will they not let you take your baby home...

[tfernandez]

If you don't have a your own pediatrician come in and give the baby a check up first? I had never heard of this until recently, i feel kind of dumb for asking but is that really what hospitals do? The person who told me this has no children but is pregnant and was saying she just got her pediatrician so now she's not worried about not being able to take the baby home. I dont know if it would be different for different states, but do they really do that in california? Im just wondering because i figured you need a pediatrician obviously but she said you need to have them physically come in before you can take your baby home and i always thought the hospital staff would be the ones to judge if it was healthy enough or not....?

[tfernandez]

Well we're moving next month and I will be having the baby and lviing in that city so once we move i'll be able to choose a hospital to deliver at and find out all the answers i want to know about this stuff. Ughh I also have to choose a new o/b and all that stuff...

[kimber2442]

I live in Missouri and with my first baby I did not have a pediatrician. While at the hospital there were a couple of pediatricians that went around to check the babies and then they talked to the parents. After you were released you could chose to keep that pediatrician or find another one.

[mel1553]

yeah I did this for the first month or so..but I also had to take him to the hospital 2 check his levels every couple of days and I then started taking him to a pediatrician. That's what they advised me to do when he was born. I guess it pry just depends where you live and the situation and maybe times have changed!

[Hope2OneDay]

Our hospital form had a line to fill in with our Pediatrician info on it. I decided on a ped before going to the hospital because they told me in advance that there would be doctors available from different pediatric groups after I gave birth (actually, they show up early in the morning and are there during the day).
Our pediatric office has 3 doctors who rotate days at the hospital to check out babies and do circumcisions, etc...

I don't think you have to have one in mind, but it is probably a good idea to choose one before giving birth. Some ped. offices have set times where you can come in and tour their facility, meet some of the dr's/nurses, and ask questions (such as "will you alter the vaccine schedule from the one suggested by the government?" Some dr's will not alter the vaccine schedule and some do, so if this is a concern, you need to know in advance).

I'd look up peds in area and ask around for suggestions on where to go, then see if they offer a tour. Again, I don't know what regulations your state has as far as peds seeing a baby before it leaves the hospital, but it would be wise to do so early. You don't want to have to worry about finding one right after you have the baby. Having one already picked will help in making those initial appts in the first weeks following the birth. At least it did in our case.

Oh well, I'm just rambling. Good luck! :-)

[mel1553]

what?!? I've never heard of this unless ur baby is in intensive care. My son was jaundice and I had to record what time feedings were, when pee and poo and the color of them and hook him up to a belly ultra violet light all while I was only 17yrs old and they let us both go home 2gether the next day.

[jdamico]

from when i had my two children u have to have one in mind  while u are in the hospital so u can book a  app  for about a week after the baby is  born  but u  dont need one  written  down in stone to leave the hospital . That is  also  something the OB ask me on my  frist  appt. and if i didnt have one then  they would help me  find a  good one.  that is what i  did but they will have  the doc on call inthe nursery  check them out  before u leave with the baby and iam in  Mass.

[Lance06]

This is not true in New York, of course, they want you to follow up with a pediatrician within a couple days of bringing the baby home, but in no means do you have to have your doctor come and check the baby to give the hospital the okay so the baby can come home.

[New Mommy 2 Be 2007]

yes it is true if u dont have one they wont let u u have to give them ur doctor name and ur appt so they know im in chicago

[layona]

when i had my 1st child i did not a dr. in mind. the hospital's pediatricians tested him. we live in michigan, i dont know if california is diffrent

[tfernandez]

Thanks, and thats exactly what i thought but the girl i was talking to seemed so sure of herself in that it was required. I always figured of course they check the baby but you do not need your own personally appointed person to come in and clear the baby, it just didnt sound right to me.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

I do know they want to clear the baby before they let it go home.  

However, I am sure that the hospital has it's own associated pediatricians/qualified staff who would clear the baby before it goes home.  

Would not be practical for each woman to have to have her own personal pediatrician before she gives birth and then to wait for him/her to come in before mum and baby is released.....