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1-833-PDX-KIDS Resources Locations + Quick Links
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(503) 531-3434

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(503) 667-8878

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(503) 261-1171

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(503) 295-2546

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New Patient?

Expectant Parents

Meet & Greets

Congratulations on the upcoming addition to your family! We’d love to be the place you bring your baby for high-quality, compassionate, and supportive pediatric care.

Before Baby's Arrival

Get to know Metro with a free meet & greet! These optional visits are here to help expectant parents select a provider and learn more about what we do. They’re offered virtually and in person.

How to Schedule

Browse providers welcoming new patients and click the “Meet & Greet” button on their bio page. Or give us a call, and we’ll set one up for you.
Our Providers ›

What is the pediatrician’s role in the hospital?

One of our pediatricians will see you and your baby within 24 hours of delivery at our affiliated hospitals, or more often if your child’s condition requires it. Please be advised that visit frequency varies by physician and/or clinic. Ask your pediatrician for more specific details.

Ask Questions

We welcome all your questions. Please feel free to ask us anything!

  • What is your schedule like? Are you full-time or part-time?
  • How long have you been in practice?
  • Do you have any specific areas of interest?
  • How easy is it for me to make an appointment to see you?
  • How do I get a hold of you if I want to speak directly to you?
  • Who does newborn rounds in the hospital?
  • Who takes care of kids if they’re hospitalized?
  • What is your immunization schedule?
  • Where do you refer patients for subspecialists?

Hospitals

The physicians of Metropolitan Pediatrics see all newborns joining our practice within 24 hours of delivery at Legacy Good Samaritan, Legacy Mount Hood, Providence Portland, and Providence St. Vincent Medical Centers.

Most newborns have their first office visit within one week of being discharged from the hospital for a weight and feeding check. At this time, a Hepatitis B vaccine is administered if one was not received in the hospital. This initial visit is then followed by our series of well-child checks (checkups) to monitor your child’s health, growth, development, and behavior through adolescence.

Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center

1015 NW 22nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 413-7711

Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center

24800 SE Stark St.
Gresham, OR 97030
(503) 674-1122

Providence Portland Medical Center

4805 NE Glisan St.
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 215-1111

Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

9205 SW Barnes Rd.
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 216-1234

Welcome Baby

Parenthood is full of unexpected joys, challenges, responsibilities, and QUESTIONS! Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we’re asked.

What medications and tests should my baby have received in the hospital?

  • Vitamin K shot. This helps prevent bleeding after birth.
  • Erythromycin eye ointment. This prevents damaging infections in your baby’s eyes.
  • Hepatitis B vaccine. This is the first of 3 hepatitis B vaccines your baby should receive. It starts the process of creating your baby’s immunity to hepatitis B, a serious liver disease that can lead to cancer. Some mothers are unaware that they have hepatitis B, and it can be passed from mom to baby during labor and delivery. The vaccine decreases the chance that your baby will get hepatitis B, even if exposed during the birthing process.
  • Newborn screen (formerly called the PKU test). This blood test checks your baby for additional treatable diseases. It will be repeated at your baby’s 2-week visit to make sure nothing has been missed.

Talk to your provider if you have further questions or your baby didn’t receive these things.

How do I feed my baby?

How often should I feed my baby?
Babies need to eat every 2-3 hours in the first few weeks of life. Often, babies will wake up to eat on their own, but you should wake them if it has been more than 4 hours since they last ate. Nursing should take about 10-15 minutes per breast and bottle-fed babies eat between ½-1 ounce at first, increasing to 2-3 ounces by about 2 weeks. They will continue to eat more as they get older.

What should I feed my baby?

  • Breastfeeding. It helps protect your baby against illnesses in the first few months of life, decreases development of chronic diseases like asthma, and is the perfect nutrition for your baby. Don’t be afraid to ask the lactation services at your hospital for help, even if you have already left the hospital.
  • Formula. If you are going to use formula, follow the mixing instructions on the package exactly or use a premixed formula. Never dilute or concentrate the formula without instructions from your doctor.
  • Vitamins. For all babies, whether breast or bottle fed, 400 IU of vitamin D per day is recommended. This is available over the counter.

How do I protect my baby from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS or “crib death”)?

  • Back to sleep. Placing your baby on his or her back to sleep is the most important thing you can do to decrease the risk of SIDS.
  • A safe sleep environment. The safest place for babies is in their own space, not in your bed. Their sleeping environment should be a firm surface clear of fluffy toys, blankets, pillows, and other materials that can cover their face. A car seat is not a safe place for a baby to sleep.
  • Sleeping with a pacifier. It is best to start the pacifier after breastfeeding is going well, and using pacifiers may reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS.
  • A fan in the room. The fan does not need to point directly at your baby; it should circulate the air.
  • Not smoking. Babies whose parents smoke have a higher chance of dying from SIDS. The best way to decrease this risk is to stop smoking. If you cannot stop, you should change your clothes and wash your hands every time you touch your baby after smoking and never smoke in the house or car. Require the same from everyone else around baby.
  • Roomsharing. Have your newborn sleep in your room—roomsharing (NOT bedsharing) has been shown to protect babies from SIDS. See the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment.

