We’re so happy for you and your family on the arrival of your new baby. We have developed this letter as a checklist of considerations that are often overlooked. We want to help ease your family’s transition to having a newborn in the home.
1. If you have dogs, consider bringing a receiving blanket home as soon as possible for the animal to sniff and get acquainted with the baby before you even come home.
2. Your health insurance company has no way of knowing you have a new baby to add to your policy unless you call and notify them. Please do this as soon as you can because we’ve had situations where the baby isn’t added in time (usually you only have 30 days) and then he is uncovered for several encounters leaving the parents with the bill. Contact the number on your insurance card to add the baby in order to prevent these problems. Always get the name of the person you spoke with and a reference number for the call.
3. If you’re having your baby someplace other than at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, please pass along our contact information to the staff. Hopefully they’ll fax us some basic information about the delivery and hospital course. We are available to you or their staff for any urgent need. We like to be involved in the care of our patients as early as possible J.
4. Please let us know if you’re having any nursing issues. We are connected with many community resources and we know that most challenges around nursing can be overcome with the right motivation and assistance from professionals. Please call us before giving a bottle. Lactation support group in our office Tuesday's at lunch. See link here.
News
Consider flu vaccines when they become available in October or November!
Be sure anyone that will be in close contact with the baby is well and has had their vaccines; especially the pertussis vaccine.
If you've had any breast surgery or have other concerns that might pose a challenge when nursing, consider a prenatal visit with a lactation consultant.
Please take good care of your teeth. When you reduce the inflammation in your mouth by taking good care to floss and brush, you reduce your chances of preterm delivery.