Are you supposed to go to a paediatrician after they're born??

I feel a bit stupid posting this given that I am about to have my second baby...but I've heard a couple of people talk about the 6 week paediatrician check up. I never did this...are you supposed to?

A paed came to see DS when we were still in hospital. I didn't like the paed much, he didn't explain anything about what he was doing when checking DS, in fact I didn't really fully understand why he was there (well, I knew...DS had lost 10% of his bodyweight and my milk hadn't come in, but the hospital was classing me as Day 3 although DS was born close to midnight so was actually only 2 days old, not 3). But it seemed perfectly obvious to me that I just needed to wait a bit longer for my milk and the paed said the same thing and I wasn't impressed...I was all "well, duh, of course." So I paid his huge bill and thought that was that.

I remember my OB asked me at my 6 week check if I'd been back to see the paed and I just said "No!" in a "what for?" tone of voice and that was that. Is that what you are supposed to do???

i think the paed thing is more a private hospital thing! we saw one before we were discharged, but just saw my GP for our 6 week check up!

I just go and see my gp, and I went when they were 8 weeks old, that way I'd get a check up, and they'd have their jabs at the same time.

*looks around* You're supposed to see a paedatrician? I thought thats what the GP/child health nurses were for... *scratches head*

I was under the impressions that unless you needed to see them for something specific, paedatricians aren't really necessary...? We saw a paed before we left hospital, for the pre-discharge thing, and the midwife just told me to go see the GP or CHN for her check ups. I did go public though, which may make a difference. :dunno:

We're only seeing one coz of DD being prem. But even then we could probably just go to the GP coz she's had no problems LOL.

Yeah I think its more common with private hospitals. When we had DS we went, mainly because of a lump he had under his chin (turned out to be a torn muscle from the forceps).

We didn't take DD because we had already paid the paed over $500 -for being at the birth because of problems with the cord and placenta - and for checking her out for jaundice before we left.

We just took her to the health nurse and the GP (they are in the same clinic)

It's weird - I've never received a bill from a paed for either baby relating to seeing them in the hospital (private hossy). I've only ever paid for the follow up visits.

Liz - you were lucky then!!! We didn't realise that we would get charged when DS got checked out in hospital - they just said, would you like the paed to come in and check him over before taking him home - and we're like. ... oh ok, part of hospital service, must be free - SURE..

PFfft.. nope. not free... $150 for just 5 minutes check over ... now who earns the big bucks.. :rolleyes:

We didnt see one either at the 6wks.

And I agree wit the fees! DD, had jaundice and when in hospital we got charged 4 days of when the paed visited her when she was under the light and for a quick check up before checking out.

I too thought it was part of the hospital service until we got sent a bill.

I think though, i claimed most back on medicare and our private health insurance.

BTW, we would have paid for the checkup regardless.

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Liz - you were lucky then!!! We didn't realise that we would get charged when DS got checked out in hospital - they just said, would you like the paed to come in and check him over before taking him home - and we're like. ... oh ok, part of hospital service, must be free - SURE..

PFfft.. nope. not free... $150 for just 5 minutes check over ... now who earns the big bucks.. :rolleyes:

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Our paed was 2 states away waiting for his plane, when our DS was born. the only paed in town was the public one (once a private practice paed) who they called in and he charged us $280 THEN when our paed arrived back in town, he checked DS as well which was another $180 i think? Add a couple of visits over the course of our hospital stay plus a circ and follow up appointment at 2weeks and 7 weeks and well... he made a nice pay that week lol

With DD we went public, and just saw our GP for her 6 week check up.

Nic

No there's absolutely no need to see one unless there is a health issue with the baby at the time of discharge from hospital.

My son was in special care for 5 days with an infection, jaundice that required phototherapy for 48 hours, had isolette care, had respiratory distress syndrome at birth, attachment and feeding difficulties & saw a number of paeds while in hossy yet as he was well on discharge we were told to see a GP as a paed was not necesary.

Gotta love the public hospital system. We didn't get charged a cent.