As parents we often want what is best for our children. From school, to clothes and especially medical care. Which is what brings me to my piece about finding the right pediatrician.
Many people pick a random pediatrician that their insurance covers, and never look back. Others get recommendations from friends or family members, then there are those who sit down and research, interview and become educated in different choices that we are parents will have to make like vaccinations which seem to be the hot button issue these days.
Becoming educated to your rights as a parent and the rights to make informed and educated decisions regarding your child’s health care is always key, as well as agreeing with pediatric recommendations, and office standards.
I learned this all the hard way. When pregnant with my first child, I started to interview different pediatricians. None of which I liked. Then I got really discouraged and stopped. Before finding a pediatrician for my son. When he was born there was a sweet older lady that was on staff, and when we were discharged I made an appointment with her. When my sons 6 week well baby visit came, and I expressed the desire not to vaccinate my son, for religious reasons. I was met with a combative pediatrician and staff. From then on out, our experiences in the office were, less than comfortable would be putting it nicely. During that time I got recommendations from friends, and a provider I was seeing at the time. All highly recommended this male pediatrician, so I called to make an appointment with him for my little guy, and he had a 6 month waiting list for new patients! “He must be good” I thought.
I met with him once the appointment time finally came, and he was phenomenal. Everything I had ever envisioned in a pediatrician for my son. But there was one small issue. The wait time. On average a trip to the pediatrician that would normally range a half an hour, turned into an hour and a half. At first, not a big deal. I just had my one child, who is extremely well behaved (thank the Lord because #2 has proven to be the difficult one!) and he would hang out for the wait time. Then when my little guy was a whole 8 months old, we learned that #2 was cookin’ in the oven.
I knew he would be supportive of my birth choice for my baby, as well as our style of parenting, but I never stopped to consider how long the wait time would be bringing two children into the office at the same time. And when my little one was a week old, we ran into this road block.
Thankfully while I was still pregnant, a new pediatrician opened up locally. I met with her on a “business” level looking for a provider in the area that would be supportive of the cesarean support group I am heavily involved in and I was met with open arms. When I walked into her office, I almost heard a choir of angels singing in the background. It was bright, beautifully painted, and her staff was full of smiles. “Am I really in a Doctors office?” I questioned myself. And then I met her. She came around the corner with a huge smile, as energetic as they come, and I thought I was looking at myself in the mirror. After talking for a while, discussing parenting styles, hot button issues, and the involvement we both have in the community, I felt like I was talking to a friend I had known for years.
Fast Forward a month, Benjamin had joined us, and I made the choice, despite loving the pediatrician I was bringing my boys to, to switch them to her. It clicked. There was a Doctor/Parent chemistry. I finally had found the right provider for my boys.
Granted as they get older, they may not feel as comfortable with a woman doctor, but if that happens we will cross that bridge then. But I have no doubt in my mind they will love her as much as I do.
Moral of my story today, if there is not that click with the provider, it often may not be the right one for you and your children.
Interview, talk, research, educate, and discuss.
By doing that, it will save you a lot of time with transferring offices!
