Pediatrician question

[laralee16]

Does it really matter to the pediatrician where the baby is born?

[Peony]

Mine doesn't care.

[MsBlack]

It shouldn't matter, tho from what I have heard, it does matter to some.

[Kim919]

I've been interviewing pediatricians and all of the ones i've seen have either been very negative or flat out refused to take my baby as a patient. I didn't expect it at ALL, I haden't had much negative feedback about planning a HB and just wasn't prepared to all of a sudden defend my choices to someone who should be knowledgable about such things.

The first Dr. I interviewed was the funniest though, when I told him I was planning a HB he got this really disgusted look on his face and said "oh.... yeah... my brother & his wife did that.... they live in california and are kind of hippies.... plus she is originally from a 3rd world country" I pryed a little further to find out that they had a very healthy baby and that both the brother & his "3rd world" wife had PhD's in medical fields. The ped was absolutly disapproving though.

Off topic: Same guy said that I had been reading too much and implied that I must not have anything better to do then keep up with the latest fad.

Was disgusted with the fact that I haden't had an ultrasound and urged me strongly to have one ASAP.

When asked his opinion on circumcision he pulled out his appointment book to schedule one. When I said I would not be doing one to my baby if its a boy, he said "well, I guess that would be your own personal choice. I hope you understand the commitment you will be undertaking, and that your son will probably hold a great amount of resentment towards you when he's older." then promptly argued with me that to not retract the foreskin at birth to clean would be "filthy."

Said that anything other then the standard vax schedule was inconvienient and therefore not acceptable, and that if anyone suggested vaccine side effects they were a quack.

Thought that breastfeeding was good, but if the baby didn't grow exactly with the growth chart formula was the only option. When asked about the WHO growth charts for formula vs. breastfed babies he said no such thing existed and if I had seen such a thing it was fake. Said that the WHO doesn't know what its talking about anyways and that I shouldn't pay attention to any information formulated outside of the united states. When I asked what women did before formula was available he said with a very somber face "well... many women and their babies used to die" I still haven't quite figured out how a lack of milk production would manage to kill the mother - but he's the dr. so he must be right!

If the baby developed an issue that required medical care on a friday afternoon after they closed - he would be more then happy to see them on Monday (so long as he had an appointment available)

Good luck w/ your interviews!

[D'sMama]

Originally Posted by Kim919

I've been interviewing pediatricians and all of the ones i've seen have either been very negative or flat out refused to take my baby as a patient. I didn't expect it at ALL, I haden't had much negative feedback about planning a HB and just wasn't prepared to all of a sudden defend my choices to someone who should be knowledgable about such things.

The first Dr. I interviewed was the funniest though, when I told him I was planning a HB he got this really disgusted look on his face and said "oh.... yeah... my brother & his wife did that.... they live in california and are kind of hippies.... plus she is originally from a 3rd world country" I pryed a little further to find out that they had a very healthy baby and that both the brother & his "3rd world" wife had PhD's in medical fields. The ped was absolutly disapproving though.

Off topic: Same guy said that I had been reading too much and implied that I must not have anything better to do then keep up with the latest fad.

Was disgusted with the fact that I haden't had an ultrasound and urged me strongly to have one ASAP.

When asked his opinion on circumcision he pulled out his appointment book to schedule one. When I said I would not be doing one to my baby if its a boy, he said "well, I guess that would be your own personal choice. I hope you understand the commitment you will be undertaking, and that your son will probably hold a great amount of resentment towards you when he's older." then promptly argued with me that to not retract the foreskin at birth to clean would be "filthy."

Said that anything other then the standard vax schedule was inconvienient and therefore not acceptable, and that if anyone suggested vaccine side effects they were a quack.

Thought that breastfeeding was good, but if the baby didn't grow exactly with the growth chart formula was the only option. When asked about the WHO growth charts for formula vs. breastfed babies he said no such thing existed and if I had seen such a thing it was fake. Said that the WHO doesn't know what its talking about anyways and that I shouldn't pay attention to any information formulated outside of the united states. When I asked what women did before formula was available he said with a very somber face "well... many women and their babies used to die" I still haven't quite figured out how a lack of milk production would manage to kill the mother - but he's the dr. so he must be right!

If the baby developed an issue that required medical care on a friday afternoon after they closed - he would be more then happy to see them on Monday (so long as he had an appointment available)

Good luck w/ your interviews!

OMG! You have such patience! I think my jaw would have hit the floor with just one of those comments!

[laralee16]

WOW> I would have walked out, lol. I swear, some doctors think they are god, they really do.

[dogmom327]

If they do care, you should find a new doctor immediately. Ultimately it's none of their business and should in no way affect the care your child receives.

[peainthepod]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

If they do care, you should find a new doctor immediately. Ultimately it's none of their business and should in no way affect the care your child receives.

I agree. I'm going to be calling peds and FP's next week and before I even go in to see them I'll ask about their policy re: homebirth, no-vax, cosleeping, etc. No need to waste my time or theirs, kwim?

