The Prenatal Interview
Ideally, all parents should have a meeting with the prospective pediatrician some time prior to the anticipated date of delivery. From the pediatrician's perspective, care of the newborn baby begins with this prenatal interview. The primary goals of this meeting are for both parties to establish a level of comfort with each other and to earn their expectations of each other. For example, most pediatricians do not attend uncomplicated deliveries, so the parents need to be told that the pediatrician will most likely see them the next morning. In addition, the pediatrician needs to evaluate the attitude of the parents towards the pregnancy and to have them review some of the decisions that they will have to make before and immediately following the birth of the baby. This is also an opportunity for the pediatrician to inquire about events in the prenatal history that might have an impact the health of the baby.
Elements of the prenatal interview include:
- Is this the first pregnancy, or are the parents "experienced parents"?
- Details of any prior pregnancy.
- Family history of medical or genetic problems.
- Decisions about circumcision.
- Decisions about breast-feeding vs. bottle feeding.
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