Skipping Well Visits?

[Ninetales]

Because I quit my job and my husband's job offers crap for insurance we had to get private insurance, which won't cover preventative care for the first six months. Elsa is due for WBVs this month and in August.

We can't afford an out of pocket charge. So our options are to lie and take her in claiming she's sick, or just skip it. I kind of am leaning toward skipping it. Is there any reason not to that I'm not thinking of?

[kismetbaby]

I've been skipping them since his 3 m check. Basically, if you are an attentive parent and are past the first couple months where it might be good to be making sure they are thriving. . .well baby checks are just the time they badger you into vaxing IMO. If you aren't vaxing I don't see much reason for them. And you can also vax for free at public health clinics if you want to and cost is an issue.

[Ninetales]

Yeah, I selectively vax and I can get what I need at the Health Dept for low cost.

[Bobbys]

I would talk to your doctor and see if something can be worked out. I'm not in favor of skipping well visits even if you vax or not.

[Norasmomma]

Well I've done well visits with both my kids, but I'm seriously thinking about not going to DS's next one, it's his 9 month, we select vax. He's not up for any and is great, my problem is I love my Dr, I hate the clinic. There is always drama and it takes forever, my DD is super high spirited and being at the office is boring, so she acts crazy.

I think we might skip it, lots of people do.

[fruitfulmomma]

We haven't been to a WBV since my oldest was 9mo. He'll be 10 on Saturday.

[staceychev]

I don't think it's a big deal to skip, especially if you're a BTDT mom and know what to look for.

[AFWife]

We haven't been to one since he was 2 months...he's 14mo now.

I consider myself fairly well versed in basic medical stuff, though...so I never worry about it.

[Lit Chick]

I started skipping WBVs at about 6 months I think? I do not vax, and my first ped was terrible - used the visits to push formula feeding on me. We went to one or 2 with my good ped, but we both agreed that they really were not necessary. I love my current, no-BS ped.

[limette]

I'm on baby number 3 and have never done well visits. With no family doctors available I guess I'd have to take them to a walk in clinic to do so. Regardless I see no point and as soon as the midwife discharges them at 6 weeks, we're done.

[firewoman]

Even though we don't vax, I always went to all of the WBV's until my youngest was born. I took her in when she was 2 days old to be seen after my homebirth and haven't been back since. I figure with baby #5 I know what I'm doing. The visits with my fourth were just silly and redundant. The suggestions given at the doc's office are very different than what I believe to be optimal. If baby is healthy and growing I wouldn't be too concerned.

[cristeen]

We're skipping the WBV for similar reasons. I took the little guy in last week because i was afraid of an ear infection and the doctor that I saw gently berated me for not doing WBV. I explained to her that we don't vax, and I have to come out of pocket for every visit, so I don't see the point in doing them... her response was that the AMA recommends them regardless, so I really should do them.

[Knitting Mama]

I guess we're really lucky to have a pedi who believes in AP, extended breast feeding, cloth diapering and babywearing. As a first time mom, I like going to the WBV to see how she's doing on her own little spectrum (she's tiny, but growing fine on her growth curve).

[fruitfulmomma]

her response was that the AMA recommends them regardless, so I really should do them.

So is she going to start offering them for free?

My doctor has never said anything about us not bringing them in for wbv. We see him maybe once a year for someone in the family. He is also okay with us not doing vaxxes and knows we don't have the money to pay oop for that kind of stuff.

[riverscout]

I do WBVs with my kids but in your case I would skip it. I wouldn't lie to get a sick visit in order to make up for a WBV. Not because I think it's morally wrong, but because IME sick visits go entirely different that WBV. Sick visits are more to the point. Doctor is often a bit more rushed because they squeezed you because after all the kid is sick . The doctor isn't going to ask the questions they ask during a WBV and you're not going to get the opportunity to ask the random questions you might have because you are only there because the kid is sick. It's just not going to get much accomplished other than you will get your child weighed and measured, but there are easier ways to do that. My doctor will actually let people come in during lunch when they have no appointments to use the scale themselves. Maybe you could ask about that or just get on your home scale with and without the baby. Or perhaps the Health Dept. might do it when you get vaccinations?

Anyway, I can see how this being your first child this might be a bit of a concern, but I'm sure your little one will be fine. The important thing is you have coverage in case she does get sick or injured and will be able to get preventative care soon (that is a crazy rule by the way). In the mean time, you could call your doctor's office and find out what services might be available to you. Mine has a nurse line that is staffed 24/7 that you an call with questions, and it's free.

[BeanyMama]

We don't vax so I space the WBVs apart more than the average schedule. I think if she's had her initial visit, you'll be fine for 6m until the insurance will pick them up.

[Nicole730]

In your case, I'd probably skip it. Or go to one in the middle of the 6 months. You can call and ask how much it is out of pocket, our doctor is $50, our old doctor was $70. Just make it clear that they cannot add on any additional charges unless they specifically ask you first.

[mommy212]

I don't take my LO in for well baby visits. Never had any problems. As long as you can take him when he is sick and he seems to be doing everything pretty normally, no worries.

[karika]

I took dd1 to her first WBV then was bullied into getting her vax at the 2 mo appt. I had just begun my research so I didn't know any better. I have researched so much about true health since then that I do not feel western medicine understands true health. I feel the WBV are all about vaxxing and interventions that create illness. I did take dd2 to a ped at 3 days old for the weight check, but that was it for us. I did not vaccinate dd1 after that 2 mo visit, and dd2 has had none. If I felt something was going on that I couldn't handle, I wouldn't hesitate however. I use herbal and homeopathic medicine if we ever need it, but have recently realized the importance of creating health through nutrition. We are GFCFSF now and we do not get sick. We did have a few colds and fevers when dd2 was small (before going totally GFCFSF) and I treated us myself. We had the flu move through here and dd1's father was sick for a week, the girls and I were only sick for about 24 hours, and it was mild. If you are EBF and not vaxxing, I wouldn't worry about WBV, but that is only my opinion, you should do what feels right for you. I do agree that you shouldn't lie and say the baby is sick though. There are clinics that work off sliding scale fees too if you still want to have the visits.

[Sharlla]

we don't do well visits. DS2 has never had a sick visit and DS1 only went when he was 7 to get some ABX. baby has not been to the Dr yet.