Today marked Nayul's first outing since leaving the maternity center 🚘. The reason for our adventure? An infant health check-up! As it was our first time, we were uncertain about what and how much to prepare and how long the check-up might take. Both my wife and I decided to over-prepare, just to be on the safe side.
After getting ready and strapping Nayul into his car seat, we visited Rainbow Pediatric Clinic. The exterior of the clinic looked a bit older than I'd expected. However, their rating for 'Infant Health Check-ups' was 'Excellent', so we felt reassured and proceeded.
Luckily, since we visited on a weekday morning, it wasn't too crowded (we were third in line 👍). The staff swiftly measured Nayul's head circumference, height, and weight. We then consulted with the doctor, who briefly used the stethoscope and checked a few things, completing the process surprisingly quickly. After the physical assessment, the doctor went through a checklist on an A4 paper, highlighting key precautions for raising a newborn. The check-up didn’t take as long as anticipated. We didn’t have to deal with diaper changes or feeding him, though we did have a brief encounter with the intense version of baby care I had mentioned in yesterday's post after securing him in his car seat 😇.
Infant Health Check-up Details
The infant health check-up involves an interview, examination, physical measurements, and health education. Depending on the visit, oral health and developmental assessments may also be conducted.
Although it hasn’t been long since the check-up was initiated (since January 1, 2021), not many clinics offer this first infant health check-up, which some people might overlook. As this program is supported by the government and provides various checks and education on growth abnormalities, developmental issues, obesity, accident prevention, and more, it's crucial for parents to remember and make use of it.
How to Book an Infant Health Check-up
To book, you first need to find a clinic that offers this check-up. Visit the National Health Insurance website, navigate to 건강iN ➡️ 검진기관/병원찾기, select your area and 'Infant' to get a list of available clinics. The website won't allow direct booking, so note the contact details and call to schedule your appointment.
Medical Interview Form
Before the check-up, you need to complete a medical interview form, which can also be accessed on the National Health Insurance website.
The form covers various categories, from basic information to nutrition education, sleep, accident prevention, newborn care, vision, hip joints, hearing, and personal hygiene.
After the physical measurements, the doctor referred to our filled-out form to provide related education. The infant health check-up is indeed beneficial for both the baby and the parents. I hope every new parent won't forget to schedule and benefit from it.
Recorded on May 3, 2023