The first consultation with the pediatrician is a unique moment in the life of the baby and also of the parents. Due to the great importance for both the health of the child and the mother, the visit to the pediatrician cannot take long and should occur, at most, within ten days after delivery.
Being of great expectation, the tip is to prepare for the meeting with the doctor, taking the opportunity to ask questions and reassure the interaction with the newborn. As the routine changes in every way, the professional will be able to clarify everyday situations, contributing with tips and guidelines that will be extremely important.
In order to assist you in that first consultation with the pediatrician, we prepared this post in the form of a true guide, bringing 6 questions and their respective answers that will be essential for moms. However, first, it is necessary to get organized so as not to waste time in front of the doctor. Check out!
Prepare for consultation
The first tip is essential: every mother should prepare for the first appointment with the pediatrician. Therefore, write down the day-to-day situations and put your doubts, and findings that deserve a professional explanation, on paper or in your cell phone agenda.
Talk to other mothers and ask for tips so that you can enjoy the moment with the doctor with quality. However, the main thing is to keep an eye on your baby’s reactions in the first days of life, if he is breastfeeding correctly, if he had any allergies, if he coughed. Anyway, it is necessary to have a very analytical look to clarify all situations with the specialized professional.
However, many mothers are unsure of what questions to ask the doctor at such an important time. Therefore, we selected 6 for you to be more relaxed. Let’s go to them!
1. What vaccines will my baby need? And what are they for?
This is a common question among almost all mothers. Despite being a real concern, all Brazilian children are already immunized shortly after birth, due to a determination by the Ministry of Health.
Even in the maternity ward, in the first hours of life, the baby is vaccinated against hepatitis B and tuberculosis (BCG). The others are part of the national immunization calendar and can be clarified during your consultation with the pediatrician.
2. How is the navel fall process? What should I do before and after falling?
Dropping the navel is a natural process in the baby’s life. It usually happens between the seventh or fifteenth day after birth, that is, precisely in the period before your first consultation with the pediatrician.
For you to act correctly, the tip is to clean the place with mild soap and water. Hygiene is important to prevent infections. Also, be aware that the navel can have secretions and even bleeding both before falling and up to 10 days after the fall. It is a subject that cannot escape your checklist!
3. What should be the correct bath temperature?
Bathing is always an issue that brings doubts to first-time moms . Basically, babies should take up to two baths a day. That’s because, one is to clean the skin and the other with the aim of refreshing it.
It is important to follow this rule, as many baths contribute to the dryness of the newborn’s skin, which can lead to complications. At that time, another question arises: what should be the correct water temperature?
To know the ideal temperature, a teaching passed down from generation to generation is very valid. It is a great teaching from grandmothers, do you know which one? Place the inside of your elbow in the water and see if the temperature is comfortable. Use mild soap and be quick to prevent the baby from feeling cold. Of course, take the time to further strengthen your emotional ties!
4. Can baby travel by plane?
Many mothers have this doubt because of the extreme care for newborns and also fed by fear of displacement. However, the answer is yes, as long as some precautions are considered.
Among them, we can mention that the trip can only happen after the seventh day of life, but the ideal is that the trip happens after two months, during which all vaccines will have been applied. The trip must have preferential service, with a pressurized cabin, individual seats in the first row and a seat belt positioned behind.
Do not accept sedatives and know that the child may cry due to the closing of the channel between the middle ear and the throat. Therefore, the best thing is to avoid a plane trip in your child’s first months, being carried out only in cases of extreme urgency.
5. How can I tell if the weight is adequate?
The baby’s weight is a concern that accompanies the mothers’ daily lives, especially when they are the first child. After all, health is always a priority. Therefore, it is worthwhile to include the topic in your list of questions in consultation with the pediatrician.
In general, it is an appropriate and even mandatory questioning. In fact, good doctors weigh and assess the height of the newborn. It is a constant watch.
So, always keep an eye on your baby’s development and communicate the evolution to the pediatrician so that he / she will receive the correct guidelines.
6. When will the teeth begin to appear?
That mom doesn’t want to know when the first tooth will be born? The expectation is great and generates some anxiety, but know that the appearance varies from baby to baby.
Generally, the first teeth arrive at six months, but can take up to a year. Complete dentition should be expected until the age of three.
As you can see, there are countless questions to be asked when consulting a pediatrician. Once again, we strengthen the most important guidance: observe your baby’s behavior and take personal questions without fear. So, the development will be healthy and with lots of love!
