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Turke & Thomashow  Pediatrics


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Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 
Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Call (734) 408-4182
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Infant Care

During the first month of life, babies need to be fed at least every two to three hours. They should not be allowed to sleep longer than three hours without a feeding, even at night. You need to call us if you cannot awaken your baby, or get him or her to eat after four hours have passed. Some other reasons to call are for fever (rectal temperature greater than 100.3 F) and for unusual fussiness.

If your baby is ill

When our office is closed you can reach us if your baby has an URGENT medical problem by calling our office number. Your call will be forwarded to our answering service and an operator will page the on-call physician (either Dr. Turke or Dr. Thomashow).

For emergencies you need to call 911 before calling us!


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Newborns to toddlers Taking care of your baby

With the birth of your newborn infant comes an amazing new world. After nine long months of anticipation, visits to your obstetrician and/or midwife, careful nutrition including prenatal vitamins, taking extra good care of yourself, and redefining your life, it's time for Baby!

Congratulations on your newborn! Within 24 hours after discharge from the hospital, we like to see your newborn in our office. During this first visit we will examine your baby and answer your questions. Some common questions that we can discuss include infant immunizations, circumcision, and general questions about newborn care.

If your baby is being born at home, we welcome your baby to our practice. A short checklist for homebirth babies includes discussing the Michigan Newborn Screening Blood Work testing and Heart Screening with your mid-wife and/or doula. Another consideration for homebirth babies is whether to have vitamin K supplementation. We can discuss these medical points with you before your baby’s birth in a complementary meet-the-doc appointment. In general we recommend that you bring your newborn to our office a few days after birth for a complete exam. If you choose to wait until your infant is a little older, please contact us to notify us of your new babies arrival.

Perhaps your most important decision is how you are going to feed your baby. There are many benefits of breastfeeding, and it is strongly encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics for the first year of life. However, formula feedings is a healthy alternative for your baby.

Breast Feeding

Mom breastfeeding babyThe benefits of breastfeeding include superior nutrition and prevention of infection. Other possible benefits are increased intelligence and decreased allergies. Exclusive breast feeding is recommended for the first six months of life, continuing with partial breast feeding until at least one year of age. Breast feeding is also economical. The average cost of feeding a baby formula for the first year of life is $1,500.00. This is in contrast to the "caloric-cost" of breast feeding, which is less than $100.00 per year.
We offer these guidelines for establishing breast feeding in the hospital:
1. Breast feed within the first hour after delivery.
2. Breast feed on demand, or about every 2 hours for 10 to 20 minutes (even at night). More frequent and longer feedings are fine and will help with the milk supply.
3. Only give your baby breast milk, unless formula is medically indicated.
4. Keep your baby with you at all times and all night long, unless it is medically necessary for your baby to be in the nursery.

Formula Feeding

There are many formulas on the market making the decision of which one to choose difficult. Powdered formulas are the least expensive. Always mix them according to the package instructions. We suggest that you start with a cow's milk protein based formula with iron. Newborns usually require 1 to 2 ounces every 2 to 3 hours for the first week of life.

Discharge Instructions

We would like to see your baby in our office 24 hours after discharge from the hospital. Please call between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesdays to schedule an appointment.

The time in your child’s life from newborn to toddler is one of constant change and complete fascination. Watching your baby transform from newborn into young child is one of the greatest joys of parenthood.

During this time we will be seeing your baby in the office on a regular basis, usually starting the day after discharge from the hospital. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends well-child exams at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 14, and 18 months of age and continuing at age 2 on an annual basis.

We will cover many topics including:

• Breast feeding, lactation counseling, and maternal nutrition
• Formula feedings
• Infant length, weight, and head growth assessment
• Infant and toddler milestones in development
• Nutritional concerns
• Safety recommendations
• Infant and toddler immunizations
• Family and social history
• Current medical concerns such as infant rashes and colds
• General guidance in childrearing

In addition to the well-child exams, we see infants and toddlers often in the office for sick visits and conferences. We offer same-day sick visits Monday through Friday. Our nurses are available for questions and we are available after hours for urgent questions in the evenings and on the weekends.

To schedule an appointment. please call (734) 408-4182
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.


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