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 in which both you and your child will thrive and develop.
Choosing the pediatrician that can best care for your child is an important decision. At Pediatric Associates of Austin, we share your joy and enthusiasm and look forward to the opportunity in partnering with you on the exciting journey of raising a child.
At Pediatric Associates, we offer a complimentary Newborn Newcomer’s Class once or twice a month. The one hour class is on the first Wednesday or third Tuesday of every month beginning at 12:00pm.
At the class, you’ll tour our office and learn about how the practice operates. At the end of the class, you’ll have a chance to meet our providers and ask questions. Please email our office at welcome@pediatricassociates.net to reserve a spot. You don’t have to be a new parent to attend.
If you have chosen Pediatric Associates of Austin as your child’s pediatrician, please notify us before your baby is born by emailing our New Patient Coordinator at welcome@pediatricassociates.net. At this time, we can begin verifying your insurance and completing other necessary steps.
When your baby is born, simply tell your obstetrician and the hospital staff that you have chosen Pediatric Associates of Austin as your child’s pediatrician. Upon discharge, please contact our office about scheduling your baby’s first visit to our office.
What Our Newborns Parents are saying:
BEFORE THE BABY ARRIVES:
ONCE BABY ARRIVES:
WHAT TO EXPECT/WHEN YOU’LL SEE US:
In between visits, we’re still here for you:
INSURANCE TO DO LIST:
Raising a new baby is full of joy, excitement, and a bit of uncertainty. We expect parents to have tons of questions and we are here to help walk you through the ups and downs of parenthood. Because we know that many questions arise at times when it is not convenient for you to call our office, we wanted to provide some helpful resources here.
Below are a multitude of handouts pertaining to newborn and infant care. If the information here leaves you with additional questions, please call our office and we will be happy to help!
At PAA, we recognize that no two feeding journeys are the same. We’re here to support you with care, understanding, and guidance that meets your baby’s needs and your family’s goals. From breastfeeding and bottle feeding to pumping, introducing solids, and weaning, our team will walk with you every step of the way. Meet our lactation counselors below and find process and scheduling details on our website here
Registered Nurse | Certified Lactation Counselor
Feeding your baby can be challenging at first — and that’s okay. You are not alone.
The peaceful images on social media — a calm, sleeping baby nestled in a mother’s arms — are beautiful, but they don’t tell the full story. Most parents experience plenty of messy, tearful, and exhausting moments, too. You may find your rhythm quickly, or it may take time — either way, you are doing an amazing job.
Every baby and every parent is different, and so is every feeding journey. What matters most is finding what works best for you and your baby. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
A Few Tips to Get Feeding Off to a Good Start
Skin-to-skin contact is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do for your baby. It helps with bonding, calms your baby, and supports feeding — whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Try to offer your baby their first feeding within 1–2 hours after birth if possible.
If you’re separated from your baby and plan to breastfeed, you can still help your milk supply get started. Try hand-expressing or pumping colostrum every 2–3 hours (about 8–10 times in 24 hours). This can feel overwhelming — please reach out for help early. A lactation counselor can guide and encourage you through those first few days.
Many parents imagine how feeding will go — but babies often have their own ideas. Give yourself grace if things don’t go exactly as planned. What matters most is that your baby is fed, loved, and thriving.
If you plan to breastfeed, know that sometimes medical reasons make formula supplementation necessary, either temporarily or long-term — and that’s okay! Breast milk is wonderful, but formula is wonderful too. Fed is best.
Before delivery, it can be helpful to learn about donor milk options and how to choose a formula if needed. We can walk you through both. And if you want to breastfeed exclusively but need to supplement temporarily, a lactation consult can help you protect and maintain your milk supply.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Ask for help from lactation staff during your hospital stay. If you’re planning to breastfeed, try to have a lactation professional observe 2–3 feeding sessions to check latch and positioning, and to teach you how to use your pump or bottle-feed if needed.
After you go home, remember — feeding support doesn’t stop at hospital discharge. The providers at PAA and our lactation counselors are here for you throughout your baby’s first year (and beyond). Check-ins are encouraged — much more often than you might expect! We’ll walk beside you through each stage of your feeding journey and help you reach your goals.
