What To Expect
It can be a chaotic and exciting time when you’re at the hospital. When you give birth to your little one, whether it’s a C-section or a natural delivery, there will be a pediatric provider that will assess the infant under the warmer as soon as he/she is born. The baby’s heart rate, breathing, and weight will be measured. Your baby will get an antibiotic ointment applied to their eyes to protect them from possible infections. The baby will also get two injections: Vitamin K to reduce the risk of bleeding from the birthing process and the first hepatitis B vaccine. The baby will be seen once a day by a pediatrician in the hospital and be ready to go home the same time mom leaves the hospital.
On the day of discharge, the baby will be checked for a bilirubin level (what causes jaundice) and a mandatory blood test called the newborn screen will be performed. The baby’s hearing and oxygen level will also be tested. This is the general flow of care so long as the baby is healthy and doing well. The baby will usually have their first pediatric office visit 3-5 days after coming home.
What To Expect In Different Growth Phases
Congratulations on the birth of your little one! Whether this is your first child or one of many, we are excited that you’ve chosen Blue Sky Pediatrics to be a part of your child’s care. As part of the baby’s first visit, we will need discharge papers provided by the hospital so we can review the hospital course for the infant. If there are any issues, it is our job to make sure that the baby gets the right treatment and follow up. This first visit will focus on weight, how the baby is feeding, and any questions or concerns you may have. If you are struggling with breastfeeding, Dr. Saya can also help coach you in the office or help you get connected with a lactation consultant. We know that you will have many questions about your newborn so don’t worry if you can’t remember them all. We have plenty of helpful resources on our resources page that will help guide you.
During the first year of life, we will closely monitor the growth of your baby and keep track of how your little ones are learning communication and movement skills. A good portion of our visits will focus on ensuring that infants are meeting their milestones and growing appropriately for their age. A bulk of their routine vaccines are also administered in the first year of life. You can check out our immunizations tab to learn more about the recommended vaccine schedule and clarification on common myths surrounding them.
Kids during their toddler years can be fun and challenging as they begin to develop more advanced communication and social skills, as well as discovering their likes and dislikes. We are here to give you guidance on many toddler milestones like toilet training, speaking sentences, picky eating, and more.
Kids in this age group don’t need as many vaccines now that they are older. We focus on appropriate development into the pre-teen years and address any issues like focusing at school, screen time, and screening for depression. We will continue to monitor their growth and development as part of their wellness exams and provide guidance on forming good habits in leading a healthy lifestyle.
Children in their teen years can become very private and take on more autonomy about their changing bodies and minds. We keep in mind that every child can be in different stages of maturity during adolescent years. We are happy to speak with them privately if there are any concerns, while maintaining appropriate parental involvement in their care to ensure a smooth transition into adulthood.