From birth Even before your child is born Asheville Children’s Medical Center is ready to help you make the transition from expectant parent to new parent. We understand that this can be a very confusing time for the entire family. To ease the transition, we offer a complementary prenatal conference with the pediatrician of your choice. Besides allowing you to get acquainted with our pediatricians and staff, this prenatal conference provides an opportunity for questions regarding our practice and services. The conference helps initiate a long-term relationship, giving parents and physician a chance to bond. Once you have joined our practice our physicians look forward to seeing you and your new baby in the hospital. Within the first 24 hours of life, a physician from Asheville Children’s Medical Center will come to the hospital to visit your baby. This is an excellent opportunity for you to ask any questions concerning your baby and to request any specific needs you or your newborn may have. Your Pediatrician will decide when your child’s first visit will be. Your child’s first visit will usually be scheduled within the first few days of leaving the hospital and going home. But, please keep in mind that we want to be here for you every step of the way. If you have any questions or concerns before the 2-week visit, please call and speak to one of our highly qualified phone nurses or schedule a visit with the pediatrician of your choice. Your baby’s well-care visits will primarily consist of a thorough physical examination to ensure that your child is “on-track” and to provide you, as a new parent, with the opportunity to ask any questions or voice any concerns you may have regarding your new baby. Through infancy After your baby’s initial visit the well-care schedule is as follows: 2 weeks 2 months 4 months 6 months 9 months 12 months 15 months 18 months 2 years After 2 years of age we suggest that you bring your child to Asheville Children’s Medical Center once a year until age 18 for a complete physical examination. Keep in mind that there is a specific immunization schedule that we follow as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. These immunizations will be given periodically throughout your child’s life, which is why it is important to adhere to the schedule as outlined above. Preschool and school age As your child begins to grow and enters into preschool and school age, you may have many questions beyond those that you can express during the annual physical examination. For these cases, we encourage you to call and speak to a phone nurse or schedule an appointment. We understand that this is a life long learning process and often the answers don’t come easy. At Asheville Children’s Medical Center we consider our relationship with you and your child to be of the utmost importance and want to be there to facilitate any needs you may have concerning your child’s well-being and maturation. Adolescence to adulthood Every age holds unique joys and challenges for children and parents. As a child moves from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood, we will be here to provide guidance, as well as medical care, through these special times. As a parent you are invited to talk to a health professional about ways you can help your teen avoid physical and mental health risks and how you can be a positive influence on the choices they make. You can also ask questions and raise issues of personal concern to you and your teen. From birth to 21 years of age, Asheville Children’s Medical Center will be here for your child. From the sniffles to physicals we will be here when you need us.