Want More Support?
We offer infant feeding classes throughout the year at varying intervals. Click here to see upcoming sessions. If you have questions or concerns right now, please call to schedule an appointment with one of our lactation counselors — we’d love to help.
Hello exhausted new parents! Congratulations and welcome to the chaos of parenthood!
This is a handout about Triple Feeding, which is a temporary measure to try to increase mother’s milk supply while ensuring your baby is getting adequate calories and fluid. Feedings (i.e. this whole process) should occur at least every 2-2.5 hours during the day and at least every 3 hours overnight – and that’s from the start of one feeding to the start of the next.
There three components are as follows:
Once the infant is no longer actively sucking, let the infant come off the breast. Non-nutritive sucking (i.e. using mom as a pacifier) does increase nipple stimulation and milk production but can be very time consuming. Limit the total duration of breastfeeding to 10-15 minutes per breast. Frequency of nipple stimulations is usually more important than duration for increasing milk supply.
If possible, hand baby to another care provider to supplement with expressed breast milk (if available), or formula, so that mother can do step #3. Usually offer 1-1.5 ounces (30-45 mL) but can vary.
This is a general outline for triple feeding; your physician or lactation consultant/counselor can help recommend changes to better suit your personal needs. Every mother-infant pair is unique! We understand that this is exhausting; remember YOUR health and sanity matter too!
Keep it up! You’re doing great!
Pediatric Associates Of Austin follows the immunization guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). For information about these vaccines and the diseases they protect against, please visit http://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/immunization/Pages/vaccine-preventable-diseases-and-policy.aspx
For detailed informational sheets published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/
Our Vaccine Philosophy
Our practice believes that all children should receive the recommended vaccines according to the guidelines provided by the AAP and the CDC. Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing diseases and health complications in children and young adults. Regular vaccinations help children ward off infections, and are administered as one of the safest and best methods of disease prevention.
We are happy to discuss your concerns about vaccines at your child’s next visit.
Recommended Immunization Schedule
In 1975 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated a 1971 policy by stating “there is no absolute medical indication for routine circumcision of the newborn.” This position was reiterated in 1983 by both the AAP and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. After a recent rigorous review process that included an AAP task Force on Circumcision and many AAP committees, etc., the AAP has modified its position.
Unfortunately, the statement of that position does not at this time clearly come down on either side of this issue of whether to circumcise a newborn male or not. “Newborn circumcision has potential medical benefits and advantages as well as disadvantages and risks. When circumcision is being considered, the benefits and risks should be explained to the parents and informed consent obtained.” Points of interest in the background material presented:
Hopefully, there will be sufficient interest in this issue to result in the kind of studies required providing definitive answers. It is surprising and frustrating that with a surgical procedure so widely used for centuries, we continue to be lacking the data needed about its benefits and hazards.
A newborn is a baby less than 1 month old. Newborns generally eat, sleep, cry, need their diapers changed frequently and require lots of love. If a newborn is ill, the symptoms can be subtle. It is possible for a newborn to deteriorate quickly. Please call our office day or night for any of the following:
If any of the above occurs or you have urgent questions or concerns call our office number (458-5323) day or night. If it is after hours you will hear a recording explaining how to reach the physician or nurse on call. Be prepared to give your baby’s name, age, medication, temperature, and any other relevant information when you are called back. If you do not hear back in a reasonable period of time always call again. There is a charge for all
after hour calls.
For routine questions you may call during our regular office hours. Our nursing staff is all R.N.s with pediatric experience and will be happy to discuss your concerns. The nurses “triage” the calls received and make every effort to call back promptly but will return the more urgent phone calls
with ill children first. It is reasonable to expect to receive a return call the same day, usually within a couple of hours, unless we are very busy. There is no charge for calling during regular office hours.
HEAD: Most babies, especially those delivered vaginally will look like little “cone heads” and they will often be bruised slightly around their head and face. These both improve dramatically in the first two days.
