Finding out you’re pregnant for the first time is like utter bliss, followed by an onset of panic when someone asks you anything remotely technical about pregnancy, and you realize that you actually don’t have it all figured out the way you thought you did. For me, that moment of realization came when a friend asked, “How far along are you?” and I mistakenly calculated from the date of conception rather than the date of my last menstrual cycle. Okay, so I’ve still got a lot to figure out. But, there are tons of expat mommy groups (and not to mention Google) that have been offering great advice when it comes to my midnight searches of, “is blah blah blah normal during pregnancy” questions.
Now, I’m someone who likes to plan ahead. And while I’m still in my second trimester, I’ve planned out my nursery, started looking for a full-time ayi, started scouting out K-12 schools and after school programs, and most importantly, I’ve started looking for the perfect pediatrician. Yeah, I have a feeling I’m going to end up a helicopter parent, but what can I say, I don’t like surprises.
From my own personal experience with doctors in Beijing, it’s not always about how famous the hospital is, your doctor’s gender, where they’re from, or which medical school they attended. Sometimes the perfect doctor is the one whom you’re so comfortable around that you share bits of your personal life with, someone who knows your medical history and personal habits. In short, it’s like finding a best friend. You need to find someone who you can really connect with. Having a doctor who remembers you from your past visits, instead of knowing you as just the next patient, can make a world of difference.
Dr. Vanessa Rosado
But what about babies? They’re not going to be able to tell me whether they like their pediatrician or not, so how do I go about finding the right person for them?
I sat down with Dr. Vanessa Rosado, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Oasis International Hospital, to get the 411 on how she prepares her new mommy patients for the next step in their baby’s health journey.
Dr. Rosado is one of those names that tend to come up very often amongst expecting expat moms. Many of us love recommending her because she’s made a reputation for herself as a knowledgeable medical professional with years of experience dealing with various types of pregnancies, and someone who genuinely cares about her patients. With the kind of trust that comes from 10+ months of interactions, her unbiased opinion on selecting a pediatrician is the one that moms will listen to first.
A pediatrician is someone with whom you and your child will build a relationship with for years. Aside from playing the role of treating illnesses, one of the most important jobs of a pediatrician is to monitor the mental and physical health of your child, and prevent illnesses from happening in the first place. Each child will develop at their own pace, and having a pediatrician who has known your child from the start will be helpful when it comes to diagnosing hidden medical conditions.
What about the language barrier? While many expats have picked up Chinese over the years, there’s a good chance that the vocabulary you use in your daily life will make you feel like an HSK Level 1 student all over again when medical terms are tossed into the mix. Most hospitals with expat patients will have a translator service available, but whether you’re actually comfortable with speaking through a translator is completely dependent upon you.
But, with the possible language barrier aside, one thing that Dr. Rosado kept on emphasizing was communication. Like with any long-lasting relationship, communication is key. You want to choose a pediatrician with whom you can easily communicate and understands your needs. For example, the vaccine requirements vary from country to country. A vaccine like Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) for tuberculosis is mandatory in China, but is not a requirement in Germany, and it becomes especially important for expat families to find a pediatrician who follows the international guidelines.
Like with most things in our daily lives here in Beijing, the first place we turn to for information is WeChat. Dr. Rosado recommends expecting parents to start paying attention to pediatrician recommendations from friends when mom is around 36-weeks pregnant. Keep in mind the credentials of the doctor and general feedback from their current patients. Are other kids comfortable with this pediatrician? Do the parents rave about this person or is the feedback mixed?
According to Dr. Rosado, the three most important things to keep in mind when looking for a pediatrician are communication, credentials, and reputation. Does this person explain things in a way that’s easy for you to understand? What works for your friend might not work for you. Find a doctor that you can connect with. Can this person be easily reached either by WeChat or email? If a pediatrician takes weeks to reply, it’s a red flag that you’ll most likely be getting similar treatment when your child is sick and you need medical advice.
Like Goldilocks, it took me a while before I found a General Practitioner (GP) in Beijing that I trust and genuinely enjoy the company of, and I’m not expecting my search for the right pediatrician to be any different. And so, with Dr. Rosado’s advice in mind, my search for the perfect pediatrician begins.
KEEP READING: Make Sure Your Child’s Vaccines Are Up to Date
Photos: Unsplash
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 May issue
