Prenatal Appointments
During pregnancy or prior to the adoption, you should begin to prepare for the arrival of the child. Part of the preparation should include the selection of a pediatrician. The pediatric group should be accessible and conveniently located, and able to provide close support for the new parent(s) during the first couple of months including nutritional counseling.
Prenatal visits to our office are always welcome. Please call the office during our business hours to schedule a visit and tour. You will have the opportunity to consult with one of our newborn nurses and to meet some of the doctors depending on availability. A visit will be helpful to you in determining if our office is right for you, your child and family. Please call 632-8050 to schedule the appointment.
Family History Form
Prior to your first visit, it is helpful to have a family history sheet filled out ahead of time. The form is typically mailed to you prior to your appointment or you may download one here.
Weight Checks
Weight Checks are typical for newborn babies. During the first month of life, we monitor the babies very closely for adequate nutrition and weight gain. Weight checks may be scheduled with one of the newborn nurses or with a doctor. The contacts between you and our newborn nurses in the first several weeks will help to determine the need for weight checks.
Office Visit Schedule
Amherst Pediatrics follows the routine office visit schedule as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The office schedule for well visits is as follows:
- 2 weeks
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- 2 years and then annually
The well visits will include measurements of height, weight and head size. Immunizations are given at most visits prior to age 2. Blood work, vision, hearing, urine exams and other procedures are performed according to a standard schedule.
Common Worries
There are many questions and concerns during the first several months of a child's life. Our newborn nurses, doctors and nursing telephone triage staff can help you with most questions. The Amherst Pediatric newborn booklet addresses many issues regarding feeding, sleeping, elimination, and other newborn concerns. Please refer to our booklet or refer to the online text. Our useful links button will direct you to many informative sources particularly the American Academy of Pediatrics and its parent resource publications.
