512-458-5323
Contact Us
512-458-5323
Contact Us
Patient Portal

Newborn Information

(512) 458-5323

Congratulations!

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.

Newborn Newcomer's Class

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.

Upon Arrival

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:

  • "Excellent advice and care for our newborn."
  • "Kind and very detailed in infant care instructions."
  • "Attentive care for our newborn!"
  • "Such a smooth and easy first visit with newborn!"
  • "Exceptional newborn swaddling skills!"

Preparing for Your Newborn

BEFORE THE BABY ARRIVES:

  • Attend a Newborn Newcomer’s Class: 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.
  • Make sure you buy and install a Car Seat. You can’t go home from the hospital without it.  See our Safe Car Seat Practices handout.
  • Put together their bassinet or crib. See our Safe Sleep handout.
  • Have a few essentials on hand such as diapers and wipes, onesies, receiving blankets, bottles and nipples and their cleaning accessories (even for those planning to breastfeed) 

 

ONCE BABY ARRIVES:

  • Call us to let us know your baby has arrived! Once the hospital pediatrician says you’re getting ready to go home, give our office a quick call with your discharge date so we can schedule your baby’s first visit.
  • Let your obstetrician and hospital staff know that you’ve chosen PAA as your baby’s pediatrician.
  • If the hospital pediatrician mentions monitoring for jaundice (yellowing of the skin), let them know our office can check bilirubin levels during your visit. If your baby needs a bili-blanket for treatment, we can help arrange that too.
  • Enroll your baby on your insurance. We can’t complete this for you, but we’re happy to answer questions.
    • Most newborns are covered under the mother’s plan for the first 30 days—be sure to call your insurance and officially add your baby as soon as possible
    • If your baby will have two insurance plans, contact both companies to set up coordination of benefits so claims go to the correct one.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT/WHEN YOU’LL SEE US:

  • When you call us, we’ll ask for your expected hospital discharge date and when the hospital pediatrician recommended your baby’s first visit. We’ll make sure you have a spot on the schedule.
  • Please tell us if your newborn is covered by more than one insurance plan and share all last names your baby might be registered under (including mom’s maiden name).
  • Typical visit schedule:
    • First visit: 1–2 days after hospital discharge (usually when baby is 3–5 days old).
    • Second visit: Around 8–14 days old.
    • Extra visits: Some babies come in every 1–3 days early on, and that’s completely normal.
    • Feeding visits: Our PAA lactation counselors can help with breast or bottle feeding as often as needed.
  • Tip: Keep a running list of questions on your phone for your visits—no question is too small! If you’re worried, we’re here to reassure and support you.

In between visits, we’re still here for you:

  • Daytime (8 a.m.–5 p.m.): Call us at 512-458-5323 for questions.
  • After hours & weekends: Call the same number to reach our on-call nurse. Leave a message, and a nurse will call you back.
  • Online resources for newborns: Visit our website for newborn handouts (see links below) written by our providers—covering everything from bathing and skin care to feeding, poop, and genital care. (Check there before turning to Google!)
  • Online resources for moms: Not only do we care about our newborns — we care deeply about their moms, too. You’re not alone in this journey, and support is always available. Please reference our postpartum mental health resources here.

INSURANCE TO DO LIST:

  • Find out your deductible and copay amounts.
  • Check what your plan covers for well visits and immunizations.
  • See if you need a primary care doctor listed for referrals to specialists.
  • Confirm if you must use specific specialists for coverage.
  • Check if your plan requires hospital care at a specific facility other than Dell Children’s Hospital of Austin.

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!

View Our Newborn Handouts

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

Meta Albright, BSN, RN, CLC

Registered Nurse | Certified Lactation Counselor

Meta is a Registered Nurse and Certified Lactation Counselor dedicated to empowering families through compassionate, evidence-based care. She believes in building strong, trusting relationships with her patients, creating a nurturing environment where every parent feels heard, supported, and confident in their feeding journey.

A proud 7th-generation Austinite and devoted mother of three, Meta brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to her work. She earned her nursing degree from Texas A&M University and has been with PAA since 2021. Meta is currently pursuing her International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification to further expand her ability to support families.

In addition to her certification as a Lactation Counselor, Meta has completed advanced training focused on bottle refusal and low milk supply, and holds an additional certification as an Infant Feeding Counselor. Her specialization enables her to provide tailored, evidence-based interventions for each family’s unique feeding goals—whether breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or a combination of both! Meta is passionate about helping families navigate their individual journeys with confidence and care.

Annie Croft, MSN, APRN, CPNP, CLC

Annie began her nursing career in 2010 and became a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 2016. Soon after graduation, she welcomed her first son, and she and her husband, Peter, have since added two more lively boys to their family. Annie considers the lessons learned (and continually learning!) through her journey of motherhood to be just as valuable to her practice as her formal education, and she is passionate about supporting families through the tender newborn stage.
 
As a Certified Lactation Counselor, Annie feels privileged to walk alongside parents as they navigate infant feeding. She combines personal experience with an evidence-based approach, offering compassionate, practical guidance to help families feel confident, supported, and equipped to meet their feeding goals during this precious time.

Lizzy Liebert, MSN, APRN, CPNP, CLC.

Lizzy is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Certified Lactation Counselor. She believes in providing high-quality, evidence-based care, shaped by her broad clinical experiences. She is dedicated to partnering with parents to develop the right infant feeding plan for their family’s unique needs and goals, whether they choose exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive bottle feeding, or a combination of both.
 
Her academic journey started at Fairfield University in Connecticut, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing while playing Division 1 basketball. She has worked at Duke University Hospital, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California, and Dell Children’s Hospital here in Austin before advancing her education with a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on pediatric primary care.
 
Outside of working at PAA, Lizzy finds joy and fulfillment as a mother to three energetic boys. Her hobbies include exercising, reading, and cooking healthy meals for her family

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

  1. Practice Skin-to-Skin Contact Early and Often

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.

  1. Have a Flexible Feeding Plan

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.

  1. Ask for Support — Often

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.

If your child is seriously ill, please call us directly at

(512) 458-5323
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