Greater Baton Rouge Pediatric Primary Care

Newborn care begins even before your baby is born. We encourage expectant moms to schedule a complimentary visit with a pediatrician. That is a good time, before your baby is born, to make sure of a good fit and to learn about the office.

After your baby is born, regular checkups are essential for keeping your baby healthy. When you get home with your newborn, make sure you schedule an appointment for their first checkup.

Your baby will have their first in-office checkup 3-4 days after getting home from the hospital and then again at 2-4 weeks of age.

During these checkups, you’ll have plenty of time to ask questions about your baby’s health and care. We’ll talk about newborn feeding, jaundice, umbilical cord care, appropriate weight gain and what you can expect for your next visit.

Download Our Vaccine Statement Here. 

Choose Your Pediatrician Before Your Baby is Born

At one month of age, your pediatrician will recommend a schedule for your child’s wellness exams. During your baby’s first year, we recommend a well visit at 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months until 4 years old. After that, we recommend a wellness exam every year until your child is 18 years old.

Download our guide to Wellness Checks from Newborn to Teenage Years with a complete vaccine schedule designed to help you prepare for your child’s upcoming visits. We recommend writing down any concerns you have so that your pediatrician can answer all your questions.

When your child is sick or injured, you have the option to see the first available provider whether in person or, in some cases, virtually through a video visit.

f your child becomes sick at night or on the weekend, we don’t want you to have to choose between convenience and high-quality care. We have extended our hours to make sure you have the care you need, when you need it.

We are accepting new patients for wellness exams. With several clinics throughout Greater Baton Rouge, now is a great time to choose one of our caring pediatricians for your child’s health.

You can even schedule a video visit to meet face-to-face with your pediatrician from the comfort and safety of your own home. Be sure you have copies of your child’s previous medical records to share with your new pediatrician.

If your child is sick and needs to be seen right away, please visit our walk-in clinic where no appointment is required.

From age 11, the changes kids go through can require specialized adolescent expertise. Our adolescent visits treat all aspects of teen health — physical, emotional and mental — and help lay the path as young adults transition into adult medicine.

Teens have different needs than younger children do. During our adolescent visits, we will discuss a variety of developmental and reproductive health issues. We’ll talk about home life, peer interactions, school performance, depression screening, alcohol or drug use, and sexual activity. Rest assured, we will address these topics in a manner appropriate for your child’s age.

Young adults ages 18-21 have the legal right to consent to their own care with confidentiality. Parents and guardians will be asked to leave the exam room during adolescent visits. Young adults will be encouraged to ask for the healthcare they need, reinforcing the importance of taking responsibility for their own health as they transition into adult primary care.

When children and adolescents struggle to pay attention or solve problems, they may have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

If you are concerned about your child’s ability to sit still, focus, and pay attention, schedule a behavioral visit with one of our compassionate pediatricians. At Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, we work closely with families to find the treatment that is right for each child and help create a better quality of life.

Participating in organized sports is a great way for kids to stay fit and build healthy habits that last a lifetime. School sports also promote self-esteem and teach the value of teamwork.

And here at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, we’re on your team!

Louisiana requires that all kids and teens have a sports physical before they can start a new sport or begin a new season. Sports physicals help determine if your child is healthy enough to participate in a particular sport.

There are two main parts of a sports physical: the medical history and the physical exam. During the medical history evaluation, your pediatrician will look for patterns of illness in your family that may impact physical performance. During the physical exam, your pediatrician will check your child’s growth and development to make sure they’re in shape for the sport they will be playing.

A sports physical done outside of your child’s medical home does not take the place of an annual checkup with your pediatrician. Your pediatrician can not only ensure that your child may participate in sports but also will delve into mental behavioral and academic functioning as well as make sure vaccines and screening tests are up to date.

With our convenient extended hours, same-day and weekend appointments, Children’s Health is making it easier for you to cross one more thing off of your back-to-school list.

If your child needs a pediatric sports physical, book an appointment online or call (225) 374-HEAL(4325).

Find the standardized form from the Louisiana High School Athletic Association here.

These can be in addition to another visit or the reason for your visit by itself. Not all providers do all procedures. If you have any questions, please ask before making an appointment.

• Ear Piercing: We use the Blomdahl System, which allows for a good selection of earrings and a very quick and clean placement. 
• Repair of lacerations: In general, we do not do stitches in our offices, but we are happy to check the wound and see if they are needed. Most offices can do Dermabond (skin glue) for appropriate minor lacerations.
• Foreign body removal: Kids being curious like to stick things in their noses and their ears. We do remove objects from ears and noses and skin, (splinters) too! 
• Wart treatments: We do treat warts depending on the type and how large they are. 
• Other Services: We will fill out forms needed for school, pre-op, Early Steps, etc. We require 72-hour notice. An office visit and other requirements may be needed. 

Transition planning is the conversation we want to have with you and your child as they grow up. It is a preparation for life beyond your pediatrician’s care and your direct supervision. Pediatricians see children from birth to 18 years of age and sometimes to the end of their college education.

Even after 18, it’s important to keep up with routine checkups and preventative medicine. This is the best way to stay healthy into adulthood. Your pediatrician can help you find an Internal Medicine doctor or a Family Practitioner in our network. Staying in our network means that your new primary care physician will have access to all of your medical records, for a seamless transition into adult primary care.