Patronage of the newborns

Babies grow up and develop very quickly exactly in their first year. That’s why it is crucial to regularly have your child examined by a pediatrician – it will help monitor your kid’s health and development continuously, and also promptly notice and correct any disorders. Regular visits to the pediatrician and the supervision of a child in the first year of life will help to “keep a finger on the pulse.”

When is the first pediatric examination done?

The first time, when a pediatrician has to examine the child at home is the immediately after discharge from the hospital. This is called “the primary patronage of the newborn”. The second examination is recommended to be held in the first two weeks. Besides, you have to examine the child again by the end of the first month of life. However, the individual plan of the examinations of your baby is comprised by your pediatrician, based on the features of the child.

Important! The first examination better be held at home, by the end of the month and later on you can bring them to the clinic.

Is the patronage of the newborn at home possible?

Yes, at KinderKlinik we have a permanent option of calling a pediatrician to come to you. You are welcome to use it! Our pediatricians will come and perform the patronage of the newborn at your home: examine the child, perform all the necessary tests and consult the child right where you live.

What if my child has developed the jaundice?

In newborns, jaundice of the skin often occurs – it is called physiological jaundice. With high bilirubin levels, the doctor can prescribe your baby to undergo phototherapy – “sunbathe” under a lamp with a special wavelength of light, which helps to quickly remove excess bilirubin. Contact KinderKlinik – the phototherapy procedure is available in our departments!

How often do I need to examine my child at the pediatrician’s?

After the first month you need to examine your child every month.

According to the Ministry Of Health decree #149, the number of obligatory medical examinations of a child under 3 years old can’t be less then 13. However, every child is different and this number varies depending on the infant’s needs. The examinations calendar is put together by both a pediatrician and the parents. You should consult your pediatrician at any time, however, if anything worries you. For example, if the child experiences regular regurgitations, acne, diathesis or constipation, or if you want to make sure that body mass increase is going smoothly.  Even if there are no reasons to worry, it is still better to consult a doctor, just to make sure.

What does the pediatrician appointment include?

• General examination
• Weight calculation
• Measurement of height, weight and body temperature
• Evaluation of physical and mental development
• Measuring volume of the head, chest and fontanels
• Examination of the umbilicus, skin and mucous membranes
• Recommendations as to the feeding and health tempering
• Vaccination prescription

If the doctor has any questions – he will advise you to visit other specialists (neurologist, orthopedist, ophthalmologist etc.), have additional examinations, like heart ultrasonography and perform necessary lab tests.

Monitoring the child under the age one year. What specialists should be visited and what examinations should be done during the first year of child’s life?

Orthopedist. It is recommended to have a planned visit to an orthopedist under the age of three months – it will help to identify the dysplasia of the hip joints, rickets, clubfoot, torticollis and other orthopedic disorders at the early stage in infants and promptly prescribe the treatment. The hip joint ultrasonography may be prescribed for the same purpose.

Neurologist. During the examination by a neurologist at an early age (up to 2 months), all the child’s reflexes are checked. This will help to find out whether the child is developing right and to comprehensibly evaluate the neurological status.This is especially true if a birth trauma or asphyxia took place, or the child experiences anything worrying, for example, infant tremor.

Ophthalmologist. When the child turns three months (except for premature born children) it is recommended to perform an examination, especially if you’ve noticed strabismus or conjunctivitis in an infant. Supervision of child under one year is necessary to exclude the congenital anomalies of eye development, detecting disorders of development of the lacrimal exit ways, keeping track of eye functions and determining an individual plan for preventive examinations.

Otolaryngologist. The earlier you examine your child at the otolaryngologist’s – the better: he/she will help to control the state of the organs of hearing and upper respiratory tract, provide recommendations for the appropriate care for ENT organs, will check in with the hearing function. You shouldn’t wait to visit an otolaryngologist, if your child has runny nose and cough.

