Newborn care is a focus of pediatric medicine that addresses the nutritional and developmental needs and general care of babies under three months old.
There are several milestones you can expect when scheduling a newborn care appointment. Your first visit should be within a few days of your discharge from the hospital after birth.
Ideally, you should schedule an initial consultation and prenatal tour with Virginia Pediatric Group while you are still pregnant. This appointment gives you time to meet the staff, view the facilities, and better prepare for your first newborn visit.
During your initial well-baby visit, your provider at Virginia Pediatric Group evaluates your baby’s overall health and development. They check your baby’s growth by measuring their length, weight, and head circumference. They also take their temperature and assess the health of their skin.
This visit is also a great time to speak to your pediatrician about any concerns you have about your baby or questions you have about their care. The providers can address all aspects of your baby’s needs, including:
Nutrition is also a big focus of your newborn care visits. The pediatricians want to make sure your baby is getting the nutrition they need to grow properly. They strongly support breastfeeding during infancy to build your baby’s immune system, and they offer resources for La Leche League, a worldwide organization that provides breastfeeding education to new parents.
Newborn care services can also address any special medical or developmental needs your baby has right from the start to ensure you have the tools you need to care for them properly.
Bringing home a new baby is an exciting but also stressful time. Life as you know it changes, and you might be nervous about how you are caring for your newborn.
With the support of the Virginia Pediatric Group physicians, you have access to the resources you need to help your newborn thrive. The providers also offer tools to help you as parents enjoy each stage of your child’s growth and maintain your own good health.
Building a solid health care foundation for your child is also important. As your child grows under the guidance of the pediatric team, they become comfortable interacting with their provider as they develop into active toddlers, children, and adolescents.
To set up an appointment for excellent newborn care, call Virginia Pediatric Group or use the online booking tool to get started.