If you are expecting a baby, congratulations! This is an exciting time for you. You’re probably making plans to decorate the nursery, shop for car seats and cribs, and get everything ready. This is also the perfect time to start gearing up be the best possible advocate for your child’s health. I believe all parents should start advocating for their children as soon as they know they are expecting. Here’s how.
• Make a Better Baby Book – You can start creating your baby’s personal health book as soon as you know you are expecting. Keep track of all the details of your pregnancy including a journal of mom’s health and medications. Also be sure to get copies of all test results as your pregnancy progresses. I like to keep a binder with divider tabs for all my health information. Read my article on my binder system to learn how you can start a health binder for you and your new baby. And don’t think your baby’s book should only include the boring medical details. This book can be a wonderful gift to your child later in life. After all, we all like to hear more about ourselves and what we were like as children. So include the fun and wacky details like how much weight mom gained and what foods she craved while she was pregnant.
• Dig into Genetics – If you haven’t already done it, now is also the time to find out about any genetic conditions that run in mom or dad’s family. Whatever information you can discover about conditions you baby might be more likely to have because they run in your family can help your doctor watch for early clues or symptoms so he or she can make the best possible decisions for your baby’s health.
• Pick a Pediatrician – Of course, having a fantastic pediatrician is a crucial part of being your child’s health advocate. I f you already have children you’ve probably got this covered. But if this is your first child, don’t wait until your baby is born to start looking for a pediatrician. The best ones may have a long waiting list for new patients. Start your search by talking to your family doctor for suggestions and by polling your friends and relatives who live in your area. Once you have a short list of candidates, schedule appointments with each one so you can meet and evaluate the doctor and his or her office set-up before your child is born. Some things you’ll want to consider include your rapport with the doctor, how well you communicate with each other, the office set-up including afterhours availability and the doctor’s backup when he or she is not available.
If you didn’t start your baby’s health book early in your pregnancy, don’t give up. You can start at any age by asking your doctor’s office for copies of your child’s medical records. Even if the records are not a complete history, whatever information you can compile about your child’s past and current health can be a huge benefit later in his or her life in case of a serious illness. Don’t assume the doctor’s office will always have your child’s records available. Keeping your own copy gives you instant access to the information if you need it and provides a backup in case the doctor’s records are lost or deleted.
As parents, we look forward to tracking all the milestones in our children’s lives. As your child’s health advocate, you can help ensure that his or her health will be the best it can be so you can enjoy those milestones together.