want to ever be in the position of taking a baby to on the weekend. My office is in more of a suburb area and has hours 7 days a week. But before I had DD I didn't go visit their office or anything first, I had made a phone call and was told that I just needed to name them on admission to the hospital and one of the pediatricians would come see DD after she was born. It worked out just fine and I love the office and her pediatrician. We've already discussed the 2nd baby coming and if she has any of the complications that DD1 had there's a plan in place to take care of it so we can hopefully (fx) succeed with BFing this time.

So I don't think you're like way behind or anything..but I do have one picked already but it's just because I have a 1 year old.

juliasmama2010 · December 2013

Just using DD's doctor. But when she was born, I did no research to find a new one. I pretty much just used who came to the hospital to care for her, and then immediately switched because he was terrible about keeping appointments!

bethughknee · December 2013

I'm a no but I'm definitely freaking. Just so busy! I have rec's from friends I just need to CALL. UGHHHH I know I will feel a lot better when I do.

sarahmarie2 · December 2013

We just met with one last week that we're going to use. To be honest, if it wasn't a requirement at my hospital, I probably wouldn't have found one til after. I will say though, that after meeting someone, it's nice to have something set up/someone to call and schedule an appt. with as soon as LO is born. I feel like if I hadn't pre-selected someone, I would have been stressed out post-birth about finding someone awesome, who could see us, as soon as possible.

sunnyplaces · December 2013

The process was crazy! There was a "lotto" to get in and we placed our names in July but weren't pulled. We finally followed up in November and complained a bit and they let us in... I was so annoyed with the process but so grateful because they're one of the only practices that takes insurance (WTF?!?).

OnBabymaking226 · December 2013

I said yes, but we just chose this week, so no need to feel bad you haven't done it yet! I wasn't too concerned with "shopping around" or interviewing anyone. We chose a group practice that accepted our insurance, does evening and weekend sick visits, and will do well checks one evening a month (SO helpful for working parents) with a female (wanted same gender as child) pediatrician we liked enough. Met her this week, and will tell the hospital she is our chosen pediatrician at the time of delivery.

precious72381 · December 2013

I clicked yes but met with him yesterday, not months ago and I only called on Monday and was able to get the appointment for the next day. I only visited one office because I find the whole thing overwhelming. I know it is a super important decision but friends use (and recommend) this office and there were no red flags or concerns. I have other options if I need them but it is hard (at least for me) to pick a doctor when I can't see how the doctor interacts with my baby, so it is just going by gut feeling now and my gut was happy yesterday. If I need to change once my baby gets here, I will do that.

(sorry about the font - seems when I hit enter and then backspace, half my paragraph changes font and I don't know how to fix it.)

wifetomrb101 · December 2013

Yes, but he's our family dr. He does everything for us - delivers the babies, does their care, and checkups...He's been my Dr. since I was about 12.

I sometimes feel weird cuz ya'll are mentioning all these different Dr.s Most women here see an OB and then a family Dr., because most family Dr. won't deliver babies anymore, but my family Dr. still delivers and does post natal care as well, so it's perfect.

JaneW2 · December 2013

I'm meeting one next week. (week 35.)

Would have done it earlier, but his schedule and mine didn't line up.

jldubb0626 · December 2013

We're using my sons. I chose him a week or so before my son was born, but realistically it was a month before my due date.

mj0413 · December 2013

I just met one yesterday and was NOT impressed. I'd had high hopes, but now I'm trying to meet with one more. Hopefully I'll like them, otherwise I'm not sure what we'll do.

ach298 · December 2013

I am using the same one that my son currently sees.

BShreeve · December 2013

I met with one the other day, unfortunately DH couldn't be there. He was really great, low key and nice and he and his practice come highly recommended from friends. He's handsome too but that's just a nice perk! Anyway we haven't met with anyone else and I feel I should be doing more due diligence? But I think we will probably stick with him.

COgirl29 · December 2013

Yes - I picked one today, and I'm 37 weeks (FTM). I asked my OB her recommendation. She have me 3. I looked at reviews of those 3 online, and picked one. I called and asked if they are taking new patients and they said yes, and all I need to do is give the hospital their name and # when I check in to deliver and the hospital will call the doc when the baby is born for him to come in. Easy peasy. Sounds like that's how most pediatricians are around here (denver).

Want a personalized experience?

Do you have a pediatrician yet?

Do you have a pediatrician yet? 182 votes

Re: Do you have a pediatrician yet?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards