Choosing a Pediatrician Before Your Baby Arrives
Between nursery planning and hospital bags, you might be wondering: How important is it to find a pediatrician before birth?
It’s genuinely important, and pediatric experts are specific about it. This isn’t a nice-to-have item on the pregnancy checklist. It affects who examines your baby in the hospital, how your first newborn visit gets scheduled, and how much scrambling you’re doing in the exhausting first days home.
But, finding a pediatrician isn’t something that should make you feel overwhelmed. Simply understanding the information below allows expectant parents to calmly prioritize the importance of making that choice before the baby is born.
Quick Answer
Finding a pediatrician before birth is considered important for these reasons:
- It is directly recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for the safety of your baby to establish your primary care provider during the third trimester
- Your provider is the one who examines and cares for your baby within days after birth
- Your birth hospital knows which pediatric practice to notify at delivery and where you can set the appointment
- You’ll remove the urgency of researching and scheduling a first week’s visit while caring for a newborn
- You’ll have time to ask questions and confirm the practice is the right fit, without the added stress of a new baby
This is not a hard deadline, and you can still choose a pediatrician after your baby is born. However, doing it beforehand removes a significant amount of last-minute stress during an already demanding time.
Why Timing Matters
A pediatrician isn’t just someone you’ll see for scheduled checkups. From the moment your baby is born, a pediatrician (either yours, if you’ve chosen one, or whoever is on call at the hospital) will typically examine your newborn before you’re discharged. Choosing a practice ahead of time means that first exam, and every visit after it, is with a provider you’ve already met and vetted, rather than whoever happens to be assigned.
What Happens If You Wait Until After Birth
Waiting isn’t a crisis, but it does create some avoidable friction. Without a pediatrician chosen in advance, your birth hospital will whichever provider is on call to see your baby, which means you don’t get to choose who performs that first newborn exam. After discharge from the hospital, you’re responsible for researching practices, checking insurance coverage, and scheduling your baby’s first outpatient visit, all within the first several days of your baby’s life, while also recovering physically and adjusting to little to no sleep. Many parents in this position end up choosing quickly out of necessity rather than after a real comparison. If you choose in advance, your pediatrician will help you schedule all necessary visits and work with your insurance to enroll your baby.
AAP Recommends You Schedule a Prenatal Visit with a Pediatrician
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all expectant parents meet with a pediatrician during the third trimester of pregnancy, specifically to build a relationship with a provider before the demands of newborn care begin. Despite that recommendation, research on the topic has found that nationally only about 22% of expectant parents actually attend a prenatal pediatric visit, meaning the large majority of families may be making this decision after their baby has already arrived.
Metro Pediatrics offers a Meet & Greet with your preferred pediatrician before the baby is born. Just give us a call and we’ll help get it scheduled.
What a Pediatrician Needs to Know Before Delivery
Choosing a practice before birth isn’t just about meeting a provider. It’s also a logistical step. Hospitals generally ask which pediatrician or pediatric group you’ve selected so they can notify that practice at delivery. With Metro Pediatrics, one of our pediatricians will see you and your baby within 24 hours of delivery at any of the Portland-area hospitals we partner with.
How This Affects Your Baby’s First Days Home
The timing of your baby’s first outpatient checkup depends on already having a pediatrician in place. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a newborn checkup within 48 to 72 hours of hospital discharge, largely to check weight, feeding, and jaundice in those first critical days. If you haven’t chosen a pediatrician yet, you’re trying to research a practice, confirm insurance, and get an appointment scheduled inside that same short window, all while caring for a newborn. Families who’ve already chosen a pediatrician can typically call to schedule as soon as they’re home. Metro Pediatrics schedules this first newborn visit within 2 to 4 days after hospital discharge, or within a week of birth for babies not born in a hospital setting.
Is It Ever Too Late to Choose a Pediatrician Before Birth?
No. Whether you’re close to your due date or your baby has already arrived, you can still choose a pediatrician. At Metro Pediatrics, we prioritize newborn patients and schedule them quickly. The AAP’s recommendation is about the best timing for parents and baby, not a strict cutoff.
How to Get Started Now
If you haven’t chosen a pediatrician yet, a few steps can move things along quickly:
- Check which pediatric practices in your area accept your insurance plan
- Ask your OB, friends, or family for recommendations
- Do some local internet searching for patient reviews
- Call a practice and request a meet-and-greet visit to ask your questions directly
- Let your birth hospital know your decision, or ask for their assistance
- If your baby has already arrived, call to schedule a first visit right away rather than waiting
Supporting You Through Every Stage of Your Child’s Care
Choosing a pediatrician before delivery isn’t required, but it’s one of the more effective ways to reduce stress during an already overwhelming stretch of time. It means your baby’s first exam, first checkup, and first questions all happen with a provider you’ve already met, instead of a name assigned to you at the hospital.
Choosing Metro Pediatrics for Your Baby’s Pediatrician
Metro Pediatrics welcomes expectant parents to request a meet-and-greet visit at any point during pregnancy. If your baby has already arrived, you can still find a pediatrician or get started as a new patient with Metro right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What trimester should I choose a pediatrician in?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends meeting with a pediatrician during the third trimester, though earlier is fine if you’d like more time to research and compare practices.
What happens if I haven't chosen a pediatrician by the time I go into labor?
Your birth hospital will typically have an on-call pediatrician examine your baby before discharge. You can still choose your own pediatrician for follow-up care and future visits after you’re home.
Do I have to pick a pediatrician before my baby is born?
No, it’s not required. It’s recommended because it reduces stress and helps ensure continuity of care, but plenty of families successfully choose a pediatrician after their baby arrives.
How do I let my hospital know which pediatrician I've chosen?
Most hospitals ask for this information during intake or pre-registration. You can also call your chosen pediatric practice directly and ask them to coordinate with your birth hospital.
Can I still switch pediatricians after choosing one before birth?
Yes. Choosing a pediatrician before birth isn’t a permanent commitment. If the fit isn’t right after your baby’s first few visits, you can switch to a different provider or practice.