While many moms seem to make it look easy, parenting is not for the faint of heart. From pulling all-nighters with a fussy teething child to potty training, jam packed school and after school activities, moms (and dads) certainly have their hands full. And that’s also the reason moms and dads should be careful to keep the lines of communication open with their pediatrician or family doctor.
After all, doctors are not mind readers. They can only address issues when they know about them. Some things are obvious of course, such as a highly visible rash, but other things—such as bed-wetting, sports injuries, how well they are sleeping and eating—might not be so clear. So what kinds of things should you be sharing with your family doctor or pediatrician?
What to Talk to Your Pediatrician About Concerning Your Child
First and foremost, you should always share any information that you have a question or concern about. Your family doctor or pediatrician can provide a wealth of information about everything from growth charts to hygiene, and symptoms that you should be on the lookout for.
You should also be prepared to talk about things like your child running a fever, loose or watery stools, if your child seems overly fussy or is tugging on their ears, if they are vomiting, or whether or not they seem tired. Basically, anything out of the ordinary might be relevant to the health of your child.
When you do share information, try to be very specific. Instead of saying your child feels warm, you can use a digital thermometer to track their fever. If they have been vomiting, the doctor is going to want to know how many times, as well as when the symptoms started and other details. Any information you can share can help your doctor make a diagnosis. You should also talk to your doctor about any necessary immunizations, wellness visits and annual checkups.
When your child is sick or injured, you are naturally going to be more stressed. You may need to exercise patience while your child undergoes testing to get to the bottom of the problem or issue. Before you leave the pediatrician’s office, make sure you clearly understand the directions for any prescription medications as well as what to look for in case your child becomes worse. Make sure to inform the doctor’s office if the medication does not seem to be working.
When it comes to the health of your child, being clear, concise, and making sure you are both understood and that you understand, can go a long way to helping your child have a happy, healthy childhood. And, if you need exceptionally good pediatric care after hours, on weekends or on the fly, be sure to bring your child to one of our many convenient locations.
From urgent pediatric care to summer allergies and minor boo-boos, Patient Care Now Urgent Care is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You don’t need an appointment, and you can even check in online! Get in, get treated and get going again. For more information or for our office hours, please call our Fairless Hills urgent care center at (267) 202-6433.
