Re: preemie-l Need advice on dr
SuzyDavid@aol.com
Fri, 7 Jun 1996 14:53:18 -0400
<<Michael is almost 15 weeks old and was 9 weeks premature.
When we left the NICU the doctors assured me that my regualar
pediatrician was fine to use as Michael's doctor.
Now I'm having my doubts and am wondering if other premie
parents used neonatalogists instead of pediatricians? There
is one neonatalogist here that seems to have a private practice,
as opposed to just doing hospital care, and I think I'm going to
make an appointment.
I find myself with a baby that is very irritable, does not
sleep well at all, screams when he has a bowel movement,
has had hernia surgery, is on a apnea monitor, and on and on!
I have a hard time with him being regarded as "just another
baby", which is how he is treated at the pediatrician's.
Am I just being overprotective or what?>>
I don't think you're being overprotective, it sounds like you should see
another doctor. My son Sam was also 9 weeks early and was treated by a
pediatrician upon his release from the NICU rather than by a neonatologist.
We were very happy with the care he got but he was never treated as "just
another baby." He had far more well-baby visits to check his weight gain and
developmental progress and any signs of illness, irritability etc. were
immediately followed up on (I think the doc. would definitely have taked a
more wait and see attitude with a full term baby.) The apnea monitor stuff
was followed by a separate apnea clinic, though, not the pediatrician
although he was kept informed of what was going on. Actually, I found the
pediatrician's advice much more helpful than that of the doctors at the apnea
clinic regarding possible reflux etc. In any case, I think parents need to
have confidence in their children's doctors and if you feel your concerns
aren't being adressed, by all means try another doctor. I have no idea
though what age range neonatologists see babies up until, I thought they just
specialized in preemies and newborns. I do think it is worth finding a
doctor that will continue to see your son during his early childhood because
so many of the issues which come up in infancy seem to play out over the
first few years and I think it is helpful if the doctor has the big picture
in terms of the child's development and medical history (they can read the
records but there really is no substitute for interacting with the child).
Good luck.
Suzy