We would like to congratulate you on your pregnancy!
Preparing for your baby's arrival takes some planning. The following information will help you with some of the issues facing you in the next few months. During this countdown period, we encourage you to call our office if there are questions we can answer.
Here are our answers to commonly asked questions.
CHOOSING YOUR PEDIATRICIAN
We recommend finding a pediatrician at least one month before your due date. This gives you a chance to interview several doctors and choose the one who is best for you.
Three qualities are especially important for a good physician-to-patient relationship: the doctor's educational and professional background, the ease of communication between both of you, and the accessibility when needed for health care.
We are a team of health care professionals. Along with our office staff, we are here to offer our services to you and your baby. We emphasize the prevention of illness and the promotion of sound health care practices. Our goal is to enhance the growth and development of all our patients. While emphasizing prevention, we recognize that our most important endeavor is to restore an ill child back to good health.
WHAT IS THE EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND OF THE PEDIATRICIAN?
Read “Our Staff” section and learn about the education of each of our exceptional team of Board Certified Pediatricians and Nurse Practitioner.
Read our “Mission Statement” to learn of Eclipse Medical Group’s background and the commitments of our team of Pediatricians, Medical Assistants, and Staff.
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ECLIPSE MEDICAL GROUP
LOCATION AND HOURS
We have two offices, one is located in Anaheim Hills and the second is in Corona.
Eclipse Medical Group, Anaheim Hills
Our Anaheim Hills Office is located in the end suite at the southeast corner of the shopping center (farthest from the gas station) at 478 South Anaheim Hills Road, Anaheim Hills, CA 92807.
To schedule an appointment, call (714) 282-5437.
Our Fax number is (714) 282-8724.
Please feel free to call us for advice.
If you think you have an emergency, please dial 911. If your concerns are not as serious, we would appreciate it if you would call during office hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
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Eclipse Medical Group, Corona
Our Corona Office is located at the corner of Magnolia Street and Fullerton Avenue at 802 Magnolia Avenue, in Suite #205, Corona, CA 92879.
To schedule an appointment, call (951) 739-5944.
Our Fax number is (951) 739-7480.
Please feel free to call us about your child's health concerns.
If you think you have an emergency, please dial 911. If your concerns are not as serious, we would appreciate it if you would call during office hours, Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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WILL YOU VISIT MY BABY IN THE HOSPITAL?
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HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY BABY COME TO THE OFFICE?
We go to St. Joseph's Hospital of Orange and Children's Hospital of Orange County on a daily basis. Some babies are discharged from the hospital in less than 24 hours. In these cases, we will either see you or contact you in the first few days after the birth. We do the first examination in the office at two to three weeks of age. Each subsequent exam is scheduled depending upon how your baby is doing. Both the doctor and nurse practitioner do these routine visits.
WHAT IF MY BABY IS BORN IN A HOSPITAL NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ECLIPSE MEDICAL GROUP?
If your baby is not born at St. Joseph's Hospital, we will need you to call us after you have delivered your baby and been released from the hospital, so we can be sure your new baby is doing well, eating, and to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
If your baby delivers in another hospital, other than St. Joseph's Hospital, your OB/GYN will have a pediatrician see your child in the hospital. Be sure to know the name and the phone number of the pediatrician, so we can get the PKU (heel stick) results that the state requires, faxed to us. We want to be sure that everything is normal from the start of your baby's new beginning.
WHAT VACCINES ARE GIVEN TO MY BABY WHILE AT THE HOSPITAL?
Usually, the Hepatitis B vaccine will also be given prior to leaving the hospital. Be sure to bring your yellow immunization card with you to the first visit at our office. For complete information about Hepatitis B, go to Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention.
WHAT TESTS WILL BE GIVEN TO MY BABY?
A phenylketonuria (PKU) test is done to check whether a newborn baby has the enzyme needed to use phenylalanine in his or her body. Phenylalanine is an amino acid that is needed for normal growth and development. The blood sample for PKU is usually taken from your baby's heel (called a heel stick). The test is done in the first few days after birth, as early as 24 hours after birth. The test may be repeated within the first week or two after birth. To learn more, visit
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/phenylketonuria-pku-test
- A hearing screening while you are in the hospital will usually be performed.
CIRCUMCISION
The OB/GYN will circumcise your son if you elect to have that done, before your baby leaves the hospital.
SHOULD I HAVE MY BABY BOY CIRCUMCISED?
