Finding the perfect pediatrician for you and your child can be a long and difficult process. You can start your search by looking up ‘pediatrician Beverly, MA’, or a similar phrase relevant to your location, to find a list of pediatricians nearby. Once you narrow it down to a few options of providers, we recommend scheduling your initial consultation. These visits are a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have, get a feel for how they run their practice, and decide what pediatrician is the best fit for you. Read on to learn about the 5 things you can do to help you prepare for this initial appointment with your pediatrician.
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Bring any Health Information
One of the worst things when attending an appointment can be forgetting to bring something they need from you. Especially at first appointments, when they likely need your insurance card from you and a list of current medications, as well as your medical history. When you are setting up the appointment over the phone, make sure to ask if there is anything you need to bring with you so you can have everything packed and ready to go.
Figure Out What You Are Looking For
Before you attend your first visit, you should decide exactly what services you’d like your pediatrician to provide. Pediatricians offer many different services from each other, and it’s important to know what kind of services to prioritize in your search. For example, if it will be your first time breastfeeding, it can be very beneficial for the pediatrician to have a lactation consultant on staff. This way, they have someone trained to help inform you before the baby is born and support you during the entire breastfeeding process.
Write Down any Questions
Your initial consultations with these pediatricians are basically an interview to see who you want to ‘hire’ as your doctor. You want to be as thorough with these questions as possible, so there are no surprises during future visits. Your pediatrician is someone who you will hopefully be able to see for many years to come, so make sure to ask questions that not only pertain to you but also to your child. Asking them about their background and their stance on medical opinions can give you a good idea if you want them as your child’s pediatrician.
Bring Someone with You
If at all possible, bringing your partner or a friend to these initial visits can make them easier. When you are pregnant and have so much going on, these appointments can be hard to sit through, making sure everything is addressed. Bringing someone with you reduces the chance that you forget to ask something, as well as give another perspective on the office. If there is someone who will be bringing your child with you or instead of you to appointments, it can be helpful to give them a say in the pediatrician you are choosing as well.
Give Yourself Time After to Reflect
If you are seeing many pediatricians, to help you pick the right one, make sure to schedule time after to reflect on your appointment. Seeing different pediatricians one after another can blur them together and cause you to forget what you went over with each one. You can write down any extra notes and answers to questions that you didn’t get a chance to write down during the appointment during this time as well.
Coming prepared for these appointments allows you to get the most out of them and get as much information as possible to make your final decision. Picking a pediatrician can be a difficult process, so we hope this list makes this time a little easier for you and helps you find the perfect pediatrician for you and your child.
