Healthy Pregnancy

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Health Care for Baby

Home > Healthy Pregnancy > Getting Ready for Baby > Health Care for Baby

• Choosing a Doctor
• Paying For Your Baby's Health Care
• Additional Resources

Right now, your OB or midwife is monitoring the health of your unborn baby. But as soon as your baby enters into this world, your baby will need his or her own doctor. Start looking into a doctor for your baby several months before your due date. Deciding on a doctor and figuring out health insurance before your child's birth saves time and gives you peace of mind as you near labor. Also, if you deliver early, somebody you know and trust will be at the ready to care for your new child.

Choosing a Doctor

One of the most important things you need to do before giving birth is decide on a doctor for your baby. Babies need frequent checkups, vaccines, and they sometimes get sick. So don't wait until you need a doctor to make a choice. Doctors that care for babies and children include:

• Pediatricians
• Family physicians

Some nurses with special training also can care for your new baby. They are called pediatric nurse practitioners. Many medical offices have both nurse practitioners and doctors on staff.

To help you choose a doctor for your baby:

• Call your health insurance company for a list of doctors covered under your plan.
• Find out where they trained and how long they've been in practice. Some insurance companies and hospitals have this information. Details on some doctors can be found using DoctorFinder on the web site of the American Medical Association.
• Request an interview with the doctors you like best.
• Find out about their office hours and how they handle concerns and emergencies after office hours.
• Find out who else in the office can see your child if your doctor is out.
• Get recommendations from other patients.

If you deliver at a hospital where your baby's doctor normally sees patients, she will see the baby right after the delivery. If not, a pediatrician on staff at the hospital should see your baby right after the birth. Then you can call your baby's doctor to schedule a visit a few days after birth. Remember to get your baby's medical records before leaving the hospital. Your baby's doctor will need them.

Paying For Your Baby's Health Care

To get regular checkups and important vaccines, your baby will need health insurance. Some women have health insurance through an employer or are able to buy it on their own. If you have health insurance, find out how to add your new baby to your policy. You also should find out which doctors will work with your plan and what types of care are covered by your policy. Find out how much you have to pay for visits.

If you're worried about paying for health care, programs for women and children in need can help. The following organizations can help you and your baby get medical care:

• Insure Kids Now! – This program provides children under age 18 with free or low-cost health insurance. It covers doctor visits, prescription medicines, hospitalizations, and more. Each state has its own Insure Kids Now program. To learn more, find your state's program or make a free call to 1-877-KIDS-NOW for more information.
• State and local health departments – They can tell you what programs are available in your area. Ask about health insurance, medical care, and how to qualify for this help.
• Local hospital or social service agencies – Ask to speak with a social worker on staff. She will be able to tell you where to go for help.
• Community clinics – Some areas have free clinics or clinics that provide free care to women and children in need.
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program – This government program is available in every state. It provides help with food, nutritional counseling, and access to health services for women, infants, and children.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants,Children, and Adolescents — This cornerstone publication of the Bright Futures project is a practical, comprehensive resource to help professionals, families, and communities more effectively promote the health and well-being of our nation's children and adolescents.

   http://www.brightfutures.org/bf2/pdf/

2.   Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule — This publication contains information on when children should receive their immunizations.

   http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/child-schedule.htm#Printable

3.   Guidelines for Vaccinating Pregnant Women — This publication provides information on routine and other vaccines and whether they are recommended for use during pregnancy.

   http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/preg-guide.htm

4.   Healthy Start, Grow Smart: Newborn through 12-month old [English Kit] — This kit includes all 13 books in the Healthy Start, Grow Smart series. They provide detailed information to parents about important issues in caring for the health and development of their baby in the first year of his or her life.

   http://www.ntis.gov/cms/index.aspx

5.   Pocket Guide to Good Health for Children — Working with the doctor, nurse, and other health care provider to keep your child well is as important as getting treatment when he or she is sick. This guide briefly explains preventive care for children—such as checkup visits, immunizations, and tests and exams—and provides guidance on related issues. Easy-to-use records help you keep track of preventive care for each child and know when shots and other services are needed.

   http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/childguide/

6.   Vaccine-Preventable Childhood Diseases — This on-line fact sheet lists descriptions, symptoms, and vaccines for numerous diseases that can be prevented in children.

   http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/child-vpd.htm

7.   Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) — VFC helps families by providing free vaccines to doctors who serve eligible children and is administered at the national level by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Immunization Program. CDC contracts with vaccine manufacturers to buy vaccines at reduced rates. States and eligible U.S. projects enroll physicians who serve eligible patients up to and including age 18 years, providing routine immunizations with little to no out-of-pocket costs.

   http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/default.htm

8. A Guide for First-Time Parents (Copyright © The Nemours Foundation) — This publication covers many of the topics that new parents need to know. It discusses handling your newborn, soothing techniques for when your baby is crying, umbilical cord care, and sleeping position. It also gives tips on diapering, bathing, feeding, and burping your baby.

   http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/guide_parents.html

9. Baby Basics: Trimming Your Baby's Nails (Copyright © The Nemours Foundation) — This article explains how to trim your baby's nails safely to prevent scratches.

   http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/basics/trimming_nails.html

10. Colic (Copyright © AAFP) — This publication explains what colic is, how long it will last, and what you can do to help your baby stop crying.

    http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/infants/036.html

11. Feeding Your Newborn (Copyright © Kids Health) — This publication contains information on breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your baby, the advantages of breastfeeding, limitations of both, and possible challenges.

    http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/food/infants/feednewborn.html

Organizations

1.   Insure Kids Now
2.   National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , CDC, OPHS, HHS
3. American Academy of Pediatrics
4. Immunization Action Coalition
5. KidsHealth®
6. March of Dimes Foundation
7. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 5, 2009.