Australia is only recently my home (5 years)...I'm hoping someone can give me the basics about doctors and the first few months/years with a new baby. I can tell you what I'm used to...
In the US, when you are pregnant, you need to pick a pediatrician. Some people rely on recommendations - others actually make appointments to "interview" the pediatrician. Once you select your pediatrician, while still pregnant, you make an appointment for the first post-birth check-up (your baby gets checked out in the hospital at birth as well...but this is how it works). Then after you have your baby, you go to your chosen pediatrician for all routine exams, check-ups, vaccinations etc. as well as any sick visits. Basically, I saw my hometown pediatrician until I left for college! (which is not that unusual)
How does it work here? are there options in terms of care like there are for birth?
Thanks
PS - moderators - if you think there's a better thread for this, please move.
as far as I know, your baby is checked out by a hospital paed, and then all later checkups are done by the family GP. Paediatricians are considered specialists; if there's a problem, the GP can then give you a referral to a paediatrician, as would happen with any other specialist.
ETA: I didn't mention MCHNs (maternal and child health nurses) You visit them at their clinic for the first year to have your baby weighed and to be told off for feeding too much/not enough/being on the wrong spot on the length/weightchart.
If you have an OB for your pregnancy, they usually have Paed's they use when you have your baby. You will only need to see the Paed with baby if there is some sort of concern. Here, we have Maternal Health Nurses who check out your babies and of course a GP if you have any additional concerns.
You will be given a Baby Health Book when your baby is born, and it will be initially filled in at the hospital. When you are ready to leave with your baby, the Hospital informs the local Maternal Health centre and then the Local Maternal Health centre will contact you when you get home to arrange and appointment. The first one is usually in your home then after that you visit the local Maternal Health Centre for checks, and you take you Baby Health Book with you so they can record weight, length and discussions such as development and concerns.
This is pretty much the same in the Public system I think..as in a Paed will visity your baby in hospital only.
As Audax has mentioned, we only use Paed's if we have a particular health concern as they are specialists and can take a long time to get into see one.
Alot of GP's quite often have areas that they are interested in or specialise in, and this can be Children's health, if they see something that needs to be seen by a specialist they will write you a referral to see one.
HTH
Just to see if i can help you at all i dont know how melbourne do it im pretty sure its the same as nsw or similar but when you book into the hospital where you have your baby they often ask you if your looking into shared care (which is then appointments between your local GP(if they do SC) and the hospital, having seeing a group of midwives which is normally a group that you will see when you attend and normally can be the same midwife throughout or even at the birth of your baby and there is other options depending on what your needs may be during your pregnancy... If doing shared care with you rGP make sure its one you know and trust and has your best interests at heart..
I dont know if that helped but i thought id say something that in regards to it... GL
Most MHCN's are good. It really just depends on your term of good as well. There have been many a thread started on here after seeing a MCHN and been given inconsistent information. If you get one you don't click with, ask for another one for the next appointment.
If you go to the same Maternal Health Centre you can see the same Maternal Health Nurse, you usually make your next appointment at the time, and can request to have the same one.
When you have your baby, your Child Health Record book has specific age's you see them. Initially it's Birth (in hospital) then 2, 4 and 8wk with the MCHN. Then it goes onto to months..so again 4 and 6-8mth and then 12mths and so on.
There are alot of different services you can use when you have a baby, so if you are having problems with breast feeding you can go to a Lactation Consultant. You can also talk to your MCHN about it too.
For all my kids I have used the MCHN system, it works well. You can take your baby to the GP as often as you need, mostly if you intend to immunise or have a particular health concern, you will go to your local GP for that.
As far as I am aware, the GP if general illness's and not used for your Child Health Record.
Alot of Maternal Health Centre's have scales set up outside of their consulting office, so you can turn up and weigh your baby anytime if you are concerned and do not want to see the MCHN.
I had an emergency c-section and it's a requirement that there be a paediatrician present in case the baby needs one. We also had to have a 6 week check up with the same paediatrician as a follow up which is standard. I think you can see a GP instead of a MHCN, but honestly the MHCNs see so many more babies that I feel perfectly happy trusting them. If I ever feel uncomfortable though I wouldn't hesitate to get reassurance from my GP.
Pediatrician for newborn - how does it work here?
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