One of the many things on your “to-do before baby arrives” list is choosing a primary care office. For some parents, this decision feels easy and obvious; for others, it can feel overwhelming and full of unknowns. As a mom of two and a pediatric nurse practitioner who works in primary care, I want to share a few quick tips and things to keep in mind so that when your hospital team asks who your baby’s provider will be, you can feel confident in your answer.
Things to Consider:
Location & hours: Is the office close to home? Do they offer evening/weekend hours?
Provider fit: Do you prefer a smaller office where you’ll see the same provider, or a larger one with more availability? Some offices offer a prenatal “meet and greet”, take advantage of that opportunity if possible.
Access to care: What’s the sick-visit process like? Same-day appointments?
Hospital affiliation: Does the office round at the hospital where you’re delivering?
Philosophy: Are they supportive of breastfeeding, vaccine schedules, or other things important to you? Your provider doesn’t have to match your parenting style exactly, but they should respect it.
Once you figure out what your priorities are for your primary care office, the most important thing is to trust your gut! You don’t have to “get it perfect” the first time—you always have the choice to switch if it’s not a great fit. You got this!
Patients & Parenting 
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