Pediatrician

I am due in two weeks. One of the things on Good Sam's reminder list is the name of the pediatrician. Do you have any recommendations? How necessary is it to have a pediatrician before my baby is born? Thanks!

Pediatrician

I went by recommendations and when I went to the hospital, they asked who the pediatrician was and I gave their name. I never contacted them beforehand. They sent someone to check DD in the hospital and then I called them to make her first appointment. Easy peasy.

If you don't have one, they'll just send the on call ped to your room to check the baby out in the hospital.

Pediatrician

I went by a recommendation also. I called the office to see if I needed to do anything before the baby was born. They told me no just give the doctor's name at the hospital and she'll come and check the baby then make the first appointment when I know I'm being discharged. She said I only needed to meet the doctor before if I wanted to but it wasn't necessary.

Pediatrician

My nephew is 4 years older than my son, and my brother and SIL loved his pediatrician, so it made it easy for us to choose before delivering.

Pediatrician

Doesn't matter, but if your pediatrician isn't affiliated with the hospital, they'll want to see the baby within 1-2 days of being discharged. I delivered in Winthrop and my pediatrician is in West Islip so obviously they weren't going all the way out there but I was discharged Saturday and they wanted to see her first thing Monday morning.

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You need an appointment upon leaving the hospital & it's easier to look for one early.

We found ours by local references.

Pediatrician

I would try and have one picked out before the baby comes, it'll be one less thing to have to worry about once baby is here. You will also have to follow up with your ped soon after discharge so it would be easier to have one lined up already.
Mine was recommended to me by my Lamaze class instructor. Your OB may also be able to recommend one if no one else has a recommendation for you. A lot of people like to interview pediatricians prior to choosing, just to get an idea of what the office/dr is like.

I don't know where you are located but I love my pediatrician, Dr. Elissa Rubin of Happy and Healthy Pediatrics. She's in Mineola.

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My SIL loves their pediatrician for my niece and nephews so I gave his name. He came to see my twins in the hospital which was nice to have him meet the babies before their first appt.

Re: Pediatrician

I think it's helpful to have pediatrician chosen beforehand, only because I think it's easier to deal with that before baby arrives. However, I really don't think it's necessary. I did have a ped chosen when DD was born, but he was in my hometown and I delivered at a hospital 45 min away (because that's where my OB was). So even with having a pediatrician chosen, I still just had the on-call ped at the hospital come to see her after she was born and worked out fine. I can say though that it's definitely not fun hunting down a pediatrician when baby is here - I've experienced that too. My original ped ended up being a sexist douche (something he hadn't revealed until me & DH saw his true colors at one of our earlier appointments) so finding another one was so stressful for me!! My only advice is to not make a rash decision. Research what you want in a pediatrician and try to find somebody who matches what will work for you. If you don't find one before baby is born - no big deal! It's always nicer if you can, but if not, it's better to take your time and find the right person. This time around DD is seeing somebody I love and I want this ped to also see DS when he's born, but they said to wait and call back in November (I'm due December) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything will work out over there. But if I do have to have the on-call ped see the baby in the hospital when he's born, it's really no big deal.

Message edited 8/24/2015 10:02:02 AM.

Pediatrician

Thanks a lot for all your responses. Does anyone has any recommendation, preferably around Lindenhurst, West Babylon, West Islip area.

Pediatrician

West Islip Pediatrics, 340 Montauk Hwy. Everybody on the parenting board recommended them when I was pregnant and now that she's here... We absolutely LOVE them!!! 631-376-6000

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Re: Pediatrician

Thanks a lot for the recommendation! I will give her office a call tomorrow!

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Pediatrician

West Islip Pediatrics, I love Bonafede, but I have also liked every doctor there. Everyone I know who goes there loves it, no matter the doctor.

You definitely want one picked beforehand because whomever you pick, if they practice out of a Good Sam, that office will come see your baby and you each morning monitor your DC's progress and see you after your discharged.

Re: Pediatrician

Pediatrician

I live in Lindenhurst and we use Dr. Kalenscher in Massapequa. He is AMAZING!! I love him and his staff. I switched after I got tired of another Ped office in Lindy that was not so great. I am so glad I did!