It is very common for future parents to schedule a consultation with a pediatrician before the baby is born to ensure that they are able to receive the best possible pediatric care for their family. Some important questions that you may wish to address during that consultation include determining how accessible the health care will be through the office hours of the clinic, whether they are able to accept your insurance coverage if they have an affiliate hospital, and if there are other doctors with other specialties within the same office. This is also a great time to address any questions or concerns either parent may have regarding care for the newborn once they have been born, such as when to know if the baby should be brought in for medical attention while symptomatic and when the first appointments should be made once the baby has been born, as well as expectations regarding breastfeeding and the eating/sleeping habits of the newborn.

Our staff here at Olivero Pediatrics takes pride in offering immediate and high-quality care for all acute illnesses and emergencies your children may encounter. Our top priority is ensuring that your child is comfortable and safe, so we will work to ameliorate the condition while alleviating symptoms as quickly as possible. We will work with you to create a treatment plan for your children to address the illness or emergency while offering preventative care to avoid a reoccurrence. If the condition requires further care from a hospital, our clinic offers a unique service that allows for patients’ admittance to Mt. Nittany Hospital without the need to wait in the waiting room, accessing the required care as soon as possible. Our goal with pediatric care is to ensure that it is as comfortable, safe, and quick as possible to allow your child to go back to being a kid.

Most inoculations will be administered within the first two years of your child’s life, with the first doses often taking place within the first few months. They will often receive 10 different types of vaccinations by the time they are 15 months old. Your pediatrician will outline a vaccination schedule with you to ensure that all vaccines are administered on a good timeline for the child to be able to safely interact with others. A typical vaccination schedule for a baby includes one administered within 12 to 24 hours following birth, another at 1-2 months old, and then a number of vaccinations provided at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months of age. After 6 months, the baby may not require vaccinations until they are 12 months of age. They will receive the following doses of some vaccinations at 12 to 15 months, and depending on what they have received so far, they may require a couple more before 23 months of age.

A typical check-up for your newborn will consist of a few things, making the appointments a bit longer than what we normally see as adults. The pediatrician will want to measure the development and growth of your baby at each check-up, measuring the length and the size of their head, as well as assessing their hearing, vision, and milestones they have recently reached. This is also when your baby will be receiving their vaccinations, which, depending on how many vaccinations are required, may take a bit more time. The average check-up appointment will be scheduled for around 20 to 30 minutes, with a variance depending on how many tests or vaccinations need to be administered.

Pediatricians are important sources for ensuring the general health and well-being of children. Parents should express any concerns and inquire about their child’s health concerns, suggested vaccinations, and methods for encouraging healthy behaviors when they see a doctor. If you have any concerns about your child’s health, you should see a pediatrician. Visit Olivero Pediatrics for proper advice and care if you are thinking about visiting a pediatrician. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 1243 Skytop Mountain Rd. Suite 4, Port Matilda, PA 16870. We serve patients from Port Matilda PA, Waddle PA, Julian PA, State College PA, Bellefonte PA, Pennsylvania Furnace PA, and Pine Grove Mills PA.