East Bay Pediatrics cares for children from birth through college.
Use this page to answer your questions about our practice and some of the early decisions you may be making for your child.
Set up a virtual or in person prenatal visit to learn more about our practice. 

Choose a Doctor

Our physicians are all board-certified pediatricians and fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics. View physician profiles to learn more about individual doctors.

We encourage you to come in for a prenatal visit to meet with one of our pediatricians. These visits are usually scheduled during the lunch hour or at the end of the day. There is a $50 fee for prenatal visits which can be used toward future co-pays. Call our New Patient Coordinator to schedule a visit at (925) 438-1100 & choose option 6 (Hours: 9:30am-12:30pm and 2pm-4:30pm).

When You Deliver

Tell your hospital which pediatrician you have chosen and the hospital will notify East Bay Pediatrics after your baby is born. 
Alta Bates
Medical ​Center
​deliveries
Alta Bates notifies our doctors by phone after your baby is born. Each day you are in the hospital with your baby, one of our physicians will examine your baby, monitor for jaundice, discuss feeding, and follow any screening tests or other procedures done in the hospital. If you desire a circumcision (see below for more information) for your newborn son and are not planning a bris, our physicians try to complete the procedure while you are in the hospital.
​Deliveries at
​other hospitals
Babies delivered at hospitals other than Alta Bates are usually followed by local hospitalist pediatricians. On the day of discharge, you should be instructed on when your baby needs the first appointment (usually 1-3 days after discharge). Please call for your baby’s first appointment.

Weekdays: Call New Patient Coordinator at (925) 438-1100 & choose option 8 (Hours: 9:30am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-4:30pm)
Weekends: Call the Phone Advice line at (925) 254-9203 & choose option 1. Ask the nurse to contact the doctor "on call" to determine when your child should be seen.

Your First Office Visit with Your Newborn

A physician will tell you when your first visit to the office should be (usually 1-3 days after discharge from the hospital). If you deliver at Alta Bates Hospital, East Bay Pediatrics will call you with the date and time of your first appointment. If you deliver at another hospital, please call to make your first appointment (see phone numbers under the "Deliveries at Other Hospitals" dropdown).
bring to your first appointment
  • ​Any paperwork from the hospital, including hearing screen results and immunization record
  • Any available insurance information (often only parents’ insurance is available at this first visit)
  • Plenty of diapers and an extra set of clothes!
What to expect
  • Weight check and update on feeding your baby
  • Screening for jaundice and other health issues which can affect newborns
  • Review of family health history and support at home
  • Hepatitis B vaccination if not given in the hospital
  • Scheduling next few visits in the office

Lactation Support

Breastfeeding is the optimal source of nutrition through the first year of life. Sometimes it comes naturally; sometimes mom and baby need extra support. Questions about breastfeeding can be answered as early as your prenatal appointment. In the hospital, both nurses and lactation consultants are available to assist you with nursing. Once you leave the hospital, your physician will also give you advice regarding breastfeeding. East Bay Pediatrics has an in-office Lactation Consultant, Michaela Anthony, RN, IBCLC. She can work with you and your baby in our office usually at the time of visit or within a day or two. She is also available for breastfeeding visits or by phone for advice.
Benefits of
Breastfeeding for
​your baby
  • Human milk provides the appropriate balance of carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements.
  • Human milk also contains antibodies, immune factors, and white blood cells that protect your baby against many infections and diseases. (Formula cannot offer this protection)
  • Decreased occurrence of ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, certain types of meningitis, and many more illnesses. Human milk encourages the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract of the breastfed baby. This inhibits bacteria such as E. Coli and other strains that can cause infection.
  • There is some evidence that breastfeeding protects babies born to families with a history of allergies.  Breastfed babies generally have a lower risk of milk allergy, Atopic dermatitis(eczema), and wheezing early in life, if they were exclusively breastfed for at least four months.
  • There is a reduced risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) among babies who breastfeed compared to those who did not, though the reasons for this are not fully understood.
Benefits of
Breastfeeding for
​mother
  • Health benefits: faster and easier recovery from childbirth, reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancer later in life, and some studies found that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular disease.
  • Emotional satisfaction and bonding, by releasing hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin and having baby skin to skin for feedings.
  • Convenience-no need to prepare bottles at night or when out of the house.
  • Human milk is cost efficient.

