First well-child visit--yes or no? - Page 2

[terra-pip]

about the penis thing...I have two little intact boys and with my first the pede did that and I wasn't expecting it, he even said steroid cream may be necessary if it wasn't retracting by three, i left that doc pretty fast, so there are stillpedes out there with this mindset...but every other time I gave the doctor a "look but don't touch" policy. I've had three pedes and now see a family doc and except for that really insane pede no one questioned my statement. I just made it a point of discussion right away when we found our current doctor. luckily he agreed anyway and it was no big deal. Also you can keep your babe on your lap for most if not all of the exam visits.

[JudiAU]

I would. There are lots of little things a doctor might notice that you wouldn't, or might have been overlooked. Frankly, it also puts you on a better footing with your doctor. Now we pretty much never see a doctor except for wellness visits and our doc doctors, not tells me how to parent, but I like having someone I can call or go to if I *need it*.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by 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!

If i had to do it over again, I wouldn't go. I was exhausted, weight gain was fine. I could barely walk, and bf wasn't well established. Certianly in no shape to drag my sorry butt all the way to the pediatricians. That being said, I've never had a problem with the penis issue. keep an eye on it the first time, but I've never had an issue.

[wombatclay]

Moving to Life with a Babe... congrats on all the new babes!

[ErinYay]

I like well-baby visits; they're fun! But we also have an amazing ped and adore everyone there. V likes them, too, as she likes any chance to show off and charm people!

[Addie]

Originally Posted by 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.

I had lots of questions and preferred talking to the ped in person over calling the nurses line.

I've seen 4 or 5 different peds in our practice, and retraction has never been an issue. Not to say it shouldn't be on your radar at all, but I wouldn't assume it's going to be an issue. And you can always bring it up before the diaper check.

[Sharlla]

we dont do well visits. Panda was born at home (UC) and she's never been to the Dr. It seems like my friend's kids always get sick at the well visits.

[Tway]

I love our well-baby visits--I always come away relieved!

Every time we visit, our ped plays peek-a-boo with DD, or tries to get her to smile, and spends a good 5 minutes just letting DD play and allowing me to ask questions. I realized at some point that he seems to use that time to assess how DD is growing and advancing--and to make sure Mommy is doing OK, too.

I'm guessing he has a mental checklist and this natural interaction--as opposed to plain ol' doctor business--enables him to evaluate how we're really doing. He also always tells me I'm doing a good job, which makes me feel great!

I think well-baby visits give peds the chance to look for little cues that baby may need extra assessment... and I'd rather go and get an all clear that skip it and risk missing a sign we should have picked up earlier...

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Twinklefae

I would go - I like to have the baby weighed

although my midwife came to my place for the first 8 weeks for all the well baby stuff.

[P.J.]

Here the midwife comes to your house to weigh the baby, and the first two well-baby check ups the doctor comes to the house.
We're doing all the other ones because we want to get to know our pediatrician and have the chance to discuss any questions. She herself suggested not vaxing at least the first year, so that's not a concern. And most boys here are intact so doctors know how to handle it.
In any case, I'd go just for the reassurance that my baby is healthy.

[Sharlla]

Originally Posted by Twinklefae

I would go - I like to have the baby weighed

we bought a baby scale on CL for $15

[Sorin]

I would go, but then again, I like my ped and am probably less crunchy than most people here. My babe was breech, so my ped kept a close eye on her hips to make sure they were ok. He is very pro-breastfeeding, and I like to know where she falls on the height/weight/head circumference scale. I don't quite understand how a baby could get sick from going to the visit (certainly, there is no more of a chance than if you take the babe anywhere else). DD stayed in her carseat in the waiting room, and no one touched her except the nurse and doc, and they washed their hands/wore gloves.

Plus, my ped's office has a lactation consultant on staff, so I was able to see her as well for some breastfeeding issues we were having early on. Peds are trained to look for things that you might not think to look for, and if you have a good rapport with your doc (and if you don't, you should find one that you do!) then the WB visits are a chance to really talk about things and get any random questions answered.

Oh, and vaccines were never talked about during our WB visits. It was all developmental stuff.

[Crazybean]

I'd go to the first few for the "documentation" purpose. Getting their head circ. measured, length and weight measured and recorded into a medical file is really impt IMO. The also gave me the results of the PKU test from the hosp at that visit as well as kept tabs on the jaundice. The check for lung and heart sounds, check the hips and check pupil dilation among other things. My pedi only looked at DS's penis and peeks for any diaper rash. The whole vaccine battle doesn't happen until 2 months so I'm getting the 1 week, 3 week and 2 month visit in. From there, I'll make my own schedule to hopefully avoid the vaccine debate. I did this with my first DS because we've been threatened with CPS for not vaccinating but having DS's medical records showing he was growing fine on a reg basis showed I wasn't taking his health lightly.. I'm not saying everyone will go through that and I'm not knocking anyone who doesn't go- what I do know is they couldn't prove me neglectful towards my sons care.

[J. Jones]

I like well child visits because it helps build the relationship with the doc. so if you have worries/sick kid in the future it feels a lot more comfortable calling/bringing the baby in.

[Knitting Mama]

I like WBV for all the reasons already mentioned-- good relationship with my ped, the weight/height/circumference charts, and to let her make sure there are no underlying issues with my girl. It helps that my ped is awesome and never pushes anything.

[SeattleRain]

I also like the WBV, especially the first one. One of the thing that surprised me about going to the ped was that they wanted the baby stripped naked and looked at him all over. I didn't get it, but then I started thinking that they probably do that so they can see EVERYTHING about the baby. I know it's really grim to think about, but they don't want a baby to be abused and have bruises but to be hidden behind a diaper or t shirt. Alot of babies have extra fluid in the genital areas from birth and I think they want to check it out to see if it's going down.

I think you might have to change your attitude about going to the doctor. You shouldn't view the pediatrician as a negative experience waiting to happen, or a fight waiting to happen. You should see your pediatrician as another person in the team of raising your son. If you're not feeling positive about the experience going in, you should find someone you really vibe with. Like the previous posters, I always leave the WBV relieved or happy.

[MJB]

I UC'd my youngest 2; with my son, we went in at 8 days for his first WBV. With my new baby, we took her in at 3 weeks because we needed the newborn exam to get her birth certificate. The ped. wants to see her again at 2 mos. We've never followed the schedule exactly but I don't really mind WBV; once they get to a year it's only once a year and we actually like going. We delay and selectively vax; neither of my bigger kids have had a shot before 4 and Edie won't be having any for a good while. We have not had issues with my uncirced boys either.

[ErinYay]

Originally Posted by SeattleRain

I know it's really grim to think about, but they don't want a baby to be abused and have bruises but to be hidden behind a diaper or t shirt. Alot of babies have extra fluid in the genital areas from birth and I think they want to check it out to see if it's going down.

They also like to look for hernias, symmetry of the whole baby- esp the hips and pelvis, enlarged organs, birthmarks, tenderness/swelling, etc.