Surgeon. Some pathologies are congenital and are diagnosed by the pediatric surgeon even in utero, or immediately after the birth. However, there are also disorders that manifest themselves in childhood, especially in the first years and even months of a baby’s life! That is why scheduled examinations of a pediatric surgeon up to 3 months of a child’s life are recommended – they allow to identify a number of diseases in time and prevent complications, for example, inguinal hernia or cryptorchidism in boys (occurs when the one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum while the fetus is developing).

Blood, urine tests and others. Such tests are usually performed at the age of nine months for the first time. The reason for that is the feeding regime of a child after six months. If the child eats unwell, there is a risk of lowered hemoglobin level and anemia development. To check the hemoglobin level in an infant and exclude this disease or detect it as early as possible and prescribe the necessary treatment, you should perform an extended blood test. But if there are doubts as to the child’s health, the tests might be needed earlier. For instance, if the hemorrhagic disease or the hemolytic disease of the newborns are suspected. Because tests – are the main indicator of the health condition.

Sonography (ultrasound) of the organs of the abdominal cavity – is one of the most effective methods of identifying the localization, size, structure and state of the internal organs: kidneys, spleen, liver and biliary tracts, pancreas and gall bladder. The ultrasound allows to detect the pathologies of these organs.

EKG and Echocardiography (EchoKG), heart dopplerography (Doppler ultrasonography) help to check the state and function of the baby’s heart, if the pediatrician notices something is not ok, like certain heart murmurs.

Neurosonography (NSG). This diagnostic method helps to detect hydrocephalus, hematomas and brain cysts, as well as some other structural brain abnormalities. Early detection of these disorders allows you to prescribe timely and competent treatment.

EEG (electroencephalography) reflects the electrical activity of the brain and how its various parts work. EEG can show that there are certain disorders in the brain of the child, which can be the cause of different symptoms in the child or indicate other diseases of the nervous system.

Ultrasonography of the thymus, soft tissues of peripheral lymph nodes – these examinations may be necessary individually, if prescribed by the doctor.

We know, how important consultations and examinations, listed above, are, that is why for Your convenience we put them all together in one yearly patronage program – “First year with KinderKlinik”. This program is both beneficial at comfortable at use, because we put one price tag for the whole complex of examinations and tests – 19 100 UAH.

When is pediatrician’s consultation necessary?

Any questions regarding child’s development, deviations in their behavior and condition – is a reason to consult a pediatrician. Examinations can be scheduled, preventive and urgent.

Conditions, when the child should be referred to a doctor immediately.

• SEIZURES
• FEVER (40 ° C and above)
• FEVER, which doesn’t subside and is accompanied by the appearance of a rash that does not disappear when pressed in the form of “bruises”, “stars” (pay close attention to the buttocks and legs). However, any rash accompanied by fever should be consulted by a doctor.
• consciousness impairment (answers the question incorrectly, does not respond to calls, impossible to wake up)
• head trauma (especially with loss of consciousness, even short-term), and
• in general, in case of any serious injury is better to be immediately referred to an emergency room
• BURN
• allergic reactions like Quincke’s edema, especially when the neck begins to swell  (a hoarse voice is an indirect sign)
• vomiting and headache at fever without signs of intestinal infection
• the baby has a LONG SCREAM or cry: piercing (on one note) or very quiet, weak (groans), a swelling of the large fontanel
• There is a CYANOSIS OF THE LIPS, nails, skin, TONGUE
• Dehydration (repeated vomiting or diarrhea)
• BLEEDING
• SWALLOWED SOME PILLS OR DRANK AN UNKNOWN CHEMICAL LIQUID

* any child’s condition which causes suspicions – is a reason to immediately contact your doctor! This memo doesn’t replace the professional examination and doctor’s advice!

If you need a pediatrician in Kyiv, welcome to KinderKlinik. At our medical center you will have your own personal pediatrician who will find a common language with even the most special baby, will plainly and plentifully inform you about their health, ways of prevention and treatment options, if necessary.

We think, that preventing a disease is better than treating it, that is why we will do everything in our power, so Your child is healthy and happy!