The Importance of Newborn Exams In Holly Springs, NC
From the moment your child is born you want nothing more than to keep them safe and healthy. We completely understand this need, and here at StarLight Pediatrics, we’ve made it our mission to provide your little one with the very best in healthcare from the moment you bring them into our office. We treat every child or teen that comes through our doors like family so that you always feel comfortable and assured that your little one will get the care they deserve. If you’re looking for a pediatrician that provides newborn care, you’ve come to the right place.
What to Expect During Your Visit
We know that nothing is more exciting than welcoming a new baby into the family! However, we also know that this is a time of lots of questions and even concerns for parents. There are so many questions to ask and factors to consider, from bathing and feeding to childproofing and car seats, and Dr. Maria Castro and her team are here to make sure that you and your newborn get the care everyone needs.
Your newborn’s first visit with a pediatrician will occur only days after leaving the hospital. Expect the first appointment to be a bit longer than other newborn care checkups, as this is the first time that we get to meet your new addition (so it’s an exciting time for us as well!).
Along with checking vital signs and vision and hearing, we will also perform a thorough physical examination and administer the appropriate immunizations. While we know that no parent wants to think about health problems, especially with a newborn, it does happen. This is another reason these regular newborn care checkups are so incredibly important, even if you think your newborn is fine. We can diagnose and treat these conditions and provide our children and teen patients with the care they need.
The Importance of Newborn Exams
Within 24 hours of your baby’s birth, the hospital is going to perform a comprehensive examination to make sure that your baby is healthy. Once you and your baby have been discharged from the hospital, you’ll bring your newborn into our practice a few days later for their first pediatric checkup. These checkups are vital for all newborns. Here are some of the most important aspects of these regular wellness checkups:
- Hearing and vision screenings: We must check your child’s hearing and vision to identify potential problems early. We will perform a hearing and vision screening at their 3-month visit and again around 2-2.5 years old.
- Behavioral assessments: As your child continues to grow, we may also ask parents about certain behaviors they may be exhibiting. Just as adults can deal with behavioral and psychological issues, so too can children. By pinpointing these issues early, we can provide early treatment options to help manage everything from ADHD to anxiety.
- Physical exams: Getting a physical examination from a physician isn’t just for adults and kids wanting to play sports. These routine exams are important for infants, too! These exams allow our pediatrician to evaluate all areas of the body, from the eyes and mouth to the heart, lungs, and hips, to make sure everything looks healthy and is functioning properly.
- Monitoring developmental milestones: From crawling to walking, there are many developmental milestones that your newborn will reach as they continue to grow, and our pediatric team must monitor these developmental stages to make sure that everything is on track.
- Documenting measurements: From the very first checkup onwards, we will need to measure your baby’s weight and height, which we will compare to a standard growth chart. This will help us compare your baby’s height and weight to others to make sure there aren’t any issues.
- Immunizations and vaccinations: One of the best ways to protect your newborn from the threat of certain serious and contagious viruses is by getting them vaccinated. Babies will be vaccinated from the moment they are born, and they will need to come in for wellness checkups so that we can continue to administer these inoculations throughout their childhood.