Being a new mama can be a rather exciting and scary experience. Considering that you and your baby will go through many firsts, there are many things to look forward to. There are also many things to get surprised with. However, among all the different experiences that a new mama can have, there are still a number of things that can be scary or confusing.
As a first-timer, the feeling of inexperience can make being a mama very challenging. Even with all the advice other mamas can give you, it’s still different when you’re actually faced with a specific situation. However, whatever the case may be, any information can still be of great help for any first time mama.
With that being said, we at edamama believe that giving you advice is still going to help somehow. That way, you’re at least somehow equipped to handle certain situations. In this article, we’ll be covering something rather crucial for many mamas (and their babies): the first doctor visit.
Doctor visits are one of the best ways a mama can ensure that their baby is as healthy as they can be. So, it’s important to make the most out of every visit. However, if this is your baby’s first one, it’s doubly important to ensure you’re prepared for it. Considering that you have to do whatever it takes to help your baby stay on the right track in terms of health, it’s important that the first visit goes well. Fortunately, doing so isn’t that difficult, even if it sounds a little daunting. Continue reading on and let us guide you through what you need for that first visit!
What To Expect
It’s crucial to remember that all doctor’s visits have the same importance. However, the first doctor’s visit is what helps set the tone for the rest of the visits. This visit is where you begin to monitor your child’s growth and development after birth. Think of it as a visit that sets the baseline for your baby’s health.
With that in mind, what should you expect on this first visit? Well, you should expect it to be rather lengthy. During this visit, your baby’s pediatrician will do things such as give them their first doses of some vaccines. They’ll also take measurements such as their height, weight, head and waist circumference. Your baby’s pedia will also advise you on things such as your child’s current state of health, how you should go about their care, and when their next visit with them is.
How to Prepare
Knowing all that, how does a mama prepare for their baby’s first doctor visit? Well, it might seem like something rather daunting to do. However, in reality, it doesn’t really take much! What’s more, it’s simple enough for you to do, so you know that you’re capable of helping ensure your baby gets the best care possible.
So, how exactly do you prepare for this visit?
Bring Everyone (and Your Baby)
This should go without saying, but you have to bring your baby. After all, it’s their doctor visit. However, aside from bringing your baby (and yourself), you should also bring everyone. By this, we mean everyone that’s involved in caring for the baby.
Whether it’s a nanny, your mama, sister, or what have you, anyone that’s involved with caring for the baby should also try to go to the first visit. While it might seem a little overboard, there is a perfectly good reason for this. You see, as this is your first visit to the doctor, they will have a lot to tell you regarding how to care for your baby. So, having those involved in their care present can help ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Bring The Baby Book
Another thing that you should do to prepare for your baby’s first visit would be to bring their baby book. If anything, the baby book is probably one of the most important documents you should bring to a doctor’s visit. This is because this baby book will serve as a record of sorts for things like the vaccines they’ve received, their height and weight with every visit, and even the childhood illnesses they contract.
Your child’s baby book will help you and your doctor keep track of your baby’s health as well as their growth and development. By always bringing it and having their pediatrician update it periodically, you ensure that there is some continuity of care. Considering that you will be taking care of your baby for years and years, it helps to at least have a record of these things in case you forget something or need to double check things like the vaccines they’ve already received and have yet to receive.
List Down Any Questions You Might Have
In relation to bringing everyone involved in your baby’s care to the first visit, listing down any and all questions and concerns you have is also one good way to prepare for the visit. Being a first-time mama is not only a lot of work, but it’s also full of days where you’re trying to figure certain things out. By listing down questions you might have regarding your baby and their care, you at least help take out the guesswork when you take care of them.
As a mama, it’s important to do whatever you can to ensure that they’re healthy. If you’re not sure about a certain thing regarding their care, you could make a grave mistake if you try and find a solution that you aren’t certain about. By asking their doctor, you’re at least assured of an expert’s advice and get the appropriate solution to your concern. Better safe than sorry, after all.
Visiting the doctor for the first time can be a very daunting experience. Considering you’re a first-time mama, you may not really know how to go about it. However, despite this lack of experience, there is a way to make this visit more manageable. In this case, knowing how to prepare for it can make things more worthwhile and help you make the most out of this visit. That way, you know for sure that your baby will be taken care of in the best way possible and their growth and development will be monitored closely too! For any mama, this can give some much-needed peace of mind.
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