You may not realize that a pediatrician can do more than just help you care for your child after they are born. It’s important you find a pediatrician before your child is born to ensure that both you and your baby are getting the proper support and care you need. Your pediatricians at Pediatric Care North in Kansas City, MO, are here to help you understand the importance of a newborn doctor and how they can benefit you and your baby.
How Having a Pediatrician Before Birth Can Benefit You
When you’re expecting, there are many things you need to take into consideration to make sure your baby is getting proper care from the minute they’re born. Your newborn doctor in Kansas City, MO, can help give you the proper tools to care for your child as soon as they enter the world.
At your first consultation, your pediatrician will be there to answer any questions you may have about things like vaccinations, newborn care, breastfeeding, circumcision, or scheduling. Taking care of a newborn requires a lot of information and a lot of work, so it’s important to take advantage of the extra help and information that your pediatrician can provide you with. They will also have you meet with a lactation specialist at your first visit so that you can learn more about breastfeeding and if it’s the right choice for you and your baby.
Choosing a pediatrician before your child is born is also a good idea because they can come to check on you while you’re in the hospital with your newborn and answer any questions you may not have been able to ask yet. Your pediatrician will then be able to work directly with you to ensure that your child is healthy and progressing as they should be.
Call Your Pediatrician Today!
It’s important to meet with your pediatrician before your child is born so that you can be ready to care for your child when they get here. Call Pediatric Care North in Kansas City, MO, today at (816) 587-3200.
Climate change has certainly caused the temperatures to climb here in the US, especially during the summer. While we know that kids love to play outdoors, when temperatures are high this could increase your child’s risk for heat exhaustion and heatstroke. While we certainly don’t want to wreck your child’s fun, you must be keeping your child safe from the heat. If you do have any concerns about symptoms, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician right away.Any temperature over 90F poses a serious health risk, especially to kids. When temperatures are at or above 90F here’s what you can do to keep your little ones safe:
Find an air-conditioned environment: If you don’t have AC in your home, it’s important to find a space that does. Make an action plan for where you can go if the temperatures become so high that you cannot safely stay in your home. You may need to stay with someone who does have AC or find free spaces such as a public library, which should also have AC.
Drink (lots of) water: You and your children must be also drinking enough water, especially on those super-hot days. While kids should normally get eight 8-oz glasses of water if a child is particularly active or it’s hot out, they must be drinking even more water to replenish what’s being lost.
Wear the appropriate clothes: Just as you need a coat and gloves to protect your skin during the cold winter months, you also need to wear the appropriate clothes for those brutally hot days. Make sure your child is wearing light-colored clothes made from lightweight, absorbent materials that will wick away sweat. Since kids are less likely to sweat than adults, it’s important to keep them in the coolest and lightest clothes possible.
Stay cool: Whether jumping through the sprinkler system or simply hopping in a cold shower, there are easy steps you can take to help your child cool down when they complain of being too hot! If there is a swimming pool nearby, this is also a great and fun way to keep cool.
Whether you have questions about keeping your child safe during the summer months or you simply need to schedule their next well-child visit, a pediatrician is going to be the first doctor you turn to for your child’s health and wellbeing. Keeping your child safe this summer doesn’t have to be difficult, but if you have questions or concerns don’t hesitate to call.
While children under 3 years old will not have control over their bladders, older kids that still have issues with bladder control may have something known as urinary incontinence or enuresis. As a pediatrician, we understand that this issue can be distressing for kids and their parents. Here’s what you should know if your child is dealing with daytime or bedtime enuresis.Accidents happen, but if bedwetting or daytime enuresis is becoming quite frequent in older children then it’s worth seeing your pediatrician for a closer evaluation. Girls happen to gain bladder control a little faster than boys. Girls are often diagnosed with enuresis if they continue to have bladder control issues past the age of 5, while it’s often diagnosed in boys after age 6.
