Skipping Well Visits? - Page 2

[Lauren31]

If your baby is gaining and you have no concerns about anything, I would probably skip them. Maybe go at 6 months? I delay vax and it TOTALLY seems like all they want to do is talk you into vaxing on their schedule. In fact, my 2mo wbv I was man-handled into the full vac load... UGH, I still hate myself for it.

[boomer78]

Originally Posted by karika

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 vaxing and interventions that create illness.

Unfortunately, I completely agree.

Before our pedi kicked us out for refusing to further vax our DD she told me - after my DH stupidly asked if it's OK for our DD to want to nurse every hour or so all of a sudden - that I feed her way to much and she will be obese and such, and to give her Pedialite instead of breast milk every other feeding. I think she just had a growth spurt because eventhough I kept feeeding her on demand, it got better after a few days. No mention of a growth spurt by the doc and when I asked she almost gave me that look like this is all nonsense and made up. She also gave us Vits for out DD, and I stupidly gave her some every day, not knowing any better (pedi said at the hospital every BF baby has to get vits, breast milk doesn't have it all). Well they gave her horrible tummy problems (I could hear her stomach rumble every time) and she was crying so much. I asked our pedi and she said, oh yeah, it's possible, they're flavoured after all...

Needles to say, after even more reasearch, we have been skipping WBV since our DD was about 5 weeks, she is now 6 months. So we skipped 3 visits so far. I don't feel guilty about it, or bad, I monitor her growth and they wouldn't do much more on a WBV other than this and vax. A lot of my friends, however, think I'm just nuts.

The more I learn about this subject, the less I trust the doctors.

[AFWife]

I'm going to jump in again and say: If my son were truly sick and I didn't feel I could handle it at home I would take him in...but that hasnt' happened. He's had 3 colds and one fever. All of which were treated with lots of mama milk and rest (one cold he got when he was 3 or 4 months old...I'd had it the week before so I felt comfortable just making sure he was hydrated and alert)

I would encourage you to keep up with height and weight. You can measure length yourself with a flexible tape measure (you can buy them almost anywhere) and measure weight by getting on the scale yourself, getting on with the baby, and then doing some quick math. DS grew incredibly quickly so, for the most part, we only did height and weight so we could answer people when they asked. He was in "6 month old" clothing at 3 months so we never really worried about growth.

If you're REALLY worried about it keep a journal. Just a few lines each day about your baby. How big they're getting, any developmental stuff, any fears, new behaviors, etc... Read over it occasionally and if you feel there's a weird pattern or something go see someone. That way it's all documented.

[2xy]

I'm in-between. I think well-visits are important. I don't believe we need to go as often as the medical community tells us.

DS1 (now 18) had two things caught at well-visits that we wouldn't have known otherwise. First, he developed a complete hole through his nasal septum. Nobody knows what it's from....that sort of thing is usually from cocaine use or develops as a result of certain types of diseases (which he tested negative for). Anyway, it wasn't bothering him, but if he DID have an infection, we wouldn't have known and it wouldn't have been treated. At any rate, the hole was repaired. That was when he was 13.

At age 17 he failed the vision test at the doctor's office. He had passed at the DMV (scary in itself). He had not complained of fuzzy vision because it had developed so gradually, but he needed glasses.

I don't think it's unreasonable to go every couple of years for a physical. I think we should examine our bodies at least as well as we examine our cars.

Well baby visits, IMO, are overdone and basically just an appointment for vaccinations.

[Julia24]

We skip some Seriously, it's more a matter of all the darn appointments getting the best of me. I have three children and SO much on our schedule, I don't have time for what I consider a silly addition. Plus, I loathe taking them in when they are well bc A) they are exposed to all those sick kids and the germs in the office which isn't exactly super ventilated and B) I have to actually pump myself up ahead of time to deal with the pushy nurses about vaxing. It's such a pita! I know she's doing just perfectly.

If I were you, I'd probably try to go to one of them (I'm much more anal in the first 6 months), or check out the public services that are available to the baby and you - you might be surprised at what you find? (for example, I was researching in my state, WI, and pregnant women and newborns can make up to 300%! of the proverty level and still get medical assistance). It might tide you over so you CAN go if you want to.

[rhiOrion]

In your case I think you can probably skip them. Or just go to one at about the three month mark, maybe.

But here's something that somebody pointed out to me recently about skipping them in general that I hadn't thought of before. Her Dr (AP, selective/delayed vax friendly, BF friendly, etc) said that honestly he makes most of his money from WBV.

I'm guessing they have low overhead. Basically just the cost of the little bit of exam table paper they use and whatever electricity, etc. But the insurance company pays them for all of those WBVs. So, for my friend, especially since she loves the dr and wants him to do well, it is worth it for her to go to WBVs. Thoughts?

