3 Things To Expect When You Take Your Infant Son To The Pediatrician For The First Time

When you bring your infant son in for his very first pediatric doctor's appointment, he is likely only going to be one or two weeks old. This appointment generally isn't going to be too long, but it is going to be very important to check the overall health of your new baby. It also gives you the opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have with the pediatric doctor. Here are three things to expect when you take your infant son to the pediatrician for the first time. 

Weight Check 

One of the first things that will happen during the appointment is a weight check. This weight check is going to be done to make sure that your baby hasn't lost too much weight since they were born. This is going to be especially important if your infant son was born small. While it is normal for a baby to lose some weight after they are born, while they are still in the hospital, they should begin to gain weight soon after they arrive at home. If your son has lost more weight at their weight check, this may mean that they aren't getting enough nutrients. You can discuss nursing with your doctor, as well as if bottle feeding formula is something that needs to be considered. 

Check For Jaundice 

Another thing that they are going to check your infant son for is jaundice. Jaundice is caused by increased levels of bilirubin in your baby's body that they can get rid of on their own. If your baby does have jaundice, they will have a yellow color to their skin and eyes. If your pediatrician finds that your son does need to be treated for jaundice, you will likely need to take them in for light therapy. During this therapy your infant son will be put under a special light that can help to decrease the levels of bilirubin in his system. These treatments likely won't last for long and will generally make the jaundice go away. 

Discussion Of Circumcision

If you didn't opt for circumcision at birth,  your pediatrician will likely discuss the option of circumcision with you. You will talk about what takes place during circumcisions and the pros and cons of getting your son circumcised. This will help you to feel well informed before you make this decision. You will then bring your son in a few days later for the circumcision, if you decide to have the procedure done. 

For more information, talk to a professional like Alpert Zales & Castro Pediatric Cardiology.