My advice?
It is only common sense to have a pediatrician for your child. You can choose one so get one. I don’t understand what the big deal is. The pediatrician is the one who will make sure your child is growing all right. Hop to it.
My advice?
Look up “midwife” in the phone book. Have the birth at home.
Congratulations on the upcoming arrival of your little one! You stated you have other kids... do they have a pediatrician? In our area, pediatrician may not be taking new clients but most of them take new siblings. There is going to be a lot of stress, joy, etc.. in a few weeks. Find the name of a pediatrician. If you don’t have one, find a neighbor, church pal or someone to refer you. Most pediatricians come to the hospital to check the baby. People assume the OB/GYN does but that isn’t their specialty. It’s Monday.. so you can do this during this week. Good luck and God Bless!
The hospital will call the pediatrician when the baby is born and at that time he or she becomes the baby’s physician. The hospital is trying to protect itself from a lawsuit should something go wrong with the baby, as well as protecting the baby.
If you have other children, don’t you have a family doctor? I don’t understand why you would object to providing the hospital with your doctor’s name.
Ask your family physician if he/she takes children. Then name that person as the child’s doctor.
Ask the OBGYN for a good pediatrician referral.
They’re going to want you to have a car seat, too.
Is there some reason why you won’t have a pediatrician for your infant?
Did I read this correctly that you have other children? Who’s their pediatrician? Wouldn’t the your new baby be going to the same pediatrician? Why not give that name? My children’s pediatricians’ office always had one of their doctors stop by the hospital the morning after the birth to talk to the mom and check out the health of the new born. They also scheduled the 2 week appointment, which is important in case parents miss anything that the doctors might notice at two weeks, like mild case of jaundice for example.
What's the big deal?
If you don't take you kid there ever....
You haven’t replied to any of the Graf advice you have been given, but I ccant get passed your mention of “other children.” Don’t those kids have a pediatrician? Why not just use the same doctor/practice?
Second...this really is nothing to be upset about. Your new baby needs medical attention and being prepared (w/a pediatrician lined up) is just a part of “getting ready” for your new arrival. Enjoy this special time...little ones don’t stay little for very long:)
If it’s not law I’d say press the issue, but then it’s up to you whether you want to play with Child Protective Services who kind of make up things as they go where no law is in place.
I’m confident that the answer is this:
- The hospital wants you - for the good of your child - to have a pediatrician to whom they can send any test results that come in after the baby is gone.
- The hospital cannot keep your otherwise healthy baby from leaving the hospital whenever you choose to take her/him. However, they have a legitimate interest in having the baby seen by a pediatrician in the hospital before you leave. But they cannot keep you from leaving; they can’t “kidnap” your baby just because there is no pediatrician on-tap post-discharge.
It is no more complicated than this. There is either a misunderstanding here, or someone is blowing smoke. Regardless, nobody can or will stop determined parents from leaving with their baby.
We had to do this nearly 2 decades ago.
Our Pediatrician did not have “rights” at the particular hospital where our OB/GYN delivered. We had to agree to a pediatrician at the hospital to check the baby prior to release.
It is a liability of the hospital to be able to say all was well and good when the baby left us.
You can blame lawyers, but it really is not a bad idea. If you don’t want a doctor to see your child, why are you delivering at a hospital?
This is normal.
First, choosing a pediatrician should as much a part of the prenatal process as choosing a obstetrician and a delivery hosptial.
Second, the baby will be seen by a pediatrician shortly after birth. This could be the selected pediatrician (if he or she has hospital privileges there. Otherwise, a hospitalist pediatrician on staff or contract to the hospital.
Third, the baby’s medical records need to be sent to the family’s pediatrician, in case a medical issue comes up shortly after discharge from the hospital.
Fourth, there can be a number of medical issues with babies the first few weeks after birth. You don’t take the baby back to the OB ward, and the hospital does not want every parent taking their baby to the emergency room for non-emergency care.
Fifth, the first Well Baby visit with the pediatrician is one month after birth. You need to already have a pediatrician lined up for the medical records and to get on the schedule as soon as possible.