What about taking my baby’s temperature?

  • You do not need to take your baby’s temperature on a regular basis. You should take your baby’s temperature if he or she feels especially hot or cold, is extremely fussy, is much more sleepy than usual, or is not eating regularly.
  • You should call your clinic or take your baby to the doctor if the baby’s temperature is higher than 100.4°F (38°C) or lower than 96.0°F (36°C). Babies under 2 months are at higher risk for serious infections, and fevers can often be the only sign.
  • Rectal temperatures are the most accurate. Use a regular digital thermometer with a little Vaseline on the end, and gently insert it in the anus about ½ inch.

A few other safety tips…

  • Your baby should always ride in a car seat, even on the bus or in a cab. The car seat should face backwards and be in the middle of the back seat, never the front seat. The straps should be tight enough that you should only be able to get 2 fingers underneath. Blankets go outside the straps, not under.
  • If anyone wants to touch your baby, ask them to wash their hands first. Babies catch illnesses very easily so everyone needs to be careful to protect them. Babies shouldn’t be around people you know are sick. Avoiding crowds during the first few weeks will help protect your baby from infection.

Okay, my baby ate… Shouldn’t he or she poop and pee?

  • Babies should have a stool in the first 48 hours of life. Over the next few days, their stool turns from blackish brown to green to yellow. Color can vary, but if you see blood, call your doctor. Babies can poop anywhere from 8 times per day to 1 time per week. They may strain, cry, grunt, and kick, but as long as their stool is soft and there is no blood, they are not constipated and do not need treatment.
  • Babies should have several wet diapers per day, almost every time they feed. In the first few days, babies can have a reddish hue to their urine, called “brick dust urine” because crystals in the urine give it the same color as red bricks.

Reacting to mom’s hormones…

  • Babies are exposed to mom’s hormones while in the womb. These hormones can make changes in your baby’s body until they have cleared, which usually takes a few weeks. Boy and girl babies can get small breast buds, which can even make a little milk. They can also get baby acne, which happens around 2-3 weeks of age. Girl babies can have white vaginal discharge or even a little bloody discharge, usually on the 3rd or 4th day of life. All of these things should resolve on their own.
  • Mom is also experiencing her own hormones and going through a lot of changes. The “baby blues” are feelings of anxiety, irritation, tearfulness, and restlessness that are normal and experienced by more than 50% of women shortly after delivery. Sometimes these feelings progress to more serious depression, so tell your doctor if your baby blues are not resolving or if you are having new or worse symptoms.

Jaundice

  • What is it? Jaundice is a yellow tint to the skin and eyes. It is not present at birth, but may develop after a few days of life and is usually worse around day 4 or 5 of life. It can be due to a combination of dehydration after birth, genetics, mom’s milk production, and feeding ability. The yellow tint comes from a pigment called bilirubin, which is made by the liver.
  • What are the signs of jaundice? A yellow tint to skin and eyes, increased sleepiness, and poor feeding are all signs of jaundice. When levels are extremely high, babies can suffer seizures and brain damage.
  • How do we check for it? Your pediatrician will examine your baby for jaundice at the hospital, and your baby will get a blood or skin test before going home. However, the levels are highest during days 4-5 of life, so it is important to see your doctor in the first few days after leaving the hospital. Your baby may need more blood tests to check the level.

Crying

  • Babies may cry often; it is the only way they can tell you they need something. If your baby is safe, not hot or cold, not soiled, not hungry, and can be consoled by holding, be reassured. If your baby is unable to be consoled, call your pediatrician. You cannot spoil a baby with attention, however, letting him or her cry while you catch a break is not harmful either!
  • Your baby may cry for no reason and you may, as a parent, become frustrated. This happens to everyone.
  • NEVER SHAKE a baby. It can cause brain damage that can never be fixed. Don’t be afraid to set your crying baby down in a safe place and walk away if you are frustrated.
  • To soothe your baby, try swaddling (learn how from the nurses at the hospital), rocking, walking, bouncing, shushing, singing, or a pacifier.

Your baby’s office visit schedule:

  • The usual pediatrician visit schedule for babies is a newborn check within one week of age, followed by visits at 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 2½ years, 3 years, then yearly.
  • The purpose of the visits is to answer your questions, check on growth and development, and do a screening physical. Many of the visits include immunizations.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression

Some mothers experience stronger mood and emotional changes after delivery and are diagnosed with Postpartum Depression. These mothers describe feelings similar to Baby Blues, but the feelings are stronger or last for a longer period of time. They can start anytime during pregnancy up to the first year after delivery.