FACE: Usually very puffy at first—remember, they have been under water for the past nine months. Because of this, their eyes will not open very wide for 1-2 days. EARS: Often bent in unusual positions for a few days.
NECK: Usually can’t find it until they are about 6 months.
CHEST: Almost all babies will have some breast tissue directly under their nipples. This is of no concern, even boys.
HANDS: Usually held in a fist – if not, they will usually close their fist if you stroke their palm.
CORD: May have a plastic clamp and is usually dyed purple. Underneath, it is yellow color. It is important to lift up the cord and clean it with alcohol at least 4 times a day.
GENITALS: This is another area in which they tend to accumulate fluid and have lots of swelling.
LEGS AND FEET: Often twisted and bent because of the cramped conditions, but if significant it may be worth mentioning to your doctor.
SKIN: Many have Stork Bites, which are red patches on their forehead, eyelids or back of their neck. These fade away over the first year. Many darker skinned infants will have Mongolian Spots, which look like bruises over their lower back. These too will fade as the years pass. At 1-3 days of age, many infants will develop Erythema Toxicum, which looks like mosquito bites all over the body. This is a perfectly harmless rash, which resolves in a few days without treatment. Their faces get many harmless rashes, the most common of which is milia, which looks like a lot of tiny white bumps.
THE MAIN THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING – ASK QUESTIONS!
Your newborn needs to have a sponge bath. Don’t give your baby a tub bath until the cord (navel), and a boy’s circumcision have healed. It isn’t necessary to bathe your baby every day, unless you really enjoy it. Clean the genital area at each diaper change, then sponge bathe the baby. Every other day is probably adequate in the summer and once or twice a week during winter months.
Get together everything you need before you start the bath. Do not leave your baby alone on the changing table, counter top or tub. Even a newborn baby can move more than you realize and could fall to the floor. Plan the bath in a warm area free of drafts so your baby doesn’t get too cold. Rather than get “goose pimples” if a newborn gets cold his skin will become mottled or splotchy in appearance.
Newborns frequently do not like the experience of the sponge bath and often cry vigorously. Don’t jump to the conclusion that you are doing anything wrong, or that you’re hurting the baby. Try putting a towel on the baby’s body then uncover only the part you’re sponging. Cover the wet part again. This may help keep your baby warmer, and perhaps less fussy. Baby probably will be less fussy if he isn’t really hungry or overfull from just being fed.
Items you will need for a sponge bath:
Check the water temperature with your elbow or wrist: The water should be about body temperature –neither too cool nor too warm. You can add warm water if needed.
Undress Baby: Leave the diaper on, as this will prevent wet surprises. Wrap the baby in a towel or blanket.
Eyes: Dip a fresh cotton ball in the warm water, squeeze out excess water. Wipe each eye from the inside corner (next to the nose) to the outside corner. Use a clean cotton ball for each eye.
Nose: Cleanse gently just inside the nostrils. Hold the baby’s head firmly. Don’t drop water inside the baby’s nose.
Ears: With a washcloth, gently wash around the outside of the baby’s ear and behind the ear. Don’t clean the baby’s ear canal and never put anything into the ear canal to clean it.
Face: With a soft washcloth, squeeze out excess water. Wash the baby’s face and pat dry to prevent chilling. Do not use soap on the face.
Hair: To shampoo your baby’s hair, hold your baby by placing your arm under the baby’s back and your hand behind the head. Tilt the head so water will run off the back of the head instead of down the face. Squeeze water from the washcloth over the baby’s scalp. With your free hand, wash the hair and scalp with mild baby shampoo or baby liquid soap using a circular motion. To rinse, squeeze plain water from the washcloth onto the head until all the suds are gone. Babies’ heads sweat easily so you may need to wash your baby’s hair daily to prevent cradle cap.
Body: Remove the diaper. Soap the rest of the body. Be careful not to get the unhealed navel or circumcision wet. Clean the folds of skin (thighs, groin) well. Squeeze plain water from the washcloth over the baby to rinse the soap off. Pat dry baby with a towel.
