Newborn first doctor appointment how to#

When your baby can’t yet express in words when they’re full, it’s natural to have questions around how to tell if they’ve eaten enough. What’s a normal amount for my newborn to eat? Your newborn has gone through a major transition and brief periods of wakefulness to feed and look around a bit may be all they can handle before they are ready for another nap. You can expect your baby to sleep anywhere between 14 and 17 hours a day ! That can be surprising to first-time parents, but rest assured that much sleep (and sometimes even more) is normal.

Here are a few common questions that are applicable to every baby: 1. It is hard to remember everything you will want to address at your appointment, especially if you’re a bit sleep deprived, so try to write down your questions as you think of them in preparation of your newborn’s first pediatrician appointment. Remember, there is no such thing as a silly question. Whether this is your first child or not, the early days come with lots of questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all babies receive the Hepatitis B vaccine, ideally within the first 24 hours of their life.Ĭommon questions parents have at their newborn’s first doctor appointment At each check up visit your baby will have their measurements taken: head circumference, weight, and length/height will be checked to ensure they are growing consistently and appropriately. It is possible to fail an initial hearing screen despite your newborn’s ability to hear, so referrals will be made for a repeat test within the first couple of weeks of your baby’s life. It is recommended that all newborns are screened. Hospitals typically use one or the other. There are two types of tests that assess a newborn’s hearing–the Auditory Brainstorm Response (ABR) and the Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) exams.

Hearing screen: Prior to discharge from the hospital, a hearing test will be done.

Newborn first doctor appointment skin#

Your baby’s pediatrician will assess their reflexes and tone, examine their eyes, ears, scalp, heart, lung, abdomen and musculoskeletal system, as well as their skin for jaundice and rashes (many of which are normal). Here is some of what these initial visits cover: Newborns should be seen by their outpatient pediatrician two to three days after discharge. Healthy newborns who are delivered in a hospital are typically discharged after 24-72 hours depending on delivery type and medical indication. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that newborns are examined by a pediatrician within the first 24 hours of life. What do newborn care appointments address? The following questions can help guide your conversation with your baby’s pediatrician during their first weeks of life. Naturally, this new and exciting responsibility will lead to lots of questions about what is normal and what may need a little extra attention.

There is a lot to learn in those first few days and weeks: your baby’s energy, their feeding needs and patterns, and their evolving sleep “schedule” are just a few of the things you will begin to understand. Your bundle of joy’s grand entrance into the world is quickly followed by an appointment with their pediatrician.