Partnering with your baby's doctor: Trust, questions & calls
A trusting, working relationshipHealth care professionals serve as an important resource that makes parenting much easier and safer, but only if you trust and can work well with them.
You should now have developed a partnership with a clinic of health care professionals. This working relationship will allow you to get the medical care and information needed to keep your infant healthy.
If you do not think this partnership is meeting your and your baby's needs, you should discuss this with clinic personnel and resolve the issues. Alternatively, you should find another clinic.
Bring a list of questionsParents often forget the important questions they want to ask their child's doctor or nurse practitioner. They will be on the top of your mind before the provider comes into the examining room. As soon as you begin discussing other matters the burning question is forgotten. After the clinic visit concludes, you remember the questions, but must phone or schedule another appointment to get answers. So before you take your child to the clinic write down your questions and keep them handy.
When to callCall your baby's clinic if your infant...
- has a worsening or persistent cough that lasts more than about 10 days
- refuses to eat
- vomits blood, yellow or green material
- has a fever (rectal temperature greater than 101 F)
- is irritable or inconsolable, especially if a fever is present
- seems unusually sleepy and hard to awaken
- has difficulty breathing
- passes several diarrheal stools, especially if there is blood in them
- has any other conditions that worry you.
Body temperature Return to "Volume 5: The third month" Pregnancy Condition Center: Your newborn Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota: Parenting resources
Source: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
First published: 05/07/2001
Last updated: 05/26/2006
Reviewed by: Robert Segal, MD, associate vice chief, pediatrics, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
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