[tanyalynn]

It sometimes matters. One in our doc's practice seemed almost astonished that our child had not had the eye ointment, thought that wasn't legal (although our doc thought HB was quite nice). If I had it to go again, I'd find a compatible family practitioner.

[slave2myprincess]

i havn't even put much thought into picking a pedi yet. (i need to get on the ball). i think i will ask my midwife for a recommendation if she has one ! But i do want someone who will not be judgmental and be comfortable with hb, bfing, no circ, co-sleeping, and selective vaccinations !

[thefragile7393]

I don't even want to take this one in unless there are issues, but then I like having established a doc. Vaxing is the only thing that concerns me (since sadly I doubt this lo will be a boy, otherwise a person educated in non-circ care would be important). I'm prepared to fudge or tell the doc what they want to hear in regards to nutrition and parenting advice (unless I have a concern in the nutrition area).

ALl that being said, my ds does have a ped that tolerates us not-vaxing anymore....but I don't know how he'll react with one that will be hb'ed and recieving no vaxes. I should call and ask but....frankly I'm just tired of docs and it took 3 docs just to find this one.

[Overthemoon]

We don't do the Pediatrician

Ever since my dd had a horrible reaction to a vaccine she received (no longer vaccinate here) I have not taken my dc for well checks and really have a much different view of the doctors role in our lives. We actually do not go for sick visits either (knock on wood) since none of them get sick. But it took me a while to get to that point for my dc and a lot of research. I also have doctors and nurses in my family which adds another dynamic.
I did take my youngest once before we moved out of the city and the sheer joy that the doctor had when he thought he got to give him shots totally creeped me out.

We do have a family doctor in town that makes home visits, which I might do if I needed someone to come check on one of my dc. I detest the Pediatrician's office for the sheer germ factor. Ever since my older dd had her liver transplant we were told by the liver team that we could not even sit inside if we did have to go for check ups for her health and that it was best to wait outside in the hall.

Good luck to you,

[ErinsJuneBug]

I work in a pediatrics office - and they dont care at all. If the baby is a homebirth or birth center and doesnt get the Vit K or eye antibiotic they usually make note of it, but thats it. They are more concerened with people not doing the Hep B. Ya know for all those IV drug user and sexually active newborns.

[acp]

I haven't asked my pediatrician (actually a family doc) yet, since we just decided to do a home birth, but since he used to perform home births himself (until malpractice insurance made it prohibitive) I'm assuming he won't mind...

[hikingmommy]

Our family doctor is fairly alternative and is fine w/ us homebirthing. He is being a bit of a pain about the (minimal) medical care I need during pregnancy to monitor my thyroid levels since I have mild hypothyroidism. His receptionists keep wanting to confirm that my OB is following up on this too, even though I tell them every time that I'm having a homebirth, and I'm not seeing an OB. I told the doc that we're having a homebirth and was fine w/ it, so maybe the comments from the receptionists are coming from them, not from him. In general, he's quite good about giving us his opinions, explaining current research, and respecting our choices.

[SiobhanAoife]

The pediatrician I've selected knows that I'm planning a home birth and is fine with that. He did state a strong preference for seeing the baby at some point in the first week of life, but that's fine with me, I want that, too. And he didn't say it like I had to, or like he got to make the decisions (he was very clear that I'm the mom, I get to make the health care decisions for my child) -- and I think it's entirely fair for him to be up front about what his preferences are, especially when he feels strongly about something. I am engaging his services as a knowlegeable professional so I want to hear from him, while still being respected as the ultimate decision-maker for my child.

I think interviewing pediatricians ahead of time is completely worth it, who wants the stress of dealing with someone who's going to fight with you later, once the baby's here? Find a good fit up front and that stress just goes away, and you know you'll be able to see someone you've established comfort and trust with.

[RedPony]

I don't do peds, either. Nor did I interview before having my dd, but that was my preference. I chose a family practitioner and brought Lily to see her at three months. She didn't give a hoot that Lil was born at home, altho she seemed slightly surprised. I've never taken Lily back, but would if I had to. I did like the dr very much.

[Full Heart]

I have a fp dr and he doesn't have a problem with it. We also don't vax which he is ok with and he is against circ and 100% pro bfing and hes vegan. So I think that has something to do with it.

However when I have had to go to urgent care no one even asked where they were born. I don't think it should matter.

[leavemealone]

I don't really intend on telling the dr ahead of time and only if they ask afterwards. We go to a family practice and I don't think he really cares that much. I would think that most drs assume the baby was born in the hospital anyway. The only question I was asked about my second child is whether he was a vaginal or c-section birth. Other than that, not any other details.

[Belleweather]

Never had a problem -- our pediatrician was actually fascinated by hearing about our children's births, and was really impressed at the newborn care they got from the midwives. With our second even though the midwives protocol was to ask that the baby be seen by the pediatrician within a week of birth when I called the doctors office they said to fax the records and not worry about it because they know that the baby was well taken care of.