[Norasmomma]

It's funny this is solidifying my idea to cancel the WBV for DS. He's gaining, ahead on many milestones and is doing great.

Like I said I really like our Dr, but I hate the office(and the dumb front desk staff). Plus exposing my babies to all those germs, ugh.

[Ninetales]

We selectively vax but this is a no-pressure doctor so I'm not opposed to going in in general. I asked about the oop cost and was told it was $109, but that was the receptionist. There's really good NPs there too so maybe I will call them and see what they say.

She's growing and pooping and we don't have any issues. I would be missing the 4 and 6 month visits and then take her in for the 9 month.

I definitely don't qualify for anything here. Husband makes too much on paper but it all goes to taxes and bills.

[riverscout]

Originally Posted by Ninetales

She's growing and pooping and we don't have any issues. I would be missing the 4 and 6 month visits and then take her in for the 9 month.

Best I can recall nothing much happens at either of those other than the usual weighing and measuring, questions from the doctor to see if baby is on track developmentally speaking (is she rolling over, etc), time for parents to ask questions, and vaccinations. I think it's the 9 month or maybe even the one year where a lead test and an iron level check are offered.

If you have a baby book I'm sure you can find all the info about developmental milestones, and you can find growth charts online.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by riverscout

Best I can recall nothing much happens at either of those other than the usual weighing and measuring, questions from the doctor to see if baby is on track developmentally speaking (is she rolling over, etc), time for parents to ask questions, and vaccinations. I think it's the 9 month or maybe even the one year where a lead test and an iron level check are offered.

If you have a baby book I'm sure you can find all the info about developmental milestones, and you can find growth charts online.

Yeah, I did the research and all they do at WBV is ask about milestones (you can check those yourself), weight and length (another you can check), and vaccinations.

[Knitting Mama]

We had the 2 month one today. It was actually really cool to go to, as I learned that my teeny-tiny is growing really well-- she was 10th percentile for height and weight at her 2 week, and she's 20th now. Also her big head has gone from 25th to 50th percentile.

My doctor's really cool too, she didn't care at all that we were selectively vaxing. She was also very impressed that Cecilia's still EBF, what with my low supply.

[BeckyBird]

We haven't been to a WBV at all. I did take her to the hospital when she caught a cold and had raspy breathing. All of the doctors and nurses were kind of shocked that we had never been to a well visit. I told them that she has not been sick, and I did not want to take her to a doctor's office with all the germs there. Hey, at least I took her to the doctor when she Was sick, so give me some credit. I'm not anti-doctor or anything, I just felt that she was doing fine without any well visits.
We don't vax either, so we had to defend our decision with the staff. It wasn't as bad as I imagined, and I'm glad we stood our ground with them.

[bluebirdiemama]

We don't do well visits. Actually, since we moved we don't even have a doctor. I agree with the second poster, it's just an opportunity to push the VAX

[riverscout]

Originally Posted by AFWife

Yeah, I did the research and all they do at WBV is ask about milestones (you can check those yourself), weight and length (another you can check), and vaccinations.

That isn't exactly what I was trying to say . I actually think WBV are worthwhile, and there is more that goes on than that IME. I was just trying to let the OP know that there isn't anything out of the ordinary that goes on at either of those visits, and she should be fine waiting till the 9 month.

[hildare]

we only went to 2. we love our ped, she's an osteopath, though she recommends vaxxing, she's ok that we do not.
we don't go b/c we know dd's meeting milestones, etc. and we're pretty informed. we also don't want to sit in the waiting room (and boy did we ever wait at those 2 wbv's) with all the sick children. We don't feel the need to go, but we're not the type to go to the dr. ourselves for checkups, either. It just depends on how comfortable you are with measuring and research, etc.

I think that there may be reasons to go, for some people.. for example, i have read people posting about DFACS visits, & having record of taking your lo to the dr. is pretty important to government officials and such.
If that's a concern, though, I would imagine that you could call the health department and see if you could do it there. Most are on a sliding payment scale based on income.

[Mommy2Haley]

We switched right before DD2 was born and I went to her WBV for my own piece of mind after the traumatic experiences I had with our old pedi and DD1. Now that she's older I'm considering skipping the 9m and waiting to go back at 12m. I want to keep a good relationship with the DR regardless.

She's supportive of breastfeeding and not vaxing (especially with the food/gut issues we're dealing with) and sent me home with information regarding the vaccinations. Not to persuade me to get them, but she wanted to make sure she had done everything she "needed" to as the medical professional to make sure I was educated. She knew I had done a lot of research but it was for her own piece of mind. Idon't even know where the papers are!

She's also supportive of our visits to the naturopath and keeps in touch with her regarding our gut healing treatments, chiro work, and now our upcoming frenotomy.

I think for me it's maintaining the relationship so if I end up needing allopathic medicine I have it available.