When choosing a pediatrician..........

.....does it have to be affiliated with the hospital you are having the baby at?
What important things should you look for?

Good question! I, myself, need to start looking for a Pediatrician! I was going to ask my OB for a recommendation at my next appointment. We are the first of our friends to have a baby, so I can't really get a recommendation there...

Your pediatrician doesn't need to be affiliated with your hospital, but it is nice to have that.

I delivered in Mineola and live in Smithtown, so my ped. was not affiliated. My OB recommended a ped. for the hospital who was great, and then Nicky saw his own doctor when he was 5 days old.

Key things I wanted to know when I was looking for a pediatrician was:

Which one my friends/family use?

Do they seperate the sick & well visits? (Patricks Dr. all the well visits are upstairs & sick are downstairs)

Are they affiliated w/ the hospital of my choice?

What are their hours/are they open on Saturdays?

Do they do all the shots/bloodwork there?

Do I like them personally?

ask family and friends - and your obgyn. Nancy - definitely start researching. The day I got admitted on emergency to induce labor, I had my list ready at the doctor to go over with her. Three days later I had a baby and no pediatrician! When I was in the hospital I asked around and got a few names. I also met with doctors that were doing rounds in the NICU.

The interview is really important in retrospect. I wish I had time to have done it. I met one doctor who I really liked and made an appt with for when Sophie got out of the NICU. Well we went, and she was COMPLETELY rude to my husband. Totally dismissive of him and it infuriated me. My husband is really hands on with the baby and I feel has just as many rights to questions and concerns. If I had interviewed with her beforehand, I may have seen this trait. We ended up going with the doctor that was doing rounds the day she was discharged, who I had also really really liked, and he's fantastic. The difference is astronomical. His office does have a sick/well option and they have a few offices. He is part of a group, which is fine by me, but a lot of people want one doctor - so you may want to decide how you feel about that. I will be able to see him for appointments that I can plan in advance, but emergencies may find me with another doctor from the group. I am cool with that. I have met a bunch of them and they all seem great.

I think it's really important also that your ped has the same feelings as you about breastfeeding, supplementing, vaccines, etc. Ask lots of questions before deciding on one. You don't want somebody who is condescending to you or makes you feel like you are asking stupid questions.