St Mary Medical Center in Melbourne ensures that there is always best support given to the mother as well as the baby at the right time. Our clinic has routine baby checkups which are recommended for the babies’ health and development at the best. During these regular checkups, there is personal attention been given to each and every baby and there is a complete health checkup done to track the health and development of the child.

On your first visit to with St. Mary Medical Centre for Babies in Melbourne, we provide you with a personalised Child Health Book which helps you in tracking yourself the weight, height, vaccinations completed as well as pending. This will give you an idea about when is your next checkup with your child specialist. For your baby’s healthy growth, it is important to follow the personalised child health record book and accordingly follow it.

We need to understand that once a baby is born it grows daily and develops different changes in the body. It is important to have a track of the baby’s health regularly. So below is the process we follow.

• Soon after the baby is born a Complete checkup is done right from checking their eyes, heart, ears, hips.
• Once the baby completes two weeks there is a follow-up checkup done to track on the baby’s weight gain. Also, we provide the vaccination sheet to follow the same for a protected life for your baby from all kind of disease.
• Checkup after six to eight weeks the doctor goes through a physical examination. Each and every important part of the baby is checked in detail
• By the time your baby is 1 year, there is a check done on how is the baby responding to your actions, hearing skills, eating habit, weight and height.
• By the time your baby is 2 years most of the vaccinations which are necessary for the baby is given. Our doctors also try to interact with the baby to check his or her social skills, speech, emotions and so on.

Our child specialist Melbourne is always there to guide you at the best with the right solution for your babies health and growth.

Babies attend for regular appointments in the first twelve months of life. Their first encounter with their family doctor is usually at their 6 week check, in which a thorough examination is conducted, and during which time mothers can ask questions and discuss how they and their baby are doing. We recommend that a double appointment is made for the six week check so that the doctor can spend time discussing both the needs of mother and her child.

Parents often require advice about their growing baby.

Common concerns include issues around feeding, sleeping, reflux, teething, growth and development. Mothers of young babies may require help and advice concerning breast feeding or the correct choice of formula for their child.

Common medical conditions seen in babies include:

Febrile illnesses, eczema, reflux, rashes, ear infections, conjunctivitis, bronchiolitis and cough, the unsettled baby, nappy rash, diarrhea and gastroenteritis.

The current vaccination schedule includes immunisations given at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of age. Immunisation protects children from preventable and potentially dangerous diseases such as Measles, Rubella, Chicken Pox, Mumps, and some very serious bacterial infections. Some preventable diseases are becoming more common in the community which makes protecting babies against these illnesses important.

As infants start to move and communicate, their medical needs may change. Common issues rose by parents of infants or toddlers include: hearing and speech development, movement and motor development, behavioral issues, sleep and night terrors and diet.

Common medical conditions seen in infants include: rashes, croup, asthma, ear infections, constipation, bacterial skin infections, eczema, tonsillitis, viral respiratory tract infections.

The vaccination schedule for infants includes immunizations given at 18 months and at 4 years. At their 4 year vaccination appointment the opportunity is taken to discuss the child?s overall health. This is the last formal appointment on the schedule before starting school. Height, weight, hearing, development, behavior, diet and activity levels are the focus of this visit. Generally a double appointment is made so that each of these areas can be addressed.

As children progress through school new issues or concerns may arise. These may include: learning difficulties, social difficulties, anxiety and school refusal, behavioral problems, difficulty controlling weight, vision and eye health, allergies, bed-wetting, and development. Parents, teachers and doctors work as a team in the care of school-aged children: both in recognizing and then in managing health issues.

Common medical conditions seen in school children include: asthma, obesity, allergies, anxiety, infections, musculoskeletal conditions, abdominal pain, and constipation.

The vaccination schedule for school children includes immunizations given at Year 7.

Adolescence refers to the period of time between the onset of puberty and maturity. In medical terms this refers broadly to the time spent at secondary school. This is a special but at times turbulent time in a person?s development. Many new themes and issues need to be addressed. These may be raised by parents, teachers, and doctors and importantly by the adolescent themselves. Concerns particular to adolescence include: anxiety, stress and mental health issues, identity, independence, social skills and friendships, education about drugs and alcohol, education about personal safety, behavioral problems and risk taking, puberty and physical development, learning difficulties, obesity, body image issues, diet, exercise, sleep, and interest in relationships and dating. Education about sex also becomes important at this time.

Themes addressed in adolescence can be complex. It is important to talk to parent and adolescent together, but then also set aside time to talk to the adolescent one-on-one. It is recommended that double appointments are made if complex or sensitive issues are being addressed during consults with our adolescent patients.

Common medical conditions seen in adolescence include: anxiety, stress, depression, asthma, musculoskeletal problems, acne, menstrual problems, obesity, anorexia, headache, gastrointestinal problems and infections.

The final immunizations on the schedule are given to adolescents at year 10.

Each of our doctors can assist with managing your child; please call 03 8796 3679 for an appointment.