Cord: Lift cord and cleanse base with alcohol saturated Q-tip or cotton ball
Expecting a baby? We would like to take a moment to provide you with some insurance information, which can sometimes be difficult to understand. We have devised the following checklist to guide you. Insurance is ultimately the parent’s responsibility but we are happy to help if you have questions.
Amino Acid Disorders
Argininosuccinic Acidemia (ASA)
Citrullinemia (CIT)
Homocystinuria (HCY)
Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD)
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Tyrosinemia Type I (TYR 1)
Argininemia (ARG)
Benign Hyperphenylalaninemia (H-PHE)
Biopterin Defect in Cofactor Biosynthesis (BIOPT-BS)
Biopterin Defect in Cofactor Regeneration (BIOPT-REG)
Citrullinemia, Type II (CIT II)
Hypermethioninemia (MET)
Tyrosinemia, Type II (TYR II)
Tyrosinemia, Type III (TYR III)
Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders
Carnitine Uptake Defect (CUD)
Long-Chain Hydroxyacyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (LCHAD)
Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (MCAD)
Trifunctional Protein Deficiency (TFP)
Very-Long-Chain Acyl-Co A Dehydrogenase Deficiency (VLCAD)
2,4 Dienoyl-CoA Reductase Deficiency (DE RED)
3-Hydroxyacyl-Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency (HADH)
Carnitine Acylcarnitine Translocase Deficiency (CACT)
Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase I Deficiency (CPT1)
Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase Type II Deficiency (CPTII)
Glutaric Acidemia, Type II (GA2)
Medium-Chain Ketoacyl-CoA Thiolase Deficiency (MCAT)
Short-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (SCAD)
Organic Acid Disorders
3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA Carboxylase Deficiency (3MCC)
3-Hydroxy-3methylglutaric Aciduria (HMG)
Beta-Ketothiolase Deficiency (BKT)
Glutaric Acidemia Type 1 (GA1)
Isovaleric Acidemia (IVA)
Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA) (Cbl A and Cbl B forms) (Cbl A,B)
Methylmalonic Acidemia (mutase deficiency form) (MUT)
Multiple Carboxylase Deficiency (MCD)
Propionic Acidemia (PROP)
2 Methylbutyryl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (2MBG)
2-Methyl-3-Hydroxybutyric Acidemia (2M3HBA)
3-Methylglutaconic Aciduria (3MGA)
Isobutyrylglycinuria (IBG)
Methylmalonic Acidemia with Homocystinuria (Cbl C,D)
Malonic Acidemia (MAL)
Endocrine Disorders
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH)
Hemoglobin Disorders
Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb SS)
Sickle Beta Zero Thalassemia (Hb S/Th)
Sickle-Hemoglobin C Disease (Hb S/C)
Various Hemoglobinopathies (Var Hb)
Other Disorders
Biotinidase Deficiency (BIOT)
Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Galactosemia (GALT)
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD)
T-Cell Related Lymphocyte Deficiencies
Point-of-Service Screening Conducted at Birthing Facility
Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD)
Newborn Hearing Screening
At PAA, we understand that the weeks and months after having a baby can be incredibly emotional and overwhelming. You are not alone in feeling this way—many new moms experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, anxiety, and feeling completely exhausted. That’s why we routinely screen for postpartum depression during many of our newborn appointments. It’s important to us that you feel supported, seen, and heard as you navigate this new chapter.
Because these feelings are so common, we’ve put together a list of helpful resources designed to support you during this time. Whether you just need someone to talk to or more structured help, we’re here to guide you toward the care and connection you deserve.
You are doing an amazing job—and we’re here for you, every step of the way.
Call: 1-833-TLC-MAMA
You’re not alone—please don’t keep thoughts of suicide to yourself. We’re here to help. If you’re experiencing intense emotional distress or thinking about suicide, call 988—the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline—for free, confidential support. You can also go to 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to text or chat for free and confidential emotional support.
Please reach out to your pediatrician or to our lactation counselor if you have any questions. We are here to support you and your family and are thankful to be a part of your community.
