A. Your pediatrician or the nurse that gave you your discharge instructions should alert you to when you need to be seen again before you leave the nursery. If not, it would be a good idea to call and find out when you are supposed to have your appointment.
Baby's First Visit
It used to be that most babies were discharged from the nursery and then didn't see their pediatrician until they were 2 weeks old, but that advice has changed over the years.Although it depends on whether or not your baby was already jaundiced when she went home, how well she was feeding, and if she had any medical problems, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that 'it is important for your baby to be seen by a nurse or doctor when the baby is between 3 and 5 days old.'
In addition to making sure your baby is feeding well, especially if she is breastfeeding, and not losing too much weight, this early checkup is important to check for jaundice, which usually reaches its highest level when a baby is about 3 to 5 days old.
Early Discharge
An early checkup for your baby is especially important if your baby had an early discharge from the nursery and went home before she was 48 hours old. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these babies should be examined by a health professional within 48 hours of going home.And of course if your child is not feeding well, has a fever, is jaundiced, or shows other signs of illness, then you may need to see your pediatrician even sooner.
Source:
American Academy of Pediatrics. Question and Answers: Jaundice and Your Newborn.
Hospital Stay for Healthy Term Newborns. PEDIATRICS Vol. 113 No. 5 May 2004, pp. 1434-1436.
