The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says meet and greet meetings play an important role in helping kids get a healthy head start in life, whether you already have kids or not. Despite that, the AAP notes that only 5%-39% of expectant moms and dads have a prenatal visit with their future pediatrician, possibly because many parents don’t realize the benefits these visits offer.
The fact is, a prenatal meet and greet sets the stage for your child’s healthy life. To help you understand what to expect during your meet and greet visit, the team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists put together an overview of this important initial appointment.
At our practice, we begin your meet and greet with a quick tour of our offices so you can gain an understanding of the services we provide. That includes an overview of our in-house lab testing facilities, on-site prescription-filling services, and our same-day walk-in clinic.
You also learn about the care options we provide, like sick visits, sports physicals, and up-to-date immunizations. We’ll also review convenient options, like our Saturday appointments and telemedicine services that make it convenient to get the care your child needs to stay healthy.
We also ask you questions about your medical history and your pregnancy so far, as well as prior pregnancies you’ve had. You and your partner are encouraged to provide information about your family and home life, too. All of these questions help our team prepare for your child’s arrival and anticipate any unique health needs or challenges they may have.
We review initial screenings your newborn will have, including hearing tests and other screenings performed in the hospital soon after delivery. We also cover early immunizations and why they’re recommended and provide you with information about car seats and their proper installation in your vehicle.
We review some of the basics of newborn care — like feeding, bathing, and sleep schedules — especially for new parents who haven’t had the experience of caring for a newborn before. This part of your visit helps you feel more confident as you navigate parenthood for the first time.
We talk about whether or not your baby will breastfeed, and we can provide information about lactation support if needed. And, of course, we go over the recommended schedule of newborn and infant checkups and what they entail.
In addition, our team may review some of the challenges of being a new parent, including recognizing the signs of postpartum depression and what you and your partner can do to battle fatigue and remain supportive of each other (and of other family members, too). We can even provide information about where to seek outside help and support.
Next, it’s time for questions — and if you’re like most parents, you probably have a lot of them. Some ideas to get you started:
These are just some suggestions — you probably have plenty of your own questions. To make sure you remember to ask everything that’s on your mind, we recommend writing out a list before your visit. Of course, if you forget to ask something, we’re only a phone call away.
One more quick note: The prenatal meet and greet shouldn’t feel like a homework assignment. It’s a time to get to know the doctor who will be caring for your child and familiarize yourself with the office and the practice itself.
Remember: Your child will be visiting their pediatrician for the next 20 years or so. Making sure the doctor and practice are a good fit is an important part of providing the best possible care for your child.
Having a prenatal meet and greet visit with a member of our team is a great way to help your child get a good start in life. To schedule your prenatal visit, contact us at 702-457-5437 or book an appointment online with Nevada Pediatric Specialists today.
