Newborn Examination and Well Child Visits

The first year of life is a remarkably rapid and critical period for a baby’s physical, emotional, neurological, and social development. During this time, even small observations, early recognition of subtle changes, and routine medical checkups play a vital role in identifying many health concerns long before symptoms appear. Newborn and infant checkups not only provide essential medical assessment, but also offer families meaningful guidance, reassurance, and support as they bond with their baby.

Our ‘Newborn Examination and Infant Well-Child Visits’ are designed to evaluate your baby’s health comprehensively, answer parents’ questions clearly and confidently, and carefully monitor each child’s unique needs. This comprehensive service includes every major aspect of early childhood care—from the newborn exam and feeding assessment to breastfeeding support, vaccination planning, developmental screenings, and growth monitoring.

My goal is to reduce parental uncertainty, especially in the first months, by offering evidence-based pediatric care that is both thorough and compassionate—supporting your baby’s healthy, happy, and safe start in life.

As part of this service, we offer the following evaluations:

1. Newborn Examination
2. Feeding Assessment and Breastfeeding Support
3. Vaccination Planning and Guidance
4. Growth and Development Monitoring

 

• Newborn Examination: A Comprehensive Health Check in the First Days of Life

A newborn examination is one of the most important health check-ups your baby will have. These first days are a time of rapid change, and even the smallest signs can give us valuable clues about a baby’s well-being. That’s why this examination plays such a key role in making sure your baby gets the healthiest start possible. More than a simple medical check, it’s also a chance to guide parents, ease worries, and help families feel confident as they begin caring for their newborn.

This examination is usually performed within the first days after birth and then repeated at regular follow-ups. During these visits, we monitor your baby’s growth, check how feeding—especially breastfeeding—is going, and offer practical, evidence-based advice to support you at home.

What Happens in a Newborn Examination?

1. Body Measurements

We begin by measuring weight, length, and head circumference. These simple measurements tell us a great deal about your baby’s overall health.

• Weight helps us understand whether early newborn weight loss is within normal limits or needs closer attention.
• Head circumference reflects early brain growth and can alert us for some conditions.
• Length provides a starting point for tracking growth over time.

For premature babies, we use special growth charts designed specifically for their unique growth characteristics.

2. Breathing and Heart Assessment

Your baby’s breathing pattern and effort are observed carefully. Fast breathing, flaring nostrils, or a soft grunting sound can be early signs of breathing difficulty.

• We listen to the lungs with a stethoscope.
• We check chest movements to assess respiration.

The heart exam includes checking for:

• Heart murmurs
• Irregular rhythms
• Peripheral pulses
• Signs of good circulation

Some heart conditions may be asymptomatic in the newborn period, so this careful evaluation is very important.

3. Neurological Check and Reflexes

Newborn reflexes tell us a lot about the nervous system and early brain development.
We check reflexes such as:

• Moro (startle) reflex
• Rooting reflex, which helps with feeding
• Sucking reflex, essential for breastfeeding
• Grasp reflex, seen in both hands and feet
• Stepping reflex

We also observe your baby’s muscle tone, symmetry in movements, alertness, and spontaneous activity.

4. Head and Face Examination

We look at the shape of your baby’s head, the fontanels (soft spots), and the shape and form of skull bones.

• A wide or very small fontanel, or asymmetry in the head shape, can be significant and may require follow-up.

We check the eyes, including how the pupils react to light and also for the red reflex.
Nasal passages, ear position, and ear shape are also examined to ensure everything is developing as expected.

5. Abdomen, Skin, and Umbilical Cord

During the abdominal exam, we assess:

• The size of the liver and spleen
• Distension of abdomen
• The presence and equality of bowel sounds

Your baby’s skin is checked for jaundice, rashes, birthmarks, and physiological newborn skin variations.
The umbilical cord stump is examined for signs of infection, bleeding, or delayed healing.

6. Genital Area and Hip Examination

We examine genital anatomy in both boys and girls.
For boys, we check if the testicles have descended and look for conditions like hydrocele.
For girls, we check the normal appearance of the labia.

The hips are examined using gentle maneuvers (Barlow and Ortolani tests) to screen for developmental hip dysplasia, a condition that is easily treatable when caught early.

Feeding Assessment and Breastfeeding Support

Feeding is a major part of the newborn examination. We assess how well your baby latches, sucks, and gains weight, as well as how your milk supply is developing.

