|
|
|
|
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that newborn infants see a physician for a check-up at birth, two weeks, two months, four months, six months, nine months, twelve months, fifteen months, eighteen months and twenty-four months, and annually thereafter. Most doctors follow some version of this schedule for well-baby visits. That means you are going to be spending a lot of time talking with your baby’s doctor. You and your pediatrician are a team and you are the essential link between your child and his doctor. Nobody knows your child better than you. Therefore, it is critically important that you do a good job, not only communicating what you have observed in caring for your child, but also in helping the doctor interpret your baby’s symptoms and feelings. Your doctor or other medical care provider will ask you many questions about your baby’s health and habits. But parents also have questions, some of which may seem silly or embarrassing. “When I first meet with families,” says Alan Greene, MD, author of Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care (Jossey-Bass), “I tell them there’s no such thing as a bad or a dumb question – let’s talk about whatever is on your mind.” Try not to guess what the doctor is thinking by the questions he or she asks, or the expression on his face. If you have a concern, ask. Don’t beat around the bush, just state your question as simply and clearly as possible. If you don’t understand the answer, keep asking until you get a clear answer. The medical history provides key information about your child’s health. Your ability to give a concise, organized description of your baby’s medical history is critical. The doctor may want more background information about your family health history. If only one parent is present at the appointment, that parent should be knowledgeable or prepared with information concerning the other parent’s medical history, if possible. Many parents are nervous and distracted, causing them to include irrelevant details and fail to mention very real fears and problems. This can lead your doctor down false paths and delay proper treatment for your child. Especially if your child is sick, try talking to the doctor as if you were telling a story. Your medical care provider may ask a question such as, “what brings you here today,” or “what is the problem?” In other words, what is the primary complaint, or symptom that caused you to bring the baby in? If there is more than one problem, state the main two or three concerns, because they may be linked. Next the doctor may want to hear the story behind the primary complaint. She might ask, “When did this problem begin,” or “how long has this been going on?” If possible, be prepared with an answer to this question. Once you have, to the best of your ability, defined the starting point for the problem, the doctor may want to establish a sequence of events. Try to avoid irrelevant information, such as what you were watching on television that night. When answering questions, be as specific and as factual as possible. After all, what you really want is for the doctor to make decisions and prescribe medications based on her best judgment for the health of your child. If you are exhausted or distracted, try to come prepared with notes. These might include information such as, when did the vomiting begin? When did the baby’s temperature go up and to what degree? If you are concerned about something, be sure to bring it up even if the doctor does not ask about it. Tell the doctor what you did to treat the symptoms. Be sure to state what worked and what didn’t. Come prepared, but don’t overwhelm the doctor with copies of articles printed off the internet or ask him to evaluate every health resource you have seen. Try to be focused. If you have concerns about your child’s health, try to leave other children with a child care provider to allow you to pay close attention during the visit. If possible, schedule the appointment at a good time of day for your baby. If your spouse or another person routinely provides child care, check with that person and get a list of questions. Dress the baby in an outfit that is easy to remove. Follow up. Before leaving the doctor’s office, make sure you understand what follow-up appointments, lab tests or other appointments your child needs. Take notes about care instructions and if you don’t understand something, ask. Today’s doctors are under pressure to see more patients in less time and spend less time with each patient. The whole system is more complex than it used to be. So it is more important than ever that you take charge of your child’s care. The key to a good relationship with your child’s pediatrician is good communication and reasonable expectations. And good communication is a two way street.
|
Communicating with Your Pediatrician