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Selecting a pediatrician can be quite the process. While pregnant with Bear, my husband and I completed at least four “meet and greets” in which we’d set up a informal, in-office meeting with a prospective pediatrician. During these visits, we’d discuss our parenting philosophies (attachment parenting), preventive wellness measures, the pediatrician’s thoughts on vaccinations, and so forth. We selected a pediatrician we instantly adored and have been incredibly happy with her ever since.
While it’s great we found a pediatrician we truly like, one who is wonderful with both children and parents, we had an additional element to consider when we made the decision to adopt internationally. Would our beloved pediatrician understand the needs of an internationally adopted child? Did she have any experience with families built though international adoption? Thankfully, she is well versed in international adoption and has several internationally adopted children as patients, including several from Guatemala. We were able to breathe a sigh of relief and both Beauty and Bear love going to see their pediatrician. However, if you’re new to parenthood and don’t have a pediatrician lined up, or if you’re starting the adoption process and need to see if your current pediatrician will be able to thoroughly treat and assess the needs of your internationally adopted child, here are some things you might want to consider:
1. Experience. What is the pediatrician’s experience with internationally adopted children? Does he/she currently have any internationally adopted children as patients? If so, are any of them from your child’s birth country?
2. Assessment. Is your pediatrician familiar with potential medical needs specific to your child’s race/ethnicity? Is he/she familiar with potential medical concerns specific to your child’s birth country? Do your research ahead of time. Walk in with a knowledge of any preexisting medical conditions, any health issues to which your child might be prone.
3. Preventive Wellness. Ask for a rough sketch of your child’s first visit with his/her new pediatrician. Will there be blood work? Vaccinations? What do you, as a prospective adoptive, want to see at that first visit? Do you want an additional round of testing (HIV, Hepatitis, etc.) ordered to confirm the result’s of your child’s birth country physician?
4. Availability. Will your pediatrician be willing to review any and all medical information you receive on your child while he/she remains in his/her birth country, if available? We emailed (with permission) Beauty’s pediatrician with a copy of every medical tidbit we received, even if it was just the basic height, weight, and head circumference “well child” information. Please note: it is your responsibility to provide a translation of the medical reports (if necessary). Do not expect your child’s pediatrician to give you his/her professional opinion on your child’s medical state without having all information in his/her native language (note: if your child’s pediatrician is bilingual or multilingual you may be able to skip this step depending on the language spoken in your child’s birth country–just ask).
5. Resources. This is vital. Does your pediatrician have a host of resourceful information at his/her fingertips? Is he/she able to suggest a family therapist/psychologist, developmental specialist, Early Intervention service contact, and the like? You want to find a pediatrician who will help your child to succeed physically, emotionally, and psychologically to the best of his/her abilities. You’re not asking for special treatment. You’re only asking for a starting point to obtaining the best care available to meet your child’s needs.
These are just a few issues to consider when selecting a pediatrician for your internationally adopted child. Go to as many “meet and greets” as you deem fit, and go in with an open ear. Above all, however, trust your gut instinct. If you feel a pediatrician will do the bare minimum to meet your internationally adoptive child’s needs, look elsewhere. As a parent, your child’s well being and health is one of your top priorities.