If needed, we provide support with:

• Breastfeeding positions
• Achieving a deep, comfortable latch
• Increasing milk production
• Safely storing expressed breast milk

This part of the visit is especially important for parents of preterm babies or those experiencing feeding challenges.

Newborn Screening Review

We also review newborn screening tests—such as tests for phenylketonuria, biotinidase deficiency, congenital hypothyroidism, SMA, and others. These screenings are crucial for detecting rare but serious conditions early.

Families receive clear explanations about what screening tests mean and what to expect next.

Guidance for Parents

The newborn exam includes plenty of time to talk with parents. We discuss topics like:

• Bathing and umbilical cord care
• Establishing healthy sleep routines
• Safe-sleep guidelines
• Managing gas and fussiness
• Reading your baby’s cues
• The vaccination schedule
• Environmental factors such as tobacco, noise and screen exposure

This guidance helps parents feel prepared, supported, and confident during the early days with their baby.

A Healthy Beginning

A newborn examination is the first essential step in your baby’s health journey. It allows us to detect issues before they become problems and helps parents build a strong foundation of knowledge and confidence. With regular follow-up visits, this early assessment becomes a meaningful investment in your baby’s long-term health and well-being.

• Newborn Feeding Evaluation and Lactation Consultation

Professional, Compassionate Support for Your Baby’s Healthy Start

Newborn feeding is one of the most important foundations of your baby’s growth and overall health. From the very first days of life, every baby has unique feeding needs, and every family experiences breastfeeding in its own way. Some babies latch deeply and feed effectively right away, while others need more guidance, patience, and individualized support. Likewise, every mother’s postpartum recovery, milk production, and emotional experience are completely different.

For all these reasons, a newborn feeding evaluation and breastfeeding consultation are not simply medical services—they are comprehensive, family-centered support systems. The goal is not only to ensure that your baby is feeding well but also to help you feel more confident, empowered, and supported in your breastfeeding journey.

Healthy newborn feeding plays a major role in early weight gain, immune system development, digestion, and mother-baby bonding. A professional feeding evaluation provides clarity, reassurance, and early guidance to help your baby thrive from the very beginning.

What We Evaluate During a Newborn Feeding Assessment

A newborn feeding evaluation takes a detailed look at how your baby feeds and how breastfeeding feels for you. This includes:

• Sucking strength and rhythm
• Latch quality and breast positioning
• Milk transfer and swallowing patterns
• Feeding duration and frequency
• Your baby’s alertness during feeds
• Urine and stool patterns
• Newborn weight loss and early weight gain

These observations give us a clear understanding of whether your baby is receiving enough breast milk and whether feeding is comfortable and effective.

During your visit, we also discuss practical questions many new parents have, such as:

• “Is my newborn latching correctly?”
• “Is this amount of weight loss normal?”
• “How often should I breastfeed?”
• “How do I know if my baby is full?”

Newborn feeding evaluation is essential for detecting early feeding challenges and guiding families toward healthy, sustainable feeding patterns.

Mother and Baby are Evaluated as a Dyad

Breastfeeding success depends on both mother and baby. For that reason, breastfeeding consultation always includes maternal comfort, milk supply assessment, and the emotional experience of feeding.

During breastfeeding support, we address:

• Nipple pain, cracks, and soreness
• Concerns about low milk supply
• Engorgement or clogged ducts
• Hormonal effects after birth
• Breastfeeding positions for comfort and deep latch
• The impact of birth type (vaginal birth, cesarean, early delivery)
• Hydration, nutrition, and rest for supporting milk production

Every mother receives compassionate, judgment-free, and evidence-based support. Because breastfeeding is not just a physical process—it is also emotional and deeply personal.

What Happens During Breastfeeding Consultation?

The goal of breastfeeding consultation is simple: to help you and your baby feed comfortably, effectively, and happily.

During your session, you will learn:

• Effective breastfeeding positions
• How to achieve a deep, pain-free latch
• How to understand your baby’s hunger and fullness cues
• How to create a personalized feeding plan
• Safe ways to combine breastfeeding and pumping if required
• Techniques to support and increase milk supply

Emphasis is placed on the fact that breastfeeding is a learned skill—one that improves with the right techniques, guidance, and support.

