Paediatrician?

I've just realised that I have no idea whether I should be looking for a paediatrician before bub's arrives, or if it's something you do later?

We've just moved into a new area and I don't know any of the doctors in this area yet. Should I be making an appointment with a doctor just to meet them to see if I'm comfortable with them or something like that? I really have no idea. I'm always terrible when it comes to seeing new doctors. I've never found one that's as good as my family doctor from when I was a kid, but he's on the verge of retiring, plus he's over and hour away now.

I really want to find a good doctor that listens to my thoughts and concerns. I'm worried that if I bring up vaccinations and controversial things like that, that any new doctor might just place me in the "nutcase" pile and not take me seriously... I don't want to be coddled, I just want to be given scientific facts and real information about the things that concern me.

I didn't organise a paed. for my little girl Sarah when she was born. I was just allocated one at the hospital who turned out to be pretty good. I was at Coffs Harbour Public Hospital though so not sure what the procedure is in other hospitals.

I have some friends who have gone out and found specific ones but I have had no issues with Sarah that my GP (who I trust) cannot deal with and am sure she would refer me to a suitable specialist if I needed one.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Cheers
Renate

I've never gone to a specific peadiatrician, just my GP who has plenty of kid experience. I figure if I needed anything more, he would refer me on to a paed.

As far as finding a GP, I guess I would call a few local medical centers and ask if they have a doctor who deals mainly with children and whether you can come in to meet them. There are actually some good lists out there of things to ask the GP at that meeting- I remember googling it before Peter was born and finding some good questions. I never actually did it, I just happened to totally luck out with the first GP I saw after Peter was born, but I don't think its an uncommon thing to go and interview doctors.

I have been allocated a paediatrician at the hospital for both my sons. The only thing I ever went to see them for was the 6 week check up, after that it has always been the GP. You need a referral to see a paeditrician anyway, so maybe ask your caregivers for some suggestions if you would like to do some research first.

I have never taken any of my kids to a paed before. Just to my local GP or MCHN for their routine checkups.

I took DS to our GP last week who referred him onto a paed. I called the paeds office to organise an appt and the earliest appt i could get in berwick (close to where i live) was in September! The lady asked if i could drive out to Pakenham (which i agreed to) and the earlist one in Pakenham was on the 30th of June!

I was gob smacked.

The other girls are right. You always start off with your GP first - if there are any health problems that you need a paediatrician for, then your GP will refer you to a paediatrician for those specific problems. You don't go to a paediatrician for general things.

You are better off shopping for a really good GP that is good with children. Ask around, and get recommendations - it can be difficult, because often the best GPs are booked out and aren't taking new patients. Sometimes you can get them to take you if you mention you have been recommended by other people in the practice. Something else to check for - does the GP you are considering have some "emergency appointments" cleared each morning so you can be seen on the same day if you ring early enough? Or do they have a policy where they will see children on the same day? One or both of those is really important for a child-friendly GP.

Good luck!