Your Pregnancy: Week 29 for Mom
By: ePregnancy
Starting this week, your Ob/Gyn will probably want to see you every two weeks to monitor your condition. One thing he’ll be looking for is signs of preeclampsia, signaled by high blood pressure and a high protein level in your urine. Preeclampsia can prevent the placenta from receiving its proper share of blood, as well as being one of the leading causes of premature births. If you find yourself experiencing blurred vision, excessive vomiting (far beyond morning sickness) or severe headaches, get thee to your doctor post haste!
It might seem early -- after all, you don’t even have the baby yet -- but Mom, it’s time to find a pediatrician. Because you don’t want to just be stuck with the "first available" after the birth of your babe, it’s good to have someone lined up. This way, you have a go-to doctor who you trust and like the very first time you experience the woes of colic.
Wondering how to pick the right pediatrician? Dr. Sears recommends following the three A's:
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Is the doctor available? Find out if the doctor is accepting new patients. You should also ask about after-hours and emergency calls: who answers the call and what advice is typically given? Does the doctor have a university affiliation or hospital privilges? Determine if the office hours and location meet your needs.
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Is the doctor affordable? Find out if the office accepts your insurance plan, and what co-pays are likely to be.
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Is the doctor able? Get referrals galore; find out what other parents think of this doctor and even request an interview with her to get a feel for her style and manner. Check her credentials: she should have completed medical school and at least three years of residency in pediatrics or family medicine. Ideally, she will also be board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics or American Board of Family Medicine. She gets extra points if she's also a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice or the American Academy of Pediatrics. Both of these organizations do a fabulous job of providing continuing education and support materials to their members.
Once you have a short list of possible pediatricians, schedule an office visit and interview. Here are a few bits of information you should find out at the visit:
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Do you and your doctor agree on certain aspects of parenting?
If you are a staunch attachment parenting advocate and your doctor is in the opposite corner, there may be problems. The same goes for breastfeeding vs. bottlefeeding.
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Tour the office.
Is the waiting room child-friendly, while safe and secure? Is the staff approachable? How does the office handle children with contagious illnesses, such as chicken pox or the flu?
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Find out all the practical information:
How emergencies are handled, what insurance plans are accepted, credentials of all staff, wait times and so on.