Stupid question re pediatrician

Once you pick a pediatrician, do you know just call and say you'd like to sign your child up? Do you wait until the baby is born to call? How does that work? I don't plan to interview the one I want b/c of the numerous recommendations on here (Seaford Pediatrics) - and I feel like I won't be able to truly judge if I like the MD until I see them interact with my child.

Message edited 1/16/2008 5:06:10 PM.

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

well, a ped will need to see the baby in the hospital after its born.....so for me, I wanted to pick someone that i knew was affiliated with the hospital----and the hospital will call them. if you don't have one picked, usually your ob will rec someone or i guess the ped who is on call perhaps?? also, as a note, from what i understand a lot of times the ped will see the baby when they are in the nursery and then come talk to you, you may have to request the ped examine the baby in the room (atleast thats what someone told me in my labor&delivery class). i hope that makes sense

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

Oh, I'm a dummy - I didn't realize all this. I did pick a ped that's affliated with Winthrop, so I guess I'll call them and find out what to do next. Thanks!

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

This is NOT a stupid question at all. Glad you asked. I am clueless.

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

When I visited my ped they said there was no need to "tell them" you're using them, just list them as the ped at the hospital when you deliver and the hospital does the rest!!!

Good Luck mommies-to-be!!!!!!!!

ETA-not a stupid question, how do you think I found out?!?!!?

Message edited 1/16/2008 5:50:55 PM.

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

I too will probably use Seaford Pediatrics. I plan on calling next month to let them know. I am delivering at Winthrop as well..

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

i had this same question. i was especially wondering, since physicians book up so quickly, how you make the one week appointment not knowing when the baby is going to be born exactly!

i got a recommendation from a family friend who is the head of peds at montefiore and called her office. the secretary told me to call when the baby was born to make the appointment. if i don't like the way the doctor interacts with the baby, i just won't go back to her for the next appointment; i'll find someone else.

eta: at the hospital, i'll just use who's on call

Message edited 1/16/2008 7:50:09 PM.

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

I never even "picked" a pediatrician. I got to the hospital for my c-section, and the nurse asked me, and my answer was "whoever is on call that takes my insurance". The nurse took my insurance card, talked to my OB, and together they picked my pediatrician.

I must say, they did a good job, b/c DH & I are considering keeping her even though she is 40 minutes away.

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

All of my kids (3) will have the same Ped. With my DD, my first the OB practice (Prohealth) has a Pediatrician dept. So I met them, when I had her, the Ped. Dr. Lange came to the hospital to check her out and what not. She was out of town for my DS (#2) but I knew all the of the drs. at the practice so another one, Dr. Yan came and checked on him and his circumsicion (sp?). With this one Dr. Lange will be his Dr. as well. You just list them if you know who you want and they will come and see you and the baby in the hospital.

Message edited 1/16/2008 9:29:54 PM.

Re: Stupid question re pediatrician

I'm so glad you asked this... I had no idea how to go about this.