Pediatrician

One of the many things you need to do to prepare for your baby's arrival is to choose a doctor to oversee their health care. A pediatrician is a medical doctor who manages the physical, behavioral, and mental care for children from birth until age 18. A pediatrician is trained to diagnose and treat a broad range of childhood illnesses, from minor health problems to serious diseases

What Does Your Pediatrician Do?

Your pediatrician will see your baby many times from birth to age 2 and annually from age 2 to age 5 for "well-child visits." After age 5, your pediatrician will likely see your child every year for annual checkups. Your pediatrician is also the first person to call whenever your child is sick. In caring for your child, a pediatrician will:

• Do physical exams
• Give recommended immunizations
• Make sure your child is meeting developmental milestones in growth, behavior, and skills
• Diagnose and treat your child's illnesses, infections, injuries, and other health problems
• Give you information about your child's health, safety, nutrition, and fitness needs
• Answer your questions about your child’s growth and development
• Refer to and collaborate with a specialist should your child become ill and need care beyond the pediatrician's expertise

How Does Your Pediatrician Work With Your Delivery Team?

Most hospitals ask if you have a pediatrician when you go in to deliver. Your baby’s first examination may be with a hospital pediatrician or your chosen pediatrician. This depends on hospital policy and whether your pediatrician makes rounds at the hospital where you deliver, and whether your baby was born early.

If your baby is born early, they will probably go right to the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. Highly specialized NICU doctors and nurses will care for your baby and monitor their health until they develop enough to come home.

Your pediatrician will be given the records from your baby’s stay in the hospital. After you leave the hospital, your pediatrician will see your baby 48 to 72 hours after discharge, then regularly after that for "well-child visits."

If your child ever needs more specialized care, your pediatrician will coordinate care with other health care professionals. They will help you understand complex information and help you make decisions as needed.

Types

Many pediatricians work as primary care physicians. This type of pediatrician performs regular health and wellness checkups. They also diagnose and treat a wide range of general health conditions, give vaccinations, and offer appropriate health advice to young people and their parents or caregivers.

Other pediatricians specialize in treating specific medical conditions or age ranges. Examples of pediatric subspecialties include the following:

Adolescent medicine specialists focus on care during adolescence, around 11 to 21 years old.

Critical care pediatricians facilitate teams of healthcare professionals who treat children in unstable or critical health situations. These pediatricians usually work in hospital-based intensive care units.

Developmental behavioral pediatricians evaluate the behavioral development of children and teens. Specialists in this field diagnose and treat developmental, learning, and behavioral problems in young people.

Child abuse pediatricians possess specialized training, experience, and skills necessary for evaluating if a child may have experienced abuse or neglect.

Pediatric oncologists specialize in diagnosing and treating different types of cancer in children.

Pediatric cardiologists diagnose and treat various heart conditions in children. Many pediatric cardiologists work closely with pediatric heart surgeons when deciding the best treatment strategies.

Pediatric pulmonologists diagnose, treat, and manage children who have breathing problems and lung diseases.

Pediatric rheumatologists treat children and adolescents who have musculoskeletal disorders, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain.

Pediatric nephrologists specialize in treating conditions that affect the urinary system, including urinary tract infections and kidney disease.

Pediatric neurologists treat and manage neurological disorders in children. Neurological conditions that present during childhood may persist through adulthood. Pediatric neurologists oversee their patients’ care from diagnosis through adolescence.

Neonatal-prenatal pediatricians provide care to infants before, during, and after birth. They also treat premature and critically ill newborns.

Pediatric gastroenterologists look after the health of a young person’s digestive system.

Pediatric endocrinologists specialize in the endocrine system and the hormones it produces. An endocrinologist may treat a variety of conditions in children, including diabetes.