A prenatal pediatric consultation is a key moment to build a relationship of trust and empathy with the pediatrician you have chosen to monitor and promote your children health, growth and development. Who should attend this consultation? Ideally, all parents should attend a prenatal pediatric consultation. This practice is not yet common in Portugal, but this consultation is particularly important: For first-time parents; For parents in adoption processes; In twin pregnancies; When there are diseases in the family that may repercute on on the baby; In complicated pregnancies; In foreseeable cases of premature births; When malformations or other fetal disorders and diseases are identified. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a prenatal pediatric consultation to all parents and reports that some illnesses have been reduced as a result of the advice obtained by the parents. What will we do the prenatal pediatric consultation? The prenatal pediatric consultation is the privileged ocasion for parents to clarify all their doubts, fears and anxieties regarding the first months of the baby life. In this consultation, you can talk about topics such as: Baby sleep; Feeding the mother and child; Plan the trip to maternity; Type of delivery and its implications; First days in the maternity ward and at home; How to interpret the baby's cry; Accident prevention and safety; Vaccines; Parental anxiety management. All questions can and should be asked, however strange they may seem. Prenatal pediatric consultation is a key opportunity to plan the child future , ensuring that it reaches its potential for growth and development . When should the prenatal pediatric consultation be done? During pregnancy, it is advised that care is provided between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation . More about pediatrics at the Hospital da Luz network . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
