Finding a Pediatrician You Trust

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photo credit: Garden Park Medical Center 

One of the first tasks as a new (or soon-to-be) parent is to select a pediatrician for your child. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the routine newborn examination take place anytime during the first twenty-four hours of life. Finding a pediatrician you trust is key. Every parent worries about their child’s health. That starts as soon as the mother finds out she is pregnant. Moms worry if their child is… Eating enough? Pooping enough? Sleeping enough? Especially for new parents, these feelings are magnified.

After all, who will calm a mother’s worry about her little one’s late night fever?

Pediatricians play a large role in the lives of the children they serve. Parents need to consider the following before selecting a pediatrician:

Trust Your Heart

A mother’s instinct never fails. Trust that feeling. No one knows your child better than you. You need to feel at peace with the decision regarding your child’s care. Trust. Yourself. And don’t settle.

The day you walk away feeling good about your decision, that’s when you know you’ve made the right choice.

Find Someone That is Reassuring

Find someone that listens to you and is genuinely concerned about your child’s health. Someone who reassures you that you are making the right decision, yet provides guidance and support from a medical standpoint.

Find a pediatrician that understands and sympathizes with you. They take each of your concerns (no matter how minute they sound) seriously. They listen to you, answer the question and put your worries to rest. They may not tell you what you want to hear, but you trust them to tell you the truth.

A parent should never feel like they cannot ask a question or bring up an issue.

Extension of Family

In the “village” that it takes to raise a child, consider your pediatrician playing a pivotal role. The pediatrician-family relationship is unique.  A pediatrician is a source of parenting knowledge and support.

Pediatricians have the opportunity to walk alongside families through the most exciting and challenging seasons of life. This cultivates deep and meaningful relationships built on trust. Their goal should be to provide relevant, evidence-based medicine in an environment where children feel comfortable and parents feel their voices are heard.

Advocate for Your Child’s Well-Being

Many of us have started the conversation with the pediatrician as follows: “I know this sounds crazy, but…”  This is normal.

A pediatrician is more than a doctor. They’re partners in your child’s overall health and well-being. A good pediatrician will help you weigh the pros and cons of important choices, and give you the freedom to decide what is best for your child and your family.

Child-Doctor Relationship

Choosing a pediatrician for your child is like any other relationship. It’s built on trust. The trust is between you and the pediatrician as well as your child and their pediatrician.  Ultimately, your child needs to feel that connection. This interaction matters. The relationship your child forms with their pediatrician can influence his or her desire to seek medical attention when needed. A pediatrician should have a way with children that encourages comfort and trust.

 

There is no one size fits all when it comes to choosing a pediatrician. Deciding upon the best physician for your child is a personal decision for every family. Weigh these factors carefully in making the best decision for you and your child.

Your child needs an advocate in you and in their pediatrician.

 

Dr. Tamara Harper from Garden Park Physician Group – The Pediatric Center  truly believes a parent’s trust in their pediatrician makes all the difference. 

 

Thank you to Garden Park Medical Center for partnering with Gulf Coast Moms Blog and serving the Gulf Coast community. All opinions are 100% my own. Medical decisions are extremely personal, and we encourage everyone to do their own research in choosing a doctor.
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Christy is Co-Founder and Owner of Gulf Coast Moms Blog. She was born in Costa Rica and moved to the United States when she was 6 years old. She vividly remembers flying into New Orleans and knew, in the moments to come, her life would change forever. She grew up in Moss Point and moved to Hattiesburg to attend college at Southern Miss, where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She met her love, Matthew, and they have enjoyed married life for 13 years. They live in Long Beach with their precious children, John Salem and Ann-Michael. Prior to co-founding Gulf Coast Moms Blog, she had a successful 10+ year career in higher education administration, where she developed and spear-headed campus-wide student initiatives and events. Christy is now spending her days as a stay-at-home mom and serves her community through several non-profit organizations. She enjoys making Costa Rican tamales, a fresh margarita from El Aguila, annual sister spa day, collecting random owl things (Hootie Hoo to my Chi Omega sisters), words of wisdom from Irish priests and pool days. She is passionate about connecting women and creating a supportive, nurturing community to empower moms.