At PrimeCare Pediatrics, we believe in and emphasize the importance and value of regularly scheduled well-visits for all children; this includes newborns, infants, pre-teens, and teens according to guidelines provided by the Bright Futures initiative of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for excellence in pediatric care for the prevention and health promotion for infants, children, adolescents, and their families .
These wellness visits are designed for the health supervision of your baby. Recommended immunizations are commonly given at these visits. They afford the physician the opportunity of providing you with important information regarding the growth and development of your child. They are also a means of identifying problems or potential problems and providing early intervention if necessary.
The typical periodicity of well visits as recommended by the AAP for all children from birth through 18 years is given below. You may click on Recommendations for Preventative Pediatric Health Care to access the full details.
Your child’s schedule may vary slightly. This is mainly because the immunization schedule is usually updated from time to time by the government and other regulatory bodies and may vary from the previous year. Other reasons include vaccine availability and the fact that different states and offices may also adopt a slightly modified schedule.
At Birth – Newborn Hospital visit
Dr. Tega will visit you in the hospital and examine your baby soon after birth, once our office is informed. The hospitals that we currently cover are Piedmont Newnan Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, and Southern Regional Medical Center. Make sure you inform the nurses during registration, at check-in and at the delivery ward that your baby’s pediatrician is Dr. Tega, so the hospital can contact us once your baby is born.
Circumcision: If you elect to have your newborn son circumcised, Dr. Tega will be happy to perform this surgical procedure for you.
First Office Visit
Once your baby is discharged from the hospital, you will need to follow-up in our office within a week, usually in 1-3 days. The importance of this visit is to examine your baby thoroughly again and make sure that baby is healthy and both baby and mon are off to a great start. The baby’s feeding schedule will also be reviewed including weight and color check for jaundice.
After this initial office visit, the typical schedule is as summarized below.
1 month well visit
Review your child’s growth and physical development.
2 months well-visit
This visit is important because this will be the time that your baby starts the immunization series. Usually a number of shots are given.
4 months well-visit
Immunizations – first booster doses are given
6 months well-visit
Immunizations – booster doses continue
9 months well-visit
Focuses on your child’s physical development as well as issues regarding infant-toddler safety; includes tips for home safety and a comprehensive review of Child Home Safety Check List. We will also address your home’s childproof measures and safety concerns, and car seat safety issues if any.
12 months well-visit
The first in the series of vaccines for Chicken-pox and MMR prevention are usually given.
Child may also be screened for anemia.
15 months well-visit
Immunizations – booster doses continue
18 months well-visit
Initial series of immunizations may be completed at this visit
24 months well-visit (2 yrs)
Child may need to receive additional immunizations to catch-up
3-18 years well-visit
A yearly wellness physical is recommended.
Highlights:
4-5 yrs – Booster doses of immunizations given
11 yrs and beyond – Booster doses of Tetanus and other vaccines are given. Girls will need the HPV vaccine. College age kids will need to be vaccinated against meningitis.
Prenatal Visit
PrimeCare Pediatrics encourages all prospective mothers and parents-to-be, to make an appointment to meet with Dr. Tega and our office staff during the third trimester and before the arrival of their baby. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to meet with their pediatrician. It also provides us with the time to personally get-to-know the prospective parents and address any concerns they might have with regard to the expected baby.
Sports Physicals/College/Camp Physicals
These types of physicals are provided as needed.
Please contact us or your health care provider if you have any questions or need additional information.
