Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How do we let your office know that we had our baby?
A: When you check in to the hospital to have your baby, your labor nurse will ask you whom you have chosen to be the pediatrician for your baby. The nurse will then notify our office that we have a new patient.  You do not need to call our office yourself.

Q: Will one of the doctors from Primary Pediatric Medical Group see us in the hospital?
A: Yes, if your baby is born at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center or Eden Hospital. One doctor from the group is assigned to make rounds at those hospitals each day. That doctor will see you, examine your baby and talk about how things are going. On the day you go home, the doctor will make a plan of when you need to be seen in the office.

Q: How do we arrange a circumcision for our baby boy?
A: We have two pediatricians who perform circumcisions. The procedure is done in our Oakland and Alameda offices, usually within the baby's first 2 weeks of life.

Q: What if there is an emergency at the hospital or my baby is sick or has problems after the delivery?
A: There are neonatologists (specialists in newborns) who are always in the hospital. These doctors will see your baby immediately in the event of an emergency at the delivery or afterwards. Sometimes babies have to be cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We will not be the primary doctor while your baby is in the NICU but we will  be updated regularly by the neonatologist.

Q: Can we see a lactation specialist?
A: You can request to see a lactation specialist in the hospital. We also have Georganne Walker, who is a nurse practitioner and lactation specialist, on staff with our group.You may see her in our offices as an outpatient.

Q:  How soon after going home from the hospital will we come to the office?
A: Usually we ask you to come in to the office in about 2-3 days after leaving the hospital. Sometimes we may ask to see you the next day. We like to see babies so soon because problems with feeding and jaundice are important to address in those first few days. Also, we like to get a chance to see you and see how you are doing as new parents.

Breastfeeding:

In accordance with the World Health Organization's 10 Steps For Successful Breastfeeding as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics' Policy Statement on Breastfeeding, our goal is to support and encourage all families who desire to breastfeed their baby for as long as is mutually desired by both baby and mother. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and to continue, after complementary foods are introduced, until at least one year. We seek to help families initiate breastfeeding and to assure its continued success by monitoring at regular monthly visits and making referrals as appropriate. We have an in-house lactation consultant who communicates with primary health care providers regarding her findings and plans for successful breastfeeding tailored to the individual family's goals and cultural beliefs.

Hospital Affiliations:

Our physicians are on the staff of Children's Hospital Oakland, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley and Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.

Office Info:

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