[Risa]

So I have finally picked a pediatrician based on recommendations from friends. What do I do now? Do I just wait until I need to make the first baby appointment or should I call them ahead of time and tell them we will be using them? Their website doesn't have much info. I don't really care about meeting him before the baby comes, I just want to be in the system if I have to be. Any advice or previous experiences?

[AmyT]

I don't know if it works the same everywhere, but we didn't actually pick out our pediatrican until the day our DS was born. They asked us which ped we wanted, we told them and when that ped came to do rounds that morning we met him for the 1st time. With DD we had told the ped while I was pregnant, but nothing official with the office. When she was born we just listed him again. Unfortunately our ped just switched offices because he partially retired, so we decided to go with someone new this time (incase he decides to fully retire soon)...so I'm hoping it all goes as well as the last 2 time!

[smashley8]

I was wondering the same thing! My doctor's office asked me a week ago if I had picked my ped, and I said working on it... and they basically told me to have it picked by the time I come in next week. So I got the impression that there is something I need to be doing with the actual office before the baby comes. I'm going to call tomorrow!

[RunningMommyTo3]

It could be different where you are, but here, all the hospitals want to know who your ped will be before you deliver when they're setting up your preregistration stuff. The ped also needs to know beforehand. I would definitely call your ped and let them know when you're due, make sure they're accepting new patients, and ask them what the process is for newborns. Also, double check at your next appointment with your dr to see if the ped needs to be added to any of their paperwork or if the hospital needs to be notified beforehand. Your dr should know what the standard practice is for your area. My dr's office needs to know who the baby's ped will be after delivery, as well, for their records.

[3Sapphires]

I'd call now and tell them you are due to have a baby in september and hope to use them and want to make sure they are accepting new patients.

You won't need to make an appointment until baby is born, but that first appointment will be within a few days of discharge.

And it is perfectly ok if your pedi isn't part of the hospital you are delivering at, just use the on call doctor at the hospital - that is what I have always done.

Make sure you take the contact info and one of the doctors names with you to the hospital, you may need to fill something out about which doctor you are seeing.

[morethanamom4]

Our ped is affiliated with the hospital. Their offices are across the street from there actually. I'm going to call this week and let them know we're expecting an addition in a few weeks. But they'll be the on-calls anyway.

[nroundtr]

In our area, it's best to call the ped to make sure they're accepting patients and that the doc doesn't want to meet you first (apparently some peds in our area want to meet YOU before they bring your little one on as a patient). My OB also wants to know who we'll have for his records and our hospital wants us to have a ped picked before discharge since you have to go see them so soon after.

[amazing_love]

With DS I interviewed a few and once i picked one i called to inform them but they didn't have me do anything special, just told me to let them know once baby was here. This time i plan to use the same doctor DS sees but i need to call and see when he'll want to see her for the first time since i'm going to a birthing center and not sure if that changes anything.

[mommysoon]

With DD2 (we had moved and had to switch peds), my older daughter was already seeing the dr we wanted to use. They had me fill out a form ahead of time giving them my approx. due date and a few other things. I think I also had to sign something (with either DD1 or DD2- can't remember) that said I understood that the practice could drop us as patients if we did not vaccinate.
I was just in a week or two ago and asked them if I needed to fill anything out and they said no, so they must have changed their requirements.