Feeding Support for Premature or Special-Needs Babies

Premature babies often require a more delicate and specialized feeding plan. These infants may have:

• Immature sucking and swallowing coordination
• Reduced stamina during feeds
• Slower early weight gain
• Need for more frequent monitoring

Breastfeeding support for premature infants includes:

• Customized feeding schedules
• Pumping guidance for mothers
• Safe storage and use of expressed breast milk
• Gradual transition from bottle or supplemental feeding to breastfeeding

These steps help ensure that even the most vulnerable newborns receive nurturing and developmentally appropriate nutrition.

Milk Supply Support and Expressed Breast Milk Management

One of the most common questions new mothers ask is, “Is my milk enough?”
Breastfeeding consultation includes evidence-based strategies for increasing milk supply, such as:

• Improving latch and positioning
• Increasing feeding frequency or adding pumping sessions
• Managing engorgement and supporting milk flow
• Skin-to-skin contact
• Maternal nutrition and hydration guidance

You will also learn how to safely store, freeze, thaw, and warm expressed breast milk—especially helpful for working mothers, parents of premature babies, or families managing combination feeding.

A Personalized, Evidence-Based, and Heartfelt Approach

Every baby’s feeding rhythm is unique, and every family’s experience is different. Newborn feeding evaluation and breastfeeding consultation provide tailored, one-on-one support that combines medical expertise with genuine empathy.

Our goal is to ensure your baby receives healthy, adequate nutrition while helping you feel knowledgeable, confident, and fully supported throughout your breastfeeding journey.

With the right techniques, reliable information, and compassionate guidance, breastfeeding becomes not only nourishing—but also a deeply enjoyable and meaningful connection between mother and baby.

• Vaccine Planning and Immunization Guidance in Newborn and Infant Follow-ups

Reliable, Warm, and Evidence-Based Support for Your Baby’s Healthy Future

From the very beginning of life, regular newborn and baby checkups play a vital role in your child’s overall health. One of the most important parts of these visits is creating a timely vaccination schedule. Infant vaccines protect your baby from serious infectious diseases, support the development of a strong immune system, and in long-term contribute to public health.

For many parents, the vaccination process can feel both important and a little overwhelming. That’s exactly why professional immunization guidance is essential—to help you understand each step, feel confident in your decisions, and know that your baby is receiving safe, evidence-based care.

Why Is Vaccine Planning So Important?

A newborn’s immune system is still developing, which makes babies more vulnerable to certain infections. Newborn vaccines and infant immunizations protect your child from serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

A carefully organized immunization plan helps:

• Protect your baby during vulnerable early months
• Prevent the spread of infections within the community
• Ensure vaccines are given at the most effective times
• Provide guidance on additional (optional) vaccines
• Keep you up-to-date with the latest guidelines

Some vaccines must be given at very specific ages to ensure proper protection. During every newborn and baby checkup, your child’s immunization schedule is reviewed and updated.

Vaccines Given in the Newborn Period

Shortly after birth, babies typically receive vaccines such as Hepatitis B, which provide early protection against serious illnesses.

Parents often ask:

• “What does this vaccine protect against?”
• “Is it safe for my newborn?”
• “Is it really necessary?”

During your visit, these questions are explained clearly and calmly. Vaccine safety, effectiveness, and timing are all based on strong scientific evidence and international health guidelines.

Infant Vaccines: 0–24 Months

During the first two years of life, your baby receives several important vaccines as part of the recommended childhood immunization schedule. These may include:

• DTaP-IPV-Hib (the combination vaccine)
• BCG (tuberculosis)
• Pneumococcal
• Rotavirus (additional to the national program)
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Hepatitis A
• Meningococcal vaccines (additional to the national program)

Each baby’s vaccination plan is personalized based on factors such as health status, birth history, and prematurity.

What Does Immunization Guidance Include?

Vaccine counseling is much more than creating a schedule. It means supporting parents at every stage with clear information and compassionate communication.

1. Understanding the Purpose and Benefits of Each Vaccine

We explain which diseases each vaccine protects against and why it is recommended at a specific age.

2. Timely Vaccination Planning

Your baby’s immunization schedule is reviewed and updated at every visit to make sure nothing is delayed or missed.

3. Guidance on Optional Vaccines

We provide balanced, evidence-based information on additional vaccines—such as meningococcal or rotavirus vaccines—so families can make informed decisions.

