For first time parents, choosing the best newborn pediatrician in Summerville SC can seem like a difficult task. When expecting a baby, searching for your child’s doctor should begin at approximately seven months into the pregnancy. Doing so at an early time gives parents a couple months to ensure they choose the right doctor to care for their newborn from the time of birth.
Get Recommendations
First, check with your health insurance plan to find out what limits there may be. If there is a newborn pediatrician in Summerville SC you are considering, check to see if they are a participating provider in your plan. After you know limits of your health plan, ask your obstetrician, doctor, family, and friends for recommendations. A list can also be obtained from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website for board-certified pediatricians. When certified by the AAP, a doctor has to have graduated from an accredited medical school, an accredited residency program must be completed, and pass the pediatric board exam.
Ask Questions
After obtaining a list of possible candidates, call to make an appointment with each pediatrician for an interview. Prior to an interview, make a list of questions you want to ask. Take notes about experiences you have at each consultation. Is the office staff friendly and accommodating? When talking to the doctor, do they seem to have an authenticity about liking their work with children? Does the doctor seem to have good communication? Are there separate waiting areas for sick and well children? What time of on-call policy do they have? Is there a doctor available for paging 24/7, if needed? These questions can help you decide which newborn pediatrician in Summerville SC you want as your child’s doctor.
Parenting Style
While at each consultation, you want to find out how your doctor feels on important issues. Do they match your parenting style? How does the pediatrician feel about breastfeeding or bottle feeding? What are their thoughts on circumcision? How about use a of antibiotics? Do they have a focus on preventative care, such as child safety and immunizations? You may not think these are issues to think about before birth, but this doctor is one your child will see for next several years making them significant.
Preparing and waiting for a new baby may seem overwhelming, but choosing a newborn pediatrician in Summerville SC now, can help put you at ease knowing your baby will be well taken care of.
For more information contact Palmetto Pediatrics, or call us today at 843-797-5600.