The decision to circumcise or not is another one that should be made before the baby arrives. There are no medical reasons to circumcise your son. The only reasons for a circumcision are social and religious, not medical. Contrary to popular belief, a circumcision does not allow for better cleanliness.
In the hospital, your obstetrician does the circumcision. The babies cry for a few minutes, but they do not seem fussier later in the same day. Because you are asked to sign a consent for circumcision soon after the birth of the baby, you may feel too tired during labor to make this kind of decision. It is best to decide in advance of the birth.
SHOULD I BREASTFEED OR BOTTLE-FEED MY BABY?
This decision is one that should be made prior to the delivery of your baby. We encourage mothers to breastfeed for several reasons. Nursing helps to reduce the baby's risk of infection and the possibility of allergies. Also, Breastfeeding helps prevent constipation and overeating. Breast milk is always at the right temperature, is convenient, and helps the womb return to its normal size. If you should decide to breast feed, we recommend that you attend a prenatal breastfeeding class. Breastfeeding is an art and classes give you the best chance for success.
The care and love behind feeding is much more important than the type of milk you use. If you decide not to breastfeed, we will support and help you. Carnation Good Start, Similac, Enfamil, SMA (Parent's Choice), and Kirkland formulas are very similar to breast milk and will meet your baby's special nutritional needs. Whatever decision you make, feeding time should be relaxed and happy. Your warmth and tenderness lets your baby feel loved and secure.
HOW DOES YOUR OFFICE SEPARATE SICK CHILDREN FROM WELL?
Children who have a contagious disease are placed in an exam room. If you have an ill child in your group that may be contagious, please let us know immediately upon entering our office so we may place you in a separate room.
If you call us about a rash and the physician feels it may be chicken pox, we will have you wait outside the front door of our office and we will check your child before we bring them into the office to avoid the risk of infecting other babies, children or pregnant moms.
IF MY CHILD IS SICK, CAN I GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SAME DAY?
Absolutely! Try to call as soon as the office is open. You can usually pick your appointment time. Toward closing time, we may not have enough time to schedule you for the office. Other arrangements will be made. For a routine checkup, a two to four week lead-time is recommended. On shorter notice, ask if a cancellation opened an appointment time.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT CHILDREN AND MEDICATIONS?
We use medications whenever the ill child will benefit from them. We have a specific goal in mind before using medications. Many doctors give injectable medications because they believe parents will not give medications at home. We feel that our parents can follow directions and give medication as prescribed. Therefore, we use an oral preparation whenever possible.
WHERE SHOULD I TAKE MY CHILD IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?
We have a physician on call during non-office hours. If you feel that your child needs to be seen, please tell us when you call. During times when the office is closed, we try to make our return calls within an hour and a half. Since there are times when we, too, have an emergency or are caring for another patient, we may be busy. If you do not hear from us within one and a half hours, please place the call again (sometimes a telephone number is copied incorrectly). If you need us immediately, tell the receptionist who answers the telephone.
Problems occur when there is no time to call the doctor. Call the paramedics immediately (DIAL 911). If they need to transport your child to a hospital, they will go to the nearest one. Whether you live only a few miles away or an hour down the freeway, they take you to the nearest emergency center. Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) has a pick-up service. We can send an ambulance, doctor and nurse to another hospital and transport a seriously ill child back to CHOC if necessary.
There are many insurance plans that require you to use a specific emergency room or urgent care facility. Before an emergency arises, know what these restrictions are so you will have this information readily available to you.
HOW DO I REQUEST PRESCRIPTION REFILLS?
Make sure you have enough medications to last you over a weekend until the office opens Monday morning at 8:00 AM.
For the Anaheim Office, have your pharmacy fax a request for refills to (714) 282-5437.
For the Corona Office, have your pharmacy fax a request to refills to (951) 739-7480.
WHAT IF I NEED PRESCRIPTION REFILLS AFTER BUSINESS HOURS?
Please have a pharmacy number that you know is open when you speak to the doctor on call. After hours and on the weekends, the doctor on call is for emergencies, and does not have your child’s chart available. The doctor may only fill a small amount of the medication without seeing the patient. Routine medication refills are best done when the office is open.
If your child has a chronic condition please be sure to tell the doctor on call about it.
A great piece of advice for parents is to make sure you have enough medications to last you over a weekend until the office opens Monday morning at 8:00 AM. Because the physician on call after hours does not have your chart available, some medications cannot be refilled. It is more difficult for the doctor without your chart, to take care of your child. This does lead to more frequent emergency room visits.
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