4. After-Vaccine Care

Parents learn what to expect after a vaccine, including common, mild responses like low-grade fever or fussiness, and how to manage them.

5. Vaccine Safety Information

We review vaccine ingredients, safety monitoring systems, and global standards to ensure parents feel comfortable and confident.

Caring for Your Baby After Vaccinations

It’s normal for babies to experience mild symptoms such as mild tiredness, slight fever, or temporary fussiness after vaccines. These are signs that the immune system is responding.

Parents receive practical, supportive guidance on:

• Managing fever or discomfort
• Monitoring the injection site
• Supporting hydration and feeding
• Knowing when to reach out for medical advice

This support helps families feel secure and informed during the entire process.

Immunization Planning for Premature Babies

Premature babies may have a more delicate immune system, making immunization even more important. Most vaccines are scheduled according to the baby’s chronological age, not gestational age, unless otherwise noted in guidelines.

Families receive clear explanations about timing, safety, and added benefits for preterm infants.

RSV Monoclonal Antibodies: Additional Protection for Babies

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause bronchiolitis and pneumonia in babies—especially during fall and winter. Premature infants, babies with heart or lung problems, and young infants in their first RSV season are at higher risk for developing severe disease.

RSV monoclonal antibodies offer an important layer of protection. Unlike a vaccine, these are lab-made antibodies that are given directly to the baby, providing immediate passive immunity.

Key points about RSV monoclonal antibodies:

• They are not traditional vaccines but provide protective antibodies.
• They reduce the risk of severe RSV illness.
• They are especially recommended for high-risk newborns and premature infants.
• They are given seasonally, usually before winter.

During your baby’s checkup, we discuss whether RSV monoclonal antibody protection is appropriate based on your child’s health history and risk factors. This thoughtful guidance helps ensure that your baby enters the RSV season as protected as possible.

A Compassionate, Personalized, and Evidence-Based Approach

Every baby’s health journey is unique. That’s why vaccine planning and immunization guidance during newborn and baby checkups are tailored individually to your child if needed.

Our goal is to support your baby’s strongest possible immunity while helping you feel informed, confident, and supported at every step.

With timely vaccines, clear guidance, and compassionate care, you can help your baby build a healthy foundation for the future.

• Growth and Development Monitoring in Newborn and Baby Followups

Evidence-Based, Trustworthy, and Compassionate Guidance for Your Baby’s Healthy Journey

From the moment your baby arrives, one question stays at the top of every parent’s mind: “Is my baby growing and developing well?”
Regular newborn followups and ongoing baby wellness visits are essential for understanding your child’s growth rate, motor skills, social–emotional development, and overall health.

Growth and development monitoring is far more than measuring height and weight—it is a comprehensive, scientific approach to understanding your baby’s entire developmental journey. Early and regular pediatric evaluations help ensure that healthy babies stay on track and that any developmental risks are recognized early, when intervention is most effective.

These visits also aim to answer the questions parents naturally ask:
“Is my baby developing at the right pace?”,
“Is this behavior normal?”,
“What should I be paying attention to?”

What Is Growth and Development Monitoring?

Growth and development monitoring involves regularly assessing your baby’s height, weight, and head circumference, as well as their motor, cognitive, language, and social milestones. These evaluations help us track your baby’s rapid physical and neurological progress throughout infancy.

During each visit, we closely observe and assess:

• Physical growth patterns
• Feeding habits and nutritional status
• Sleep routines and sleep quality
• Muscle tone and motor skills
• Social behaviors such as smiling, eye contact, and response to sounds
• Language development, including babbling and early words
• Age-appropriate communication and behavior

Each appointment is both a scientific assessment and a supportive, confidence-building conversation for families.

Growth Measurements and Percentile Tracking

One of the most reliable ways to understand your baby’s growth is through routine measurements of height, weight, and head circumference. These measurements are plotted on appropriate growth curves and percentile charts.

What matters most is not one single measurement—but your baby’s individual growth pattern over time. Sudden drops or spikes in percentiles may signal a nutrition or health concern that requires closer evaluation.

For premature babies, these assessments are made using corrected age, ensuring the most accurate and fair developmental interpretation.

