Pediatricians and Mommy Groups

[cozyjeans]

Hi all. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in July, a little girl. We’re so excited! Now we’re starting to think about a pediatrician for her. We have some specific wishes for the type of doctor we pick. We’d like to have two or three on our short list, and then interview them and make a final choice before she arrives. We’re looking for someone who is very supportive of breastfeeding, for starters. By supportive, I don’t mean they say it’s cool until there’s a supply issue, and then suggest supplementing with formula. I mean someone who will offer solutions to the supply issues, and help us work through them. We will also be cloth diapering, but I don’t know how much bearing that will really have on choosing a pediatrician. We won’t be starting solids until at least 6 months, and even then, unless she seems to really be into it, she will still be getting the majority of her nutrition from breast milk. I don’t want a doctor who will see that her weight gain has slowed down and immediately insist that we start solids at 4 months, or even earlier. A knowledgeable, breastfeeding advocate knows that a breastfed infant’s weight gain starts to slow after 4 months. So, any suggestions you may have of doctors who would fit this bill would be fantastic. We live in the Ruskin Heights area.

My second question is somewhat related. I’m looking for a new Mommy group in the area, one that is supportive of natural child rearing. Breastfeeding, cloth diapering, delayed solids, the like. I’ve already looked into La Leche League of KC, and I’m hoping to start going to those meetings in the next couple of months. Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks!