First well-child visit--yes or no?

[La Sombra]

My beautiful little son was born 6 days ago; we were discharged from the hospital four days ago and today is his first well-child visit.

I'm just wondering how necessary it really is to go. He was born perfectly healthy and had all of his screening and everything done in the hospital. He was visited also by pediatricians there who did vision tests, hearing tests and tested all of his reflexes and joints and all that stuff. He is nursing beautifully and his weight is good, he is sleeping normally, etc. etc....I have absolutely no concerns at this point. Also, we're not going to vax, at least not at the moment.

On the one hand, what have I got to lose by going, right? On the other hand, it's one less trip to make. And I admit I'm also a bit (irrationally?) afraid of the doctor trying to retract his uncirc'ed penis even though she came recommended and I really have no reason to think she will other than I know sometimes it happens. By the way, why do doctors have to check little boys' pensises at every visit?! I don't understand! I don't remember dd's vulva/vagina being constantly monitored!

So I'm wondering what your thoughts on this are. Has anyone opted out of the (first, or subsequent) well child visit? If so, why? If not, why not?

TIA!

[EMAID]

I can't say I have a definite opinion one way or the other. It doesn't sound like the appt. is completely necessary. Is it the same ped. you were seeing for your DD, or a new person? If it's a new person it might be nice to establish some rapport and get to know each other.

What I do want to tell you is that the issue of not retracting the foreskin isn't going to go away anytime soon, or at least thats been my experience. Hopefully your ped. won't try to retract it at all and it won't ever be an issue. But I had to remind the ped. at every appt. from birth to about age 3 with my son, and thats with two different peds. Now he's 5 and his current (male) ped. just sort of looks at it, or at the most jiggles the skin a little bit on the shaft. I'm actually not even sure if DS's foreskin is retracting on its own or not yet; I haven't seen him play with it in a while and I don't generally allow him to run around naked anymore.

That said, hopefully you have a ped. who is hands-off. The one we're seeing now definitely is, like I mentioned, he only sort of looks at it. At his preschool check-up, DS wasn't cooperating with taking his pants off, so the ped. just sort of pulled them out and peeked in. DS yelled, "There's a penis in there!" and the ped. said, "As long as you don't have two of them, you're fine."

So hopefully that means the retraction issue gets easier as they get older, but no guarantees on that.

[Honey693]

We do all WBV visits b/c insurance covers them, I love our ped and I have lots of stupid questions. If we weren't vaxing and I couldn't find a good ped I'm not sure if I'd go though.

[angelpie545]

I think it would be worth it to go. It's always nice to have a medical paper trail documenting that you have sought medical care for your children and that your children are healthy. Sounds kind of paranoid, but if you're ever in a sticky situation it's a good thing to have on your side.

[Mama2Kayla]

I would go...but that would probably be the last time for a while. Then you can work on making your own schedule since you are not vaxing.

[Twinklefae]

I would go - I like to have the baby weighed and their hips checked.

[dannic]

I wouldn't go. IMO, well baby visits are just a way to get this kid in there to vax. If you're not vaxing, then make your own schedule. Also, like you said, baby has already been ckecked out recently. You can make your paper trail at a more convenient time. And, lastly, sick people congregate at Dr. offices so no place for a NB IMO. Just my .02$

[shoefairy3]

I'd wait a couple weeks for sure. I also tend to do more appts during the summer months rather than the winter months when all the sickies are there.

[AlexisT]

Originally Posted by dannic

I wouldn't go. IMO, well baby visits are just a way to get this kid in there to vax. If you're not vaxing, then make your own schedule. Also, like you said, baby has already been ckecked out recently. You can make your paper trail at a more convenient time. And, lastly, sick people congregate at Dr. offices so no place for a NB IMO. Just my .02$

My midwife last time had nothing to do with vaccinations, but she still came and checked me and the baby. It's not just about jabs; it's about making sure the baby is gaining well and is generally on the right track. I'd do it.

[cchrissyy]

So did you go?

re: penis stuff I have 2 uncirc'd boys and I honestly can't recall a Dr touching them during an exam at ANY age. Looking, but not touching and certainly not retracting anything. It wouldn't even occur to me to worry about that.

[princesstutu]

Originally Posted by dannic

I wouldn't go. IMO, well baby visits are just a way to get this kid in there to vax. If you're not vaxing, then make your own schedule. Also, like you said, baby has already been ckecked out recently. You can make your paper trail at a more convenient time. And, lastly, sick people congregate at Dr. offices so no place for a NB IMO. Just my .02$

You just left the hospital. I wouldn't go and I'd let them know why. You need your rest!

[Sijae]

I wouldn't go, there's no reason to at this point. And while they might want to look at your sons penis you have the option of saying that he's fine and you don't need it looked at. Just remember that the only person who has a right to make a choice about your baby or to touch your baby in that room is you :-)

Laura

[dannic]

Originally Posted by AlexisT

My midwife last time had nothing to do with vaccinations, but she still came and checked me and the baby. It's not just about jabs; it's about making sure the baby is gaining well and is generally on the right track. I'd do it.

Yes, but a MW office (or did she visit you at home? Or her home?) is IMO different than a Ped's...still lots of sickness... there are common sense ways to figure out whether a baby is getting enough milk (diapers, ect) that mom can do at home and of course, if she has any concerns she can take him in. I'm just saying that mama doesn't need to feel obligated to take baby in at that specified time if she would rather wait a week, month, or year.

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by dannic

Yes, but a MW office (or did she visit you at home? Or her home?) is IMO different than a Ped's...still lots of sickness... there are common sense ways to figure out whether a baby is getting enough milk (diapers, ect) that mom can do at home and of course, if she has any concerns she can take him in. I'm just saying that mama doesn't need to feel obligated to take baby in at that specified time if she would rather wait a week, month, or year.

Well no, but still, I would like to have a very young baby seen by a doctor. Again, they check not only weight but hips, and other developmental areas.

[BlackSheepPDX]

I want my baby checked on at that point. Now, our checks involve the midwives coming to our house to weigh the baby and make sure everyone is doing ok, so it doesn't involve a trip to the docs office, which I would be less comfortable with for exposure to cooties issues. I personally think it's a bit paranoid to suggest that the 1 week check is just an excuse to vax, since midwives check on baby/mama on day 1, 3, 7, and 14. And they're not there to vax.

[AlexisT]

Originally Posted by dannic

Yes, but a MW office (or did she visit you at home? Or her home?) is IMO different than a Ped's...still lots of sickness... there are common sense ways to figure out whether a baby is getting enough milk (diapers, ect) that mom can do at home and of course, if she has any concerns she can take him in. I'm just saying that mama doesn't need to feel obligated to take baby in at that specified time if she would rather wait a week, month, or year.

Home - but this wasn't the US; community midwifery visits everyone at home. She did go back to hospital twice shortly after birth (I needed my incision patched up, and then she needed a blood draw because I have thyroid problems).

If I had had to go to the GP's surgery I would have done that. My point was that WBVs aren't just about pushing vaccines. We had vaccines done totally separately from baby checks, and they're not even started till 2 months. It's good to have a trained, objective pair of eyes looking at the baby. I do know of cases where a problem was spotted at a WBV.

[Mandala126]

We went with DD1 and we stopped at 4mo because all we did was argue with the ped about vaxes.
With DD2 we never went to a ped, she was check out by one at the hospital after birth and that's it.
We do take both to a chiropractor regularly, though, a chirop. can be a primary care provider as well and there is a paper trail.
We're not planning to take #3 to the doc unless there is something obviously wrong.
But if your ped is no-vax friendly and hands off, it doesn't hurt to go for peace of mind, but like another mama poster said, you do need your rest and consider the germs at the ped office.
Congrats on your new babe!!!

[dannic]

Originally Posted by BlackSheepPDX

I want my baby checked on at that point. Now, our checks involve the midwives coming to our house to weigh the baby and make sure everyone is doing ok, so it doesn't involve a trip to the docs office, which I would be less comfortable with for exposure to cooties issues. I personally think it's a bit paranoid to suggest that the 1 week check is just an excuse to vax, since midwives check on baby/mama on day 1, 3, 7, and 14. And they're not there to vax.

Hmm. My MW comes back at 48 hrs and that's it. And it's more about me, tho she does do the PKU if wanted. Really, all I was saying to OP was that if she doesn't want to go on that particular day, she doesn't need to feel obligated if she feels like everything is fine. She can reschedule. Or not go at all. None of my babies have had well baby check ups and all have survived into childhood. (Not saying anyone else needs to do it my way, just offering my opinion)

[dachshund mom]

Our first ped visit was at 2 months. But the MW came to our house after 2 or 3 days and we went to her at 1 week. We also went at 2 weeks and 2.5 weeks for weight checks because DD wasn't gaining.

[beep]

Doctors like to check for descent of testicles in little boys because if they don't descend on their own there is a higher risk for cancer, infertility, hernias, and testicular torsion later on. Some of the looking at the genitals may be related to checking the testicles rather than the penis.