Expecting
Having a baby is one of the most exciting times in your life. Nothing is more rewarding than the privilege of caring for this new life and providing an environment where both you and your child will thrive and develop. Choosing a pediatrician is an important and personal decision, and we want you to feel at ease with the care you and your child will receive at TLC Pediatrics. At TLC Pediatrics, we share your joy and enthusiasm, and we look forward to the opportunity to partner with you on the exciting journey of raising a child. Please feel free to call our office at (806) 353-7900. We are affiliated with the following hospitals:
If you deliver at one of these hospitals, we will be able to see you and your baby in the hospital. If you deliver at another hospital, you and your baby will be cared for by the hospital pediatrician, and you can follow up with us upon
discharge. As a courtesy to all our expectant parents, TLC Pediatrics has created a manual. As a courtesy to all our expectant parents, TLC Pediatrics has created a manual Caring for your Baby that will hopefully make the process of caring for your newborn a little less stressful.
When your baby is born at an affiliated hospital, simply tell your obstetrician and the hospital staff that you have chosen Dr. Maaytah or TLC Pediatrics of Amarillo as your child’s pediatrician. Our office will be notified of your baby’s birth by the hospital staff. Upon discharge, please contact our office about scheduling your baby’s first visit to our office.
We will come and visit you and your baby every day during your stay in the hospital and discharge your baby from the hospital. Before discharge from the hospital, the baby will also be tested for several metabolic disorders,
required by the State of Texas. In the hospital soon after birth, the newborn will receive an injection of Vitamin K to bolster the baby’s blood clotting system, and antibiotic ointment is applied to the newborn’s eyes to treat for any possible contamination during birth. Medication is also applied to the umbilical cord to facilitate drying. The hospital staff also offers the initial Hepatitis B vaccination, which we strongly recommend the baby receive.
Following the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, TLC Pediatrics will schedule your baby’s first office visit in the first two to five days after discharge from the hospital. At this appointment, our provider will do a head to toe evaluation of the baby. We will check the baby’s weight and feeding status, evaluate the baby for jaundice, and answer any questions that you may have.
New parents have lots of questions, and TLC Pediatrics will be there to answer them. For questions during business hours, call our office at 806-353-7900, and you will be connected to a nurse. For after-hours emergency questions, our nurse line is staffed 24/7, and you will be called back within 30 minutes. In the case of a medical emergency, please call 911.
TLC Pediatrics follows the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for well care and immunizations. We believe strongly in immunizations and protecting infants and children. We do not support alternate vaccine schedules or not vaccinating children. If your philosophy differs from ours, we request that you find another pediatrician. Click here for more information on our vaccine schedule.
TLC Pediatrics accepts all major forms of insurance, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, United Healthcare, FirstCare, UMR, Aetna, and Cigna. Once your baby is born, you have 30 days to add him or her to your plan. When you call your insurance company, you may want to ask these questions:
- Are well visits covered 100 percent?
- What is the copay for well visits or sick visits?
- Are immunizations (vaccines) covered?
If you have any questions about communicating with your insurance company, call our office at 806-353-7900, and we will help you make sure you’re getting the necessary coverage.
Below are a few links to websites with a wide range of information for expecting parents. TLC Pediatrics of Amarillo has no relationship with any of the sites listed below.