Symptoms are different for everyone, but may include:

  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Guilt
  • Frequent crying
  • Feeling like a bad mother
  • Changes in appetite or sleep
  • Difficulty concentrating

Postpartum Depression is a common and serious health problem that affects 25 percent of mothers. Women with Postpartum Depression need help in order to feel better. There are multiple treatment options available. Please talk to us if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if you are having thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby. Remember, the way you feel affects your baby too, so please ask us for help!

Baby Blues

This term describes changes in mothers’ moods after delivery. Mothers with Baby Blues may experience anxiety, confusion, fear, a sense of being overwhelmed, or feelings of loss. It is very common and occurs, to some extent, in 80% of mothers. The feelings associated with Baby Blues are generally strongest around 5 days after delivery and can last for a few weeks. Please talk to us if you have noticed some of these feelings or mood changes – we are here to help!

Postpartum Depression Resources

Resources for More Information & Support

  • Your Pediatrician – Please feel free to talk to us about this.
  • Your Obstetrician
  • Baby Blues Connection
    • 24-hour information/message line: 1-866-616-3752
    • You will receive a return call within 24 hours.
  • Postpartum Support International
    • 1-800-944-4PPD
  • Oregon Health Authority

Books that May Help

  • Understanding Your Moods When You’re Expecting: Emotions, Mental Health, and Happiness – Before, During, and After Pregnancy, by Lucy Puryear
  • This Isn’t What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression, by Karen Kleiman and Valerie Raskin
  • The Journey to Parenthood: Myths, Reality, and What Really Matters, by Barnes and Balber
  • Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression, by Brooke Shields
  • Mothering the New Mother: Your Postpartum Resource Companion, by Sally Placksin

Resources

Recommended Books

  • Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, by American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense, by Ellyn Satter
  • Feed the Belly: The Pregnant Mom’s Healthy Eating Guide, by Franc Largeman Roth
  • Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality, by American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth
  • Juggling Twins: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Strategies from Pregnancy to the Toddler Years, by Meghan Regan Loomis
  • Mothering Multiples: Breastfeeding & Caring for Twins or More!, by Karen Gromada
  • Super Baby Food: Absolutely Everything You Should Know about Feeding Your Baby and Toddler from Starting Solid Foods to Age Three Years, by Ruth Yaron
  • The Milk Memos: How Real Moms Learned to Mix Business with Babies – And How You Can, Too, by Cate Colburn Smith
  • The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones, by American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Top 100 Baby Purées: 100 Quick and Easy Meals for a Healthy and Happy Baby, by Annabel Karmel
  • When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy, by Barbara Luke
  • Your Baby’s First Year, by American Academy of Pediatrics

Local Groups

  • Baby Blues Connection, postpartum depression support
  • Hike It Baby, an outdoor adventure group for expectant/new parents and babies
  • La Leche League of Oregon, breastfeeding support

Helpful Links

  • AAP’s HealthyChildren.org (English)
  • AAP’s HealthyChildren.org (Español)
  • Boost Oregon
  • Child Passenger Safety
  • Maternal Mental Health
  • Vaccine Education Center

Text 4 Baby

Get support throughout your pregnancy and baby’s first year with FREE text messages on topics like prenatal care, baby health, parenting, and MORE!

How To Sign Up

  1. Text BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411.
  2. When prompted, enter your due date and zip code.

—OR—

  1. Sign up online.

You can cancel the service at any time by texting STOP or HELP for technical assistance. Text UPDATE to change your due date or baby’s birthday.


New Patients

We’d love to welcome you into the Metro Pediatrics family!

Get Started

Office Locations

Beaverton
15455 NW Greenbrier Parkway
Suite 111
Beaverton, OR 97006

Phone (503) 531-3434
Fax (503) 645-4544

Bridgeport
7213 SW Hazel Fern Road
Tigard, OR 97224

Phone (503) 214-2064
Fax (503) 598-3600

Gresham
25050 SE Stark Street
Suite 300
Gresham, OR 97030

Phone (503) 667-8878
Fax (503) 667-0310

Johnson Creek
9300 SE 91st Avenue
Suite 200
Happy Valley, OR 97086

Phone (503) 261-1171
Fax (503) 253-5989

Happy Valley Sunnyside
16144 SE Happy Valley Town Center Drive
Suite 210
Happy Valley, OR 97086

Phone (503) 486-7040
Fax (503) 658-3377

NW Portland
1130 NW 22nd Avenue
Suite 320
Portland, OR 97210

Phone (503) 295-2546
Fax (503) 790-1248

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