Newborn Care
Happy Birthday to Our Newest Patients!
Welcoming new babies into the world is one of the most exciting parts of our job. We are delighted to support new parents (and new big brothers and sisters) after you bring your little bundle of joy home.
We recommend scheduling your baby's first clinic visit for the day after you are discharged from the hospital. If you have done a prenatal meet and greet appointment, you can simply send us a text when your baby arrives so we can coordinate the timing for your first visit. And if you haven't already registered with us, no problem! Just give our office a call to set up that first appointment.
Fourth Trimester Care
Dr. Brown, a mother of three herself, understands the challenges of taking care of a newborn and is available to support new parents by providing regular check-ins via text messaging as needed during the first couple months of their new baby's life (also known as the "fourth trimester"). We know the fourth trimester period is marked by significant biological, psychological, and social changes for babies AND moms, dads and other family members! These changes are exciting (and adorable) but can also be stressful. Our hope is that having direct access to Dr. Brown and our team will offer our families peace of mind knowing that you can ask all the questions you want!
When does my newborn have their first checkup?
Your new baby has their first checkup the day after coming home from the hopsital. During this newborn care visit, the pediatrician performs required newborn screening tests in the office so you don’t need to make a separate trip to the hospital for your baby’s testing.
Your newborn's checkup is a comprehensive exam to be sure they’re growing and developing normally. During the checkup, the pediatrician:
- Checks your baby’s weight, length, and head circumference
- Evaluates your baby’s feeding, bowel, and sleeping habits
- Does a physical examination, including an eye exam
- Performs a developmental evaluation
How frequently will my baby be rechecked after their first clinic visit?
The timing and frequency of follow-up clinic visits for your infant will depend on how your baby is feeding and growing and how they appear on exam. For example, a baby who is jaundiced (a common condition causing the skin to appear yellow) or having difficulty latching while breastfeeding may need to be rechecked several times in the first couple weeks of life. Each time you come into clinic, we will make a plan for when the next visit should be and schedule that visit before you leave.
Sometimes questions arise that do not require an in-person appointment, and we are happy to answer quick questions via text or hop on a telemedicine visit for concerns that require more discussion but not necessarily an in-person exam.