There are many reasons why your child might be dealing with enuresis, which is another reason to see a pediatrician for answers. Whether your child is dealing with nighttime or daytime enuresis, or both, gives us some idea of what the cause might be. Common causes of nighttime or daytime enuresis include:
- Overactive bladder
- Small bladder
- Intense deep sleep
- Urinary tract infection
- Caffeine
- Anxiety
- Sleep disorders (often obstructive sleep apnea)
- Structural issues within the urinary tract
- Constipation
- Diabetes
Sometimes enuresis goes away on its own without treatment, while other causes may require treatment. For example, a urinary tract infection will require medication to treat the infection and alleviate the enuresis. Underlying health problems such as diabetes will also require proper treatment and long-term maintenance and care.
We understand that bringing your child in for a shot certainly isn’t fun for anyone, but keeping your child updated on vaccines is one of the most effective ways to protect them against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. As soon as your child is born, they will begin to get a series of vaccines, which they will continue to get until they reach adulthood. Here’s everything you need to know about getting your child immunizations, including when to have them vaccinated and which vaccinations they will need at what age.The CDC is your go-to for all accurate and updated information regarding childhood vaccines. They offer a variety of charts for kids 18 years old and younger that can easily help you determine what vaccines your child needs to get and at what age. Of course, your pediatrician also knows exactly what vaccines your kids need when they visit the office, so these charts are just for you to stay in the know. Of course, if you have any questions about upcoming vaccines for your child, don’t hesitate to talk with their pediatrician.
- Hepatitis A & B
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough)
- Hib (meningitis, epiglottitis, and pneumonia)
- Meningococcal (for bacterial meningitis)
- Polio
- MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)
- Pneumococcal (pneumonia, ear infections, and meningitis)
- Varicella (chickenpox)
We understand that some parents may be on the fence about vaccines. In fact, this is a common concern that pediatricians hear, and it’s best to talk with your child’s doctor who is well-informed about childhood immunizations. There is a lot of misinformation out there and it can lead parents to avoid certain vaccines that could put their child at risk for more serious health problems. While some immunizations can cause minor side effects these are so minor compared to the repercussions of not having your child vaccinated.
Well child physicals play an important role in children’s health and wellbeing. Scheduling regular pediatric visits enable the doctor to monitor your child’s growth and development and ensure your child is up to date with vaccinations. The frequency with which well child physicals are needed varies by age. The experienced and friendly pediatricians at Pediatric Care North in Kansas City, MO, can advise you as to how often to schedule a visit for your child.
Well Child Visits
The purpose of well child visits or physicals is to promote better overall health for your child. There are several aspects to a well child visit, including information gathering for personal and family medical histories, and a physical exam. All of these things help the pediatrician better monitor your child’s growth and development. Well child physicals also enable the doctor to identify health, growth, or development concerns and treat potential problems right away before they become more serious.
Several topics are usually discussed with parents during a well child physical, including nutrition, dietary guidelines, vaccine recommendations, physical and growth development, developmental skills, social skills, and emotional well-being. The specific topics that are addressed vary based on the age of the child. For example, toilet training is discussed during the toddler years, while school and peer interactions are talked about when kids are in upper-grade school.
Younger children can benefit from scheduling a well visit every few weeks or months, depending on their age. Kids two years of age or older only need to schedule one well child physical per year. The skilled pediatricians at our office in Kansas City, MO, can develop a schedule for how often your child should come in for a checkup.
Immunizations
An important component of well child visits is immunization. The purpose of immunization is to help kids develop immunity to certain illnesses and diseases, such as measles or the flu. The way children build immunity is through vaccination. Many vaccines are administered by injection, while a few are taken orally.
The experienced pediatricians at our office recommend children receive all vaccines at the age-appropriate visit according to the immunization schedule developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Kids who are behind on their vaccinations can be placed on a catch-up schedule.
Well child physicals help your child enjoy better health by enabling the doctor to monitor growth and development, as well as help your child stay up to date with vaccinations. To schedule your child’s next well visit with one of our caring pediatricians, call Pediatric Care North in Kansas City, MO, at (816) 587-3200.
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