Baby’s First Check-up

By Cody Hanson:

You’ve welcomed your baby into the world. Congratulations!! Before being discharged from the hospital, your newborn will go through a variety of checks and exams by the doctor to ensure they are healthy and ready to go home. But that isn’t where the check-ups stop — even for the healthiest of newborn babies.

The first few years of a baby’s life are a critical time to track their physical and cognitive development so you can address any health concerns from an early age. Most pediatricians will recommend your baby get a check-up within the first week after birth, again during the second week, then at months one, two, four, six, nine, 12, 15, 18 and 24.

Your first check-up post-hospital will be very similar to the exam your newborn has before leaving the hospital and helps ensure your baby is continuing to grow and develop appropriately at home.

Physical exam: This exam will check things like your baby’s reflexes, heartbeat, hip stability, alertness, mouth, throat and skin tone.

Measurements: Your baby’s weight, length and head circumference will be measured and charted to track their growth. These measurements are tracked using a percentile ranking to show how your baby compares to the average measurement in that age group. Ranking lower or higher in a percentile group isn’t necessarily good or bad, as much as it is important that these chartings show proper growth and development for your baby.

Developmental surveillance:  These screenings are completed by tracking milestones such as sitting up or rolling. There will not be too many milestones to note during the first check-up, but it is a good idea to ask your baby’s pediatrician which ones you should begin to look out for before your next check-up. This is also a good time to ask what behaviors  to start looking out for as you prepare for future check-ups, such as how they react to certain situations.

Metabolic test: If your baby did not receive a blood test (drawn from the heel) while still at the hospital, that will need to be completed before they are 2 months old. This specific test screens for sickle-cell disease, hypothyroidism and other inherited diseases.

The first check-up is also a great time to ask questions that have come up now that your baby is here. Your baby’s doctor and care team are a great resource for all the questions you may have and can provide you with comfort and reassurance that you’re doing great with your newborn.

Write your questions down in a notebook or on your smartphone as they come up throughout those first few days to bring with you to the check up appointment, Questions you may have include topics such as  when to get immunizations, which milestones to track, how much they should be eating, sleeping pattern concerns, and so on. As you ask your questions, be sure to write your answers down for reference later. Using this same notepad or smartphone file  to track the notes and milestones your pediatrician will be looking for later can also be helpful. It is easier to keep all your information in one spot!

Scheduling your baby’s one–month appointment before leaving the pediatrician’s office after their first-check-up appointment keeps you from having to remember to do it later.

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series intended for expecting patients in the Inland Northwest region. Services outlined may vary in other MultiCare locations.