The Expectant Father by Jennifer Ash Rudick

The Expectant Father by Jennifer Ash Rudick

Author:Jennifer Ash Rudick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abbeville Publishing Group
Published: 2021-03-25T03:27:14+00:00


Making Final Plans

REGISTERING AT THE HOSPITAL

Despite what you’ve seen on TV and in the movies, getting to the hospital doesn’t have to be a frantic exercise at breakneck speed. Fortunately for men (but not nearly as fortunately for our partners), the onset of labor and the delivery itself are usually hours (if not days) apart, so if you plan carefully, there should be plenty of time to get everything done. And once you’ve got your bags packed and ready to go (see pages 189–91 for details), the next most pressing concern is registering at the hospital.

Most hospitals will allow—or may even require—you to register up to sixty days before the anticipated birth of the child (I’ve heard of some that ask you to register as early as the fourth month of the pregnancy). This doesn’t mean that you’re making a reservation for a particular day. All it means is that when you do show up at the hospital, you won’t have to waste time signing papers while your partner is having contractions and screaming. So as soon as you can, check with your hospital’s or clinic’s administrative offices and/or website to find out their policy. Doing so is particularly important because besides making you fill out 785 forms, the hospital will have to get a verification of coverage and eligibility from your insurance company. And that can take some time.

FINDING A PEDIATRICIAN

I know, you don’t actually have a baby yet, but you soon will, so you’d better start putting some real thought into picking a doctor for her. Most people take their kids to pediatricians, but plenty of family practitioners see babies too. During their first year, all three of my kids saw their pediatrician nine times—and they were all as healthy as horses. A typical first-year schedule includes visits a few days after you bring the baby home, two weeks after that, then once a month until six months, once in the ninth month, and again in the twelfth month. Clearly, since you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your child’s doctor, you should select someone you think you can get along with at least until your child turns sixteen or so. Given the state of health coverage in this country, your options may be limited. But if your plan gives you some flexibility, try to interview several prospective pediatricians. Here are some questions you should ask (you might want to take a picture of these pages and bring it along to the interview):

■ ARE YOU AFFILIATED WITH THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE BABY WILL BE BORN? If not, that could be a deal breaker, or you might be able to change hospitals.

■ HOW MANY TIMES WILL YOU VISIT THE BABY AT THE HOSPITAL?

■ WHAT INSURANCE DO YOU TAKE? Another potential deal breaker.

■ WHAT’S YOUR PHILOSOPHY ABOUT VACCINATIONS? Although the vast majority of pediatricians advocate routine vaccination, there is a vocal minority that doesn’t. The debate is interesting but beyond the scope of this book. It’s similar, in a way, to debates about the death penalty, abortion, cloth vs.



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