[ChristyM26]

I'm trying to compile a list of questions to ask any potential pediatricians that I find. My question is what kinds of things did you wish you'd asked your pediatrician (or family doctor) before you picked them? I'm especially curious if there's anything specific regarding multiples that you wish'd you'd asked. I have basic questions to ask like whether they support breastfeeding, whether they will allow delaying vaxes (or not be difficult about it) and some other common stuff like if they take calls after hours or not and if there are specific times when well baby visits need to be done. What kinds of other things should I be looking for? Thanks.

 

[DoomaYula]

There were 2 things that were important to me when I was pregnant with my twins. They were my first pregnancy. Anyway, #1 was that the phone was answered by an actual HUMAN BEING and not a recording or a system or whatever. #2 was that not vaxing is fine and I'm not harrassed about my choices. I think any doc who is cool with not-vaxing is probably also going to be pro-crunch.<br><br>
We lived in Ann Arbor, MI and I had an AWESOME ped. He was so great. Then we moved to San Diego and we were part of a huge system (Sharp) so I never found one that actually answered the phone. However, I saw some good peds and I was never harrassed about not vaxing. Then we moved to this tiny town in Arizona and I found one who answers his phone and is very supportive of bfing and not-circ'ing etc, BUT he's not so great about the vax. But we agree to disagree.<br><br>
/end epic

 

[Llyra]

Supporting breastfeeding is one thing, but I've found that a ped that supports exclusively breastfeeding MULTIPLES is a rare being. You really want to feel this one out. My old ped was wonderful with DD1, but she seemed to have this deep conviction that trying to breastfeed twins was impossible, and was always very subtly discouraging me. You really want to ask pretty pointed questions about that.<br><br>
Also, if you do well baby visits, will they see both babies together, or do you need two appointments.

 

[Ilovelife]

I think experience with multiples is nice. Not necessary, but can be helpful. And someone who's organized enough to get things written in the correct file. I'm always wondering if my doc/nurse is writing something in the correct file, since we do both the boys visits together. They ask all the questions once & write in both files, which are both open on the desk. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:

 

[ChristyM26]

Wow, there's stuff there I hadn't even thought of! Thanks ladies... anybody else have anything to throw in?

 

[Kathryn]

See if they'll give you a discount by seeing both babies at the same time. Like buy one, get the second 50% off kind of thing.

 

[fyrebloom]

is the office handicapped accessable so you can get in and out by yourself with a stroller (and will the double stroller fit?). Will they allow you to "sign in" in the car so you don't have to wake sleeping babies only to wait in the waiting room for who knows how long. Are there seperate sick and well waiting rooms. Can you alter the well baby visit schedule (assuming they're going well) so you don't have to bring them in for vaxes (we did this with DS and it was VERY nice to not have to go in every 2 months and waste the copayment money!).<br><br>
We're sticking with my son's Ped. He mentioned that if I'd like he can refer me to the formula rep for free formula, but when I mentioned I'm planning on EBF them he was absolutly supportive. This is the guy who pushed me to get him back to the breast when my son took a month to latch on (and only with a nipple shield until 4.5 months)and I had resigned myself to pumping.

 

[royaloakmi]

My twin specific questions were basically around how they would schedule appts. I wanted to know if it would be difficult to get back to back appts, or if they would expect us to "share" on time slot. Especially when they were infants, there were times when I wanted them seen separately.<br><br>
I found a doctor who was good about vegetarianism, delayed/no vaxing and b-feeding twins. But honestly, I would not look to ANY ped as your first line of information about breastfeeding. They just don't really know that much. Get a back up plan with a LLL contact or lactation consultant too.

 

[HopesMom]

For me, the best thing about our ped (although I haven't used her for our twins yet) is that I feel like I can be honest with her and enjoy talking to her.<br><br>
We had a ped when with my first who I felt I was always having to "lie" to...b/c it was so obvious that he disapproved of our choices.

 

[MaryJaneLouise]

Ask if they will refer you to a lactation consultant, if you need that with your insurance plan. Also that's a good sign to see if s/he is truly BFing supportive, if they actually KNOW what an LC is and know a good one! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[Twice as nice]

My big things were:<br>
-- separate rooms for well/sick babies<br>
-- supportive about no vax (the first pedi said that she was pro vax but respects parents' choice not to... she gave me h*ll every time I went in, so I ended up switching)<br>
-- if you are having a boy & you are planning on keeping him intact, make sure you ask an open ended question... something like how to care for an intact penis... the first pedi and her nurses tried to retract his foreskin EVERY time I came in and when I told them to leave him alone they would say that they had to do it (the other MAJOR reason why I left that practice)<br>
-- Easy access to the office with the stroller. If the office is on the 2nd floor, make sure there is an elevator.<br>
-- See how supportive the pedi is of breastfeeding multiples<br><br>
Another thing, when you interview the doc, try phrasing the questions to be open-ended and listen to how he/she answers, which will give you a better idea of his/her practices<br><br>
Good luck!!!

 

[fyrebloom]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>royaloakmi</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7977634"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">But honestly, I would not look to ANY ped as your first line of information about breastfeeding. They just don't really know that much. Get a back up plan with a LLL contact or lactation consultant too.</div>
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I don't know about that. If totally depends on their history. I was originally going to bring my son to a ped who was a lactivist and did public speaking about it. I agree getting involved with LLL and getting an LC is important, but there are Drs out there who really know what they're doing too (although rare I'm sure).<br><br>
eta: my son's current ped was the one who pushed me to get him back to breast. I'd have pumped or given up with out his insistance.

 

[royaloakmi]

Sorry; didn't mean to make such a gross generalization about ALL peds. There are obviously exceptions. However, and this may depend where you live, even the ones around my area who are "supportive" of breastfeeding are pretty fast to suggest supplementing and formula at the first sign of a breastfeeding challenge.

 

[cdahlgrd]

I shock my ped all the time with our nursing (still at 2. . . <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nut.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nut">)<br><br>
Ask how long is a typical wait for the doc, either in the waiting room or in the exam room. If it is more than 5 minutes, find someone else!! It is torture trying to manage 2 babes while waiting for a doc.<br><br>
Does the ped call schools or call parents at home or look things up and contact parents later? My ped is annoying with vax, sleeping, bfeeding, but she has completely gone to bat for us with our oldest. She has written schools, researched topics, called us at home after hours, referred us appropriately (vs. refusing to refer us), etc.<br><br>
I agree, if you feel like you need to lie or hide things, you don't have the right person in your corner!!