Developmental Monitoring: Because Babies Don’t Just Grow—They Develop

One of the most meaningful parts of routine baby checkups is tracking developmental milestones.
Each month, we evaluate age-specific skills in the following areas:

• Motor development: head control, rolling, sitting, crawling, walking
• Language development: cooing, babbling, first words
• Social development: smiling, eye contact, interactive play
• Cognitive development: object tracking, cause-and-effect awareness, early problem solving

These evaluations help identify possible delays early and allow us to provide personalized recommendations to support your baby’s development at home.

Developmental Screening Tools (GIDR, SIATT, and M-CHAT)

A key component of growth and development monitoring is the use of developmental screening tools. These tools help assess whether your baby’s motor, language, social, and cognitive abilities are progressing appropriately.

Screening tools do not diagnose, but they help detect early signs of delays or developmental risks—giving families the advantage of early support.

Here are three tools commonly used during baby checkups:

– GIDR (Developmental Monitoring and Support Guide)

GIDR is a comprehensive and internationally accredited developmental monitoring guide created for children aged 0–72 months. It systematically evaluates your baby’s:

• Motor development
• Language skills
• Social–emotional behaviors
• Cognitive abilities

Its biggest strength is its clear, age-specific checklists, which make it easy for both parents and clinicians to understand where a child stands developmentally. When a risk is identified, GIDR also guides families toward early support and intervention resources.

– SIATT (Social Communication and Adaptation Screening Tool)

SIATT assesses your child’s social communication and adaptive behaviors, including:

• Eye contact
• Joint attention
• Participation in play
• Social interaction
• Behavior regulation

SIATT is especially valuable for identifying early signs that may be associated with social communication challenges, including early indicators of autism spectrum differences.

– M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers)

M-CHAT is an internationally recognized screening tool used for children 16–30 months old to assess the risk of autism spectrum disorder.

It helps evaluate:

• Eye contact
• Joint attention (pointing, showing)
• Social communication
• Play behaviors
• Verbal and nonverbal communication

M-CHAT is not a diagnostic test, but if results suggest risk, it guides families toward further evaluation and early support—an essential advantage for lifelong development.

-Why Are These Tests Important?

Tools like GIDR, SIATT, and M-CHAT help:

• Identify developmental delays early
• Guide families to the right specialists when needed
• Offer individualized home-based support strategies
• Provide a clearer picture of your baby’s unique developmental profile
• Increase the effectiveness of early intervention

Early detection is one of the most powerful tools we have to support a child’s long-term development.

Feeding and Sleep: Essential Parts of Growth Tracking

Growth monitoring isn’t just about measurements—feeding patterns and sleep routines are equally important.

At each visit, we evaluate:

• Breastfeeding or formula feeding if needed
• Transition to solid foods-complementary feeding
• Nutrition quality and variety
• Meal and snack routines
• Nighttime feeding habits
• Sleep hygiene and overall sleep quality

Since feeding and sleep directly affect growth, families receive practical, sustainable recommendations tailored to their baby’s needs.

Why Are Pediatric Well-Child Visits So Important?

Routine checkups help ensure:

• Healthy growth and age-appropriate development
• Early recognition of developmental delays
• Guidance on feeding, sleep, behavior, and daily routines
• Timely vaccinations
• Lower parental anxiety through clear answers
• Early identification of chronic condition risks

These visits are not just medical assessments—they build a strong, trusting relationship between families and their pediatric care team.

Premature Babies Need Extra Care

Premature infants often follow a different developmental path, requiring:

• More frequent monitoring
• Evaluations based on corrected age
• Detailed nutritional planning
• Additional growth and neurodevelopmental screenings

Every preterm baby is evaluated at their own pace and according to their unique needs.

Family Guidance: Answers, Reassurance, and a Clear Roadmap

Each visit also includes personalized guidance about daily life with your baby. Parents receive practical information on:

• Monthly developmental expectations
• Age-appropriate play and stimulation
• Screen-time recommendations
• Strategies to support language development
• Tips for sleep, feeding, bathing, and soothing

For many families, the most valuable part of these visits is simply knowing:
You’re not alone.

Conclusion: A Scientific, Personalized, and Heartfelt Approach

Every baby’s story is unique. That’s why growth and development monitoring during newborn and baby checkups is a personalized, supportive, and deeply meaningful process.

Our goal is to ensure your baby grows in the healthiest way possible—while giving you the confidence, knowledge, and reassurance you need on your parenting journey.

With regular checkups, reliable information, and compassionate guidance, your baby’s development becomes not only strong—but joyful.