[libranbutterfly]

I just moved, so I am looking for a new DR. for my daughters. I have an interview with a dr. Wednesday. I was wondering what questions you would ask a dr. before letting them care for your children (That doesn't sound the way I want it too, but my brain is fried lately <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment"> ) We Selecive/Delay Vax, delay solids, cosleep, and plan to extended bf. I'm hoping this doc will be semi supportive, as I have medical card, so choices are sorta limited. Please LMK what you would ask. Thanks!

 

[mamaverdi]

It depends where you live and what you need a doctor for.

 

[nighten]

I would make a list of the important issues for you then take the list and ask the doctor how s/he feels about each issue. If there are some you're willing to compromise on (since most peds, for instance will not openly state they are pro-co-sleeping), in terms of continuing the practice without the ped's open support, then make a note of those as well.<br><br>
If the ped responds positively to all your important issues, and you're okay with lack of support on the "compromise" issues, then it might be a good fit.<br><br>
And it's a good thing if you go in as well-informed as to WHY you've made the decisions you have. Had we interviewed our ped and simply said we didn't want to vax, she would have pressed us. But we went in very well-informed and that made it easier on us, if that makes sense.<br><br>
Good luck!

 

[SandraS]

Personally, I don't like pediatricians. We've seen "general practitioners" or "family doctors", whatever you want to call them, forever. It's wonderful that our doctor knows our entire family, knows our family history, can take care of a baby 1 minute old <i>or</i> my elderly grandfather, deals with my teenager <i>and</i> my female parts, etc. etc... I would recommend a family doctor, not a separate doc for the kids, but that's JMO...

 

[quietserena]

We see a family health doc instead of a pedi too. The things I asked about were really focused around vax more than anything because I didn't want the doc to blame things on DD's lack of vax and really delayed solids. But I don't take her in for well baby checks or anything. I like having a doctor just in case something pops up that I can't deal with.<br><br>
One other thing that helps is that my doc has a nurse practitioner in the office so they can take same day appointments much easier.<br><br>
Things I asked about:<br>
* selective / no vax<br>
* extended breastfeeding<br>
* delayed and baby led solids<br><br>
It was very encouraging when, after my appt, the doc looked at my daughter and said: "I hope I don't ever see you as a patient but come with your mom whenever you want!"

 

[Lady Lilya]

I am going to start looking for a Pediatrician or Family Practitioner in June. I plan to make clear to them that I am interested in them for their MEDICAL opinion, not PARENTING opinion.<br><br>
Unless there is something wrong that could be related to one of my parenting choices, then it really isn't the doc's business.<br><br>
So, when I am interviewing, I just want to make sure that the doc isn't going to throw me out of the practice because of my parenting style, and in my case, since I am having a boy, that the doc knows about the normal development of a penis so he doesn't damage my son or falsely diagnose.<br><br>
It doesn't matter to me if the doc is ENCOURAGING of BFing, co-sleeping, non-vaxing, non-circing, as long as they understand that I am choosing those things and they have to live with it or let me know if they can't accept it so I can go elsewhere.