Deciding About Circumcision

About half of boys in our practice are circumcised. East Bay Pediatrics can perform circumcision on babies either at Alta Bates Hospital during the newborn stay or in our office. Some local hospitals have the covering pediatrician or the obstetrician perform the procedure. 

Most families circumcise for either religious reasons or for personal reasons. Medical reasons for circumcision outweigh the risks of the procedure but are not strong enough to demand that every boy be circumcised. The procedure is safe, performed under sterile conditions to prevent infection, and done under local anesthesia to minimize pain. 

For more information on circumcision refer to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Child Health and Development

There is so much to know about caring for your baby. East Bay Pediatrics offers a quick guide to newborn health care in our child health booklet which you will be offered once your child is established as a patient of the practice. In addition to information about caring for your newborn, it includes fever medication doses, visit and vaccine schedule, space for questions and space for your child's height and weight at each visit.

**on our Newborn Health Topics page 

Other Child Health resources:
  • Health Questions page on this website
  • www.healthychildren.org the American Academy of Pediatrics website for parents. Enter your baby's date of birth to get periodic recommendations for development. Use the symptom checklist to determine whether you need to call your doctor. 
  •  First 5 California - State Site guidance for growth and development in the first few years of life including parenting advice and activities to do with your children.

Vaccines for Parents

There are many ways to protect your child from illness and disease. The most important is washing your hands. Washing with simple warm soap and warm water is the best way for you to prevent passing illnesses to your child.

Two vaccines are available for you as parents to protect your child from certain diseases. Ask any caretakers or others who may be in close contact with your child (including siblings) to get both Tdap and flu vaccines.
Tdap Vaccine
(tetanus with
​pertussis)
​The Tdap vaccine is your tetanus vaccine (the one you are supposed to get every 10 years) with a pertussis component. Pertussis is the bacteria which causes whooping cough. While many adults may have a mild disease, infants can have severe disease including apnea (not breathing). Most of us have not had a pertussis vaccine since Kindergarten entry. Now that Tdap is available, we adults can get a pertussis booster as short as two years after our last tetanus vaccine. Pediatricians are giving this booster to children ages 11 years and up. Obstetricians may be offering the vaccine in the office at pre-pregnancy visits or in the hospital after your baby is delivered. Family practitioners and internists should have this vaccine available in their offices or they may direct you the pharmacy to get the vaccine. 
Flu Vaccine
​Influenza can cause severe disease and hospitalization in infants, but babies cannot receive flu vaccine until at least 6 months of age. You can protect your newborn during the flu season by getting your flu vaccine (usually available early fall through late spring). Most physicians offices and pharmacies carry and administer the flu vaccine. East Bay Pediatrics cannot give flu vaccine to parents of patients.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Make sure to get the latest COVID vaccination and booster. Protecting yourselves can protect your child who cannot be vaccinated until 6 months of age. 

Paid Family Leave

Caring for your child can be a financial burden. Don't forget to inquire with your employer regarding Paid Family Leave. This program offers six weeks of weekly pay up to a portion of your salary so that you can bond with your child. Be sure to submit the paperwork as soon as possible after your child is born. Applications are available online or through your employer if you work for a large company. Paid family leave for bonding with a newborn does not require a pediatrician's signature. 

Recommended Reading

  • Dr. Sandy's Top to Bottom Guide to Your Newborn by Dr. Sandy Chung. Dr. Chung is highly involved in the American Academy of Pediatrics. Although a young pediatrician, she has almost 10 years of experience and 4 children of her own. Read her book toward the end of your pregnancy and use it as a guide for the first few months of your baby's life.
  • Your Child's First Year from the American Academy of Pediatrics. This reference book was created by experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics. It covers development, feeding, and common illnesses. Ask for a copy in our office!
  • Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp. An easy to read guide to your child's behavior.
  • Vaccines and your Child: Separating Facts from Fiction by Dr. Paul Offit. Vaccines save lives. Learn more about why pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics stand behind vaccinating our children.
  • www.healthychildren.org: The American Academy of Pediatrics' award-winning website for parents.
  • Work, Pump, Repeat by Jessica Shortall. A fun read about returning to work will still nursing your baby.