Caring For Your Baby

Getting To Know Your Baby
Sometimes new parents are unsure of themselves. But as long as your baby is loved, well fed and comfortable, you need not worry that you are inexperienced parents.

Your baby is an individual from the day he or she is born. As the parents, the people most closely involved, you will come to know your baby best. Trust yourself. Don't take too seriously all the advice of well-meaning friends and relatives.

All babies sneeze, yawn, belch, have hiccups, pass gas, cough, cry and get fussy. These are normal behaviors. Sneezing is the only way that babies can clean their noses. Crying is a baby's way of saying, "I'm wet; I want to be held; I'm too hot; I'm too cold; I'm bored; I'm hungry." You will gradually learn to know what your baby means when he or she cries.

Because your baby has not had time to build up resistance to infection, try to limit visitors during the first few weeks at home. Discourage friends and relatives from handling the baby if they are ill. There will be lots of time for that later. Hand washing before handling a newborn baby is always best.

Medical Care
Your baby should have regular medical examinations even though he or she appears well. These visits will give us a chance to check on your baby's growth and development and to talk with you about baby care. We will also give the baby shots (or immunizations or injections) to protect against some childhood diseases.

Your baby's first medical checkup should be at two weeks of age unless, of course, our attention is needed sooner. Please call our office for an appointment.

Phone us during office hours when you feel you need advice. We will be happy to give you guidance and answer your questions. You will find it helpful to have paper and pencil ready for writing down any instructions we may give.

Patient Education
Developing materials for use in teaching you about your child's health is an ongoing project. We want you to understand your child's specific diagnosis.

Parenting Education

Confidentiality
Medical information and medical records are strictly confidential and are the property of the physician's office. No information will be released to attorneys, insurance companies or any other third party without your written authorization.

Should you desire a copy of your records to be mailed to another physician, we will be pleased to do so as a professional courtesy. If, however, you want copies for your personal use, we will be happy to provide them for a nominal cost for copying.

Our practice is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your individually identifiable health information. Medical information and medical records.