YOUR BABY’S BIRTH AND THE PEDIATRICIAN’S ROLE

 

You will be giving birth to your baby at Clovis Community Hospital, Saint Agnes Medical Center, or downtown Fresno Community Hospital.  The Pediatricians in our Pediatric Group are as follows: Harry Jameson, MD, Kathy Shahinfar MD, Wilfred Derksen, MD, and Jacqueline Youel, MD, (on leave of absence).  We are all trained in reputable Medical Schools with subsequent residency training for three years in Pediatrics, and are Board Certified.  Dr. Jameson is also Board Certified in Internal Medicine. 

 

Your chosen Obstetrician is managing your pregnancy.  If you deliver after hours or on a weekend, it may be an Obstetrician “on-call” that will deliver your baby.   Obstetricians know quite well what drugs are safe and which are not wise to give to mothers during their pregnancy, during labor and during breast feeding.  Sometimes they consult with us for this information as well.

 

One delivery out of four ends up with a cesarean section.  Most of the time, Pediatricians are not needed at the C-section, but sometimes the Obstetrician calls us to attend.  Each hospital has a trained team consisting of a Respiratory Therapist and R.N. to attend.  If complications arise, they will notify us promptly. 

 

We also have a Neonatologist on call if we need their assistance. Normally, we expect your baby to do well and to bond with you immediately.  We wholeheartedly advise breast-feeding!  We, therefore, encourage the baby to be placed on your breast as soon as possible after delivery.  The sooner the better!  Supplementation with formula is tempting but should be avoided as much as possible. 

 

If there is a significant history of allergies, especially food allergies, then any supplementation that is given should be non-dairy.  Some recommend non-soy as well.   These are available in the hospital nursery. 

 

You should breast feed your baby on demand.  We understand this is hard work and that you will lose lots of sleep.  Fortunately, we have Nurses and Lactation Experts at each hospital who can assist you with the breast feeding technique. 

 

Simply tell the nurses whom you wish your Pediatrician to be when you go into the hospital to deliver.  They will notify us appropriately when the baby is delivered. 

 

If all goes well at delivery of your baby, then one of us will come by the next morning to see your baby.  If there are any signs of difficulty with the baby prior to that, we will be notified.

 

If you stay in the hospital for one or more days, we will be seeing your baby each day and talking with you.  We encourage you to stay in the hospital with your baby at least 24 hours. 

 

If you want your baby boy circumcised, we can do it in the hospital or 1-2 weeks later in the office.  We prefer the latter.  And yes, we all use local anesthesia.  It is helpful if you check with your insurance carrier whether they cover the procedure if done at the hospital or in our office.

 

Handouts will be given to you at the hospital to read regarding baby care and care for your post delivery days.    It will explain how to take care of the umbilical cord and how to deal with diaper rashes.  Please read the attached material that describes what babies are like in their first couple of weeks of life and what makes them so special and peculiar!

 

Other books that can be obtained from bookstores are:

¨       “Caring for Your Baby and Young Child” by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a comprehensive book of medical care from behavior and nutrition to illness and treatment.

¨       “Your Baby’s First Year” by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2^nd edition)

¨       “Touchpoints” by Barry Brazelton, M.D., describing the stages of a baby’s life and how to deal and respond to them.

¨       “A Guide to Your Child’s Symptoms” by the American Academy of Pediatrics, including symptoms of illness in children from birth to the teen years.

 

To order books from the American Academy of Pediatrics, call 1-888-227-1770 or order online at www.aap.org/bookstore.