“My doctor says my baby has X condition. What is it and will he be okay?” If you’re asking your friends or Dr Google this after a doctor’s visit, you’re doing it wrong. Here are more doctors’ quibbles, straight from the horse’s mouth.
BE ACCOMMODATING
South Africa has too few doctors: 2006 research shows we have 7.7 doctors per 10 000 people, while high income countries have 28. Our prevailing culture of entitlement doesn’t support this opinion, but you are lucky to be able to access private healthcare at all, given how few doctors serve a huge patient base. Doctors are extremely pressed for time. It doesn’t always make them nicer people, but you can help get the most out of your doctor’s visit by not wasting their time by first complaining about the waiting room conditions or the waiting time. Your wait in state healthcare will be even longer, and your complaint about waiting there is unlikely to be entertained.
“I wish patients would think about what they wanted to ask or discuss before coming to an appointment. It would make the time far more productive,” says gynaecologist and Your Baby expert Dr Bronwyn Moore. “And please understand that I can only treat the person in front of me, I can’t treat husbands or older siblings on your or your baby’s appointment.”
This story is from the Januarie - Februarie 2017 edition of Your Baby.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Januarie - Februarie 2017 edition of Your Baby.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Who's The Best Mother Of Them All?
We all want the best for our kids. It’s easier when we have the support of women trying to do the same. So, why do we compete against each other all the time? Lori Cohen investigates
Where Is Dad?
More and more children in South Africa are being raised by single moms, leaving them with the burden of having to answer the many endless questions from their children about their absent fathers, writes Kate Sidley
When Chubby Isn't Cute
Those round cheeks in babies and toddlers are very cute, but with the childhood obesity epidemic on the rise, paying attention to those few extra kilograms is more important than ever, advises registered dietician Lindsay Archibald-Durham
What's The Buzz On Baby Groups?
A regular gathering for the littlies can have great benefits for your baby – and for you. Kerryn Massyn finds out why and what kinds of classes are out there
Self-Care For Mama
Taking regular bits of time off for ourselves should be one of our top new year’s resolutions for 2020. Here are some super ideas to take care of ourselves…
Parents I-C-E...
There have been many shifts in the traditions of what it means to be a godparent. Make sure you and the chosen godparents see eye to eye on the role, writes Genevieve Swart
Mommy Wine Time?
The wine-mom culture has become a symbol for the modern mother’s idea of selfcare. However, it has since been reduced to puns about pinot noir and knowing when to pump-and-dump, making it more destructive than one can think, writes Samantha Herbst
Get A Head Start On School
A new school year is exciting, but it can also be daunting to get back into the swing of things. Here’s how to tweak your routine, so you’re both ready and prepped, writes Lori Cohen
Generation Next - Tech-Savvy Geniuses Or Illiterate Dumb-Dumbs?
Our children are being born at the peak of an unprecedented technological revolution. Samantha Herbst explores how growing up in a digital world may help or hinder our children’s future
Don't Be Rash
While nappy rash is a common complaint, it’s important to know exactly what you’re dealing with in order to know how to treat it, writes Tori Hoffmann
