pediatrician in the first 3 days

[Bmorefarmgirl]

we toured special beginnings and also got some information from susan dodge about home birth. they both require that you visit a pediatrician within the first 3 days. what is this for and what does the pediatrician do at that visit? i did not know that before we went on the sb tour.

does anyone have a favorite ped that is convenient to the hamilton area (northeast baltimore city)? we have a while to find one. i am not due until april. :

thanks!!

[Healthy_Baby]

weight check, head circumference, length.

first PKU test, and hepB shot if vaxing.

[imnottelling]

Originally Posted by Healthy_Baby

weight check, head circumference, length.

Blah -- the HB midwife does that As do birthing facilities

first PKU test, and hepB shot if vaxing.

The PKU -- mandated by law

My husband brought my baby so I wouldn't have to expend my energy going.

[mojumi]

Originally Posted by imnottelling

The PKU -- mandated by law

Is that a new requirement? We did not do it with, hmmmm, any of our kids. :

[raelize]

they basically do the same type of newborn check that the m/w does after birth and at the pp checkups. it can be important if you have trouble nursing and weight gain, to get that checked in time. and, the blood work, as pp said. it doesn't hurt to have another set of eyes check the baby over. my nephew was born with a serious congential heart defect that NOBODY caught until the two week check up (born at a hospital, standard c-sec for failure to progress).
also, they will remove the cord clamp (if not done at 2 daypost partum check up) and other little stuff like that.
evelyn requires the same.

[ewp11100]

Also it's semi flexible. My 2nd was born early on Friday morning. I OBVIOUSLY forgot to call the doc that day, called on Monday and they couldn't fit me in till Thursday.

[rose81]

I am birthing at SB and I just signed up with a pediatrician. I live in Hamilton, too, but I am using Dr. Tellerman at the Rotunda in Hamden. Of course, we haven't been to him yet, but he was familiar with families choosing to birth at SB and at home, and he was extremely helpful. Good luck!

[Bmorefarmgirl]

thank you everybody!

[mysticmomma]

That's wierd, my mw encourages us to stay home and not rush right into the peds. She comes out and does the Metabolic Screen as well.

[Pinky Tuscadero]

PkU is not required by law. None of the tests, procedures, shots, etc are.
Birth Centers and midwives kind of HAVE to "require" you to go to a ped sice they don't really provide comprehensive care for a baby. But honestly, what will they do if you don't go? Put the baby back in?

[mysticmomma]

The metabolic screen is req'd by law. Much in the way Vit k is, (as in you can decline).

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Well, if you can decline, then it's not really required.

[imnottelling]

I have seen waivers to decline Vitamin K, Hep B, the eye gunk, etc but NEVER PKU. I was told it's mandated by the Maryland Board of Health...

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Maybe "suggested" is more accurate. lol

[Pinky Tuscadero]

We have not done the PKU/metabolic screening and have never had any problem. Never even had to sign anything. We simply said no thanks. It wasn't a big deal.

[Bmorefarmgirl]

what is metabolic screening? is that different than the pku test?

[Pinky Tuscadero]

It's the same test. They screen for more than just PKU, though it is usually called the PKU test.
I believe they test for different things in different states. Interesting.
I opted out of it because there is no history of any metabolic disorders in our families and we have no risk factors for most of them. They say it's just a simple heel stick but in reality it often involves multiple sticks, lots of heel squeezing to get the correct amount of blood and then a call back a week later because they still didn't get enough to test accurately. The risk of having one of the disorders is so small while the trauma of the test is certain. No thank you.

[Bmorefarmgirl]

i will definitely ask the midwife about that. i am a little paranoid about pku because my mom was a special ed teacher and she had a student who was mentally retarded due to pku that the parents did not know about. (this was before the test was "mandatory.") i know it is rare, but sometimes having a first- or second-hand experience makes a person more worried.

[imnottelling]

Yes, if I knew I didn't HAVE to subject my children to it, I would definitely "opt out". Guess I'll do more research, because I was under the impression it was one of those things that would alert CPS, and that scares the living daylights out of me. Genetically, my kids are at an extremely lower risk than the already rare rate of having this metabolic disorder.

[Healthy_Baby]

Originally Posted by Pinky Tuscadero

They say it's just a simple heel stick but in reality it often involves multiple sticks, lots of heel squeezing to get the correct amount of blood and then a call back a week later because they still didn't get enough to test accurately.

the test is done twice at least a week apart to compare the two - they drop the blood on 4 or 5 circles on a piece of paper. both of my children have had it done, my son was born in January it was cold in the office and his foot just wouldn't bleed so in took awhile but they didn't stick him more then once. for my daughter they used a little foot warmer before it was done.