October 01, 2018
Preparing For Fall: What To Ask Your Child’s Pediatrician
When you’re adopting a child, you’re thrown into a fast and furious learning process, which includes healthcare. Depending on your relationship to your child’s birth parents, you may not have full access to their medical history, which means you don’t have an automatic trove of information about your child to pass off to their doctor.
Because of this, it’s important to ask a lot of questions when choosing a pediatrician for your child. You want to make sure they have expertise in treating adopted children, that they understand the challenges inherent to understanding their medical backgrounds, as well as how to help you and your child get the most out of your child’s medical care.
Most importantly — don’t worry! All this means is that you’ll want to do a deeper dive into Q&A sessions with your child’s pediatrician. And the best way to approach that discussion is to be prepared.
Here are some of the questions you should ask your pediatrician about your child’s healthcare. Write them down, and feel good knowing you’re arriving at your child’s early medical appointments prepared!
If you’re looking for a pediatrician, don’t be afraid to ask about their experience with adopted children. You may find someone who has a great deal of experience, and that’s a huge plus.
What documents do they need from you to best oversee your child’s medical care? You may have birth records, or even a medical background from your child’s birth parents, but what other questions can you ask the birth family or your adoption agency about your child’s health history that could best inform your pediatrician? You may not be able to give your child’s doctor an answer to every question, but knowing what they need most gives you the tools to ask the right questions to get as much information about your child as possible.
How available are they? Do you have 24-hour access to a nurse or even the pediatrician? What happens if there is an emergency after-hours? Get a 360-degree understanding of how to contact your pediatrician at any time, and make sure that any backups you need are noted and in place.
What is their position on medicating young children? Antibiotics are heavily prescribed in this country, and it’s important that you and your pediatrician align on the issue of prescriptions and antibiotics. This is also a good time to do your own research, so you’re aware of your position and the kinds of medications you do and don’t want your child taking.
Do they have any local referrals for individuals associated with the health of adopted children? Whether that’s a therapist, special needs counselor, a particular school district, or hospital—any resources your pediatrician can provide regarding medical professionals equipped to handle, treat, and empower adopted children is vital. The stronger your child’s wellness community, the better!
What questions would you add to this list?
