Pediatrician Interview

I know I just posted something quite lengthy earlier this morning, but cleaning the house takes a LOT of energy, especially when your hands and fingers are super super sore (again, LOVING this new carpel tunnel thing…grrr). Plus, the rain is making me feel laaazzzyyy 🙂

One of my “to do” items for the day was to schedule an interview with our potential pediatrician. This is an important decision when one is working with a birth center, because many of the tests that the hospital usually takes care of have to be done the following day in a pediatrician’s office (brought in by the father, of course… I’m supposed to be on 3 days of strict bed rest afterwards). If the pediatrician doesn’t see midwifery/birth centers as a legitimate and safe way to deliver a baby…well, let’s just say I’ve heard stories of babies who have been hospitalized on principal, even if there’s nothing wrong, just because they were delivered by a midwife. That, my friends, is the type of hospital bill I would like to avoid. A pediatrician who values the work done by midwives, however, will only hospitalize the baby if something is wrong and they need medical intervention (usually irregular breathing, jaundice, etc.).

There is a small, select list of pediatricians that the birth center gave me, compiled by moms who have given birth at the center and wanted to recommend their pediatrician. Out of those 10-15 doctors, only 2-3 are covered by my Aetna health insurance through UD. Since we will most likely be adding Gregory onto my plan (just $700 for the year!), I decided to search through mine instead of Jesse’s. The list might be greater with his plan, but I might need treatment for myself as well, and it would be easier to kill two birds with one stone.

I wish there was a better analogy for that sort of thing. Killing birds, in the same paragraph as my baby and I. Hmmm….

Making the consultation appt. was super easy, and the receptionist was very kind. Check. Check.

But I still wanted to ask a general question to some of the moms out there. What kind of questions should I be prepared to ask at this appt.? The birth center and my birthing class gave some ideas, but I wanted to know what my friends think.

Some of the questions that have already made the list:

1. How do I go about making morning-of emergency illness appts.?

2. What constitutes an emergency appt.?

3. How many days/weeks will it be once I make an appt.?

4. What do you recommend for a vaccine schedule? Why? (This last one is LOADED with debate, I know).

Send me your input! What were important things you asked/wanted to ask?