Paed visits???

Ok Julz, you got me.. doctors give me the creeps...
I should take Jude because he wasn't even born in hospital so has never really seen anyone. I would defnitely consider going if it isn't the 2 min thing I experienced at the Gp recently. Where he also said that the rash behind my baby's ear is nothing. (it looks like something?) Plus I especially hate spending so much money on auditioining someone.

In my opinion paeds are for when there is a problem. In countries like Canada, uk and most of europe it's health visitors and sisters that monitor for problems and even in the south African public sector people don't see paediatricians. In the us and in the sa private sector doctors earn money for your visits, so why not make them routine? If hip problems are suspected they should be picked up at birth. I took James to an audiologist to have his hearing screened at 6 weeks( this is done routinely at birth in the uk but not in sa). As long as you have a good clinic sister checking your lo out and referring you on for concerns if there are any.
The funny thing is most of the things people worry about missing would be picked up anyway if there was a problem if you are attentive enough as a parent(not walking, breathlessness, vomiting, not talking, not moving an arm, curled in toes, hairy mound on back, blue lips etc...)

I took my LG at 6 weeks, 6 months and must take her again at a year.

I do like the routine check-ups the Peads do, as they check stuff GP's and clinics don't always check.

Like the hips, the spine etc. And Mommy feels so good when the Pead says her little girl is perfectly healthy and happy.

And I do agree, they might pick up something before it becomes serious.

My Pead asks about R550 for a checkup, but twice a year is not too bad.

For colds etc, I take her to my GP. But that has only happended twice this year.

Memo I think it depends on your paed. Our paed is not forthcoming with general information as he seem to respect parents choices. If I ask his opinion he is helpful.

I like to know that my lo is on track and that the basics are covered. I think from my own experience with health and not following up on small issues which then become serious issues has made me more aware that prevention is better than cure.

i took my baby at 6weeks, 3months, 6months and now i have to go when she is a year- these times was recommended by her paed

We do go to the baby clinic for her injections- they also do an assessment there as well-

I would advise against taking your baby to any doctor without their being something wrong.
I think they interfere too much and you lose track of your own ways of doing things.

I have never taken my LO for a routine check up at a pead.

I do take her regularly to the clinic sister who does the developmental assesments. So far, my LO is very healthy and have never worried about her weight/health/development. However, should I start worrieng about something I wouldn't hesitate to go and see a Pead, but so far I don't think it was necesary.

She has had cold and baby measles so far, and our GP has been able to treat both sicknesses succesfully.

Hope this helps!

ps: O, I forgot, we did see a Pead when she was 10 days old, and didn't know what was normal and what not, and when she was hospitalised at 6 weeks with a high infection, but that was it.