Choosing your Baby’s Doctor

Pediatrician, Family doctor, or Nurse Practitioner?

While you are pregnant, you can think about finding a physician or nurse practitioner for your baby if you don’t already have one. Who Should it be and how can you tell if the person will work out? You may already see a family doctor who is used to caring for babies, in which case the choice is simple. But if you deliver your baby with the help of an obstetrician, you will need to find a doctor or nurse practitioner for your baby.

What qualities are you looking for? Some parents get along best with a doctor who is casual and laid back. Others parents want to be given directions down to the last detail. You might have more confidence in an older, more seasoned professional, or you might prefer one who is younger and more recently trained.

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has received additional training and usually a master’s degree so that he or she can function like a doctor in many ways. Nurse practitioners always work with doctor backup; how much the doctor is actually involved varies from practice to practice. Doctors often have more experience managing complex sickness; nurse practitioners may have more time scheduled for checkups and usually provide excellent preventive care. I wouldn’t hesitate to use a nurse practitioner if he or she comes highly recommended.

A good first step in finding the right professional is to talk with other parents. Obstetricians and midwives often can give good recommendations, too.