Interviewing a Pediatrician

Many pediatricians offer the opportunity to meet them before baby arrives for what is called an expectant parent interview, or a prenatal consultation. Some offices offer these consultations free of charge for expectant parents.

Before the Interview

You can learn a lot about a pediatrician’s office before you even meet the doctor. Consider these aspects of your visit:

• When you called the office, was the staff friendly and prompt in answering the phone?
• How long did it take you to travel to the office?
• Is the office near your home or daycare?
• Are the waiting room and exam room clean?
• Does the office have features that are child-friendly (toys and books)?
• How long did you have you to wait to be seen? Was the waiting room packed?

Questions to Ask During an Expectant Parent Interview

Becoming a new parent can be overwhelming. Expectant parent interviews are a great way to ease your anxiety and answer questions you may have about preparing for baby and what to do once baby arrives. Bring a list with you to your expectant parent interview. Here are a few good questions to ask the pediatrician:

• Do you accept my insurance?
• What hospitals are you affiliated with?
• How many years have you been in practice?
• What do I do if I have a question after-hours?
• Does your practice offer a separate entrance and waiting room for sick child visits versus well child visits?
• What are your views on breastfeeding, antibiotics, nutrition, circumcision, etc.?
• Will you visit my baby in the hospital after delivery?
• What is the newborn visit schedule after baby is born?

After the Interview

When the interview is over, take time to reflect on the appointment and consider a few things:

• Was the doctor friendly and approachable?
• Did they give you enough opportunities to ask questions, and did they answer them in a way that was easy to understand?
• Did you feel rushed?

If you are happy with the pediatrician after your expectant parent interview, ask the office if now is a good time to complete a new patient packet. Some offices may prefer you wait until your baby’s first office visit to complete this step, and will instruct you to simply provide the pediatrician’s name to the hospital when you deliver.