Does your child have a paediatrician?

[youcannotbeserious]

I'd like some advice please:

My DS was born in The Portland 6 weeks ago and his newborn check up was done by the most wonderful paediatrician.

He was so lovely that I decided to take DS back to him for the 6 week check. DS is progressing really well, but the Paeditrician said it's good to check babies every 6 weeks and I should make another appointment...

Half of me is really tempted to take DS back (PFB syndrome in full effect! ) but the other half of me thinks it's probably a bit OTT...

So, I'd love to hear from people who have a paediatrician for their kids or have thought about it.... I'd love to hear your stories....

thanks,

taliac - do you mind me asking who you see. I want to find a good paediatrician to talk to about ds1's dairy intolerance (or whatever else it might be). GP doesn't believe in food intolerances, and my new hv is worse than useless.

Mine see a brilliant paed. Apparently a midwife friend told me he was so goodlooking in his twenties that none of them could even look him in the eye and talk to him.

He is now in his fifties and has that craggy Clint Eastwood thing going on....

When my ds came out of hospital in May, he gave me his mobile number and said if I ever had a problem, to ring him anytime. Ds got a rash on the sunday following discharge and I rung the paed. We went round to his gorgeous house and he took a look at ds. Above and beyond the call of duty and so lovely with it. Thank heavens for my marriage that he has not aged like Clooney. Bloody wonderful house too.

LOL ggg, I rather like Clint!

I see Mr. Maalouf.

He is not Clint Eastwood but is lovely.

We saw Dr Douek. He's a general paediatrician, but was good on dealing with DDs thankfully temporary dairy intolerance(caused by gastroenteritus)

We saw Mr Maalouf with DD2 for her postnatal check, yes he was lovely.

Muffin - theres a good search facility on the Portland website here telling you everyone's specialities. According to that theres a Dr Eltumi who specialises in gastro problems in case thats helpful..

I suppose if you're paying £100 for a consultation, at least they've got to listen to you and you don't need to feel guilty about the waiting room full of people after you.

But I would be very suspicious of anyone who said a healthy baby needed to be checked by a paediatrician every 6 weeks.

taliac - thank you.

I don't even take DD to the health visitor, to be honest (neglected second born syndrome). I can see a possible advantage in having a private paediatrician when there's actually something wrong with your LO (a paediatrician would probably have diagnosed or at least suspected DS's whooping cough in one visit, rather than the three GP visits it took), but six-weekly checks are just paying for his golf club membership.

My dd has SN and gets seen by the paediatrician once a year.
My second one gets seen by the hv umm mmm now when did we see her last??
once a year??

When we where in India we went to a peadiatrician as thats the way it's done, there's no HV concept. Even there we just went for the immunisations and annual checks.

Agree with the golf membership or holiday pad.

muffin DS saw Dr Eltumi for his silent reflux. I would highly recommend him.

Twinkle please do. Hope all goes well for your ds.

Thanks for your post, Twinkle.

I think I will do the same and take DS around 6/8 months.

Thanks!

In Spain it's standard to see a paediatrician for the first year. But it's free, part of the health service.

I would never bother paying for it in the UK unless I had particular concerns. The GP/HV/baby clinic works just as well here.

my child has a paediatrician because of the complications around his birth. actually she is a consultant neonatologist, and she is wonderful. but his day to day care is by gp and hv and that is really the sensible combo as far as i can see. they can really get to know your child. you can hardly take baby to paed with every snotty nose!

My son has a paediatrician, but I only take him if/when necessary. no need to see one if there is no particular reason. what i did, was to take him to the paediatrician to give him the vaccinations AND have a general checkup at the same time - same money! At Portland as well...

AndreaaP what was the advantage in not just going to the baby clinic for free?

Yes, because she has dyspraxia.

But she only sees her once a year or so for further assessment.

I think we may have seen the same paediatrician at the Lindo Wing - he was lovely and says that he does both hospitals.

We decided against any follow ups as we're perfectly happy with our local NHS surgery. They were very helpful and thorough. Also, our local surgery is round the corner, and there was no way I was making the trek to Harley Street (his closest office) with a newborn.

However, we do also have a private GP who specialises in children. We don't go regularly but it has been useful for my H and I when we've needed a private referral for ourselves, and we thought we should be able to call on her for C as well. This was the only benefit we could see in having a paediatrician TBH

No - we were offered weekly visits to the HV for free and an immediate GP appointment for the slightest small worry. A stroll up the road to a free NHS appt sounds far more healthy for a baby than an trip thorugh carbon monoxidey traffic jams or flu-germ-ridden public transport to pay £how-much? for a highly qualified expert to weigh your baby.Not to mention the effect on your on mental health...

We got referred about an umbilical granuloma, but it was fine and got treated externally with some silver nitrate by the GP and now it is perfect.

Yes - but happily DH has cousin and husband living nearby who are Senior Registrar and Consultant Paeds at GOS.
Feel pretty silly calling them over for (1) a rash and (2) tummy bug considering what their day job must involve but they are lovely people. It's very reassuring.