What does the 1-month medical check-up do? Things to bring and precautions

The first health checkup for many babies is the ``1-month checkup'' when they are one month old.
Be sure to check what kind of tests will be performed, what to be careful of, and what to bring with you when you go to the hospital.

What is a one-month medical checkup?

This is a medical checkup that babies undergo during their first month of life.
A postnatal checkup to check the mother's physical and mental condition is often conducted at the same time, and it is common for the mother to visit the medical institution where she gave birth.

A baby's health checkup is called an "infant health checkup," sometimes abbreviated as an infant health checkup or infant health checkup. Health checkups for children aged 18 months and 3 years old are required by law and are provided free of charge by each municipality. In addition, most local governments also provide health checkups for children aged 3 to 5 months and children aged 9 to 12 months, and these are also available free of charge. Most of these are group health checkups at public facilities such as health centers.

For medical examinations other than those sponsored by local governments, the examinee pays the fee at the medical institution's counter. As the treatment is not covered by insurance, you will have to pay for it yourself, and a 1-month-old checkup typically costs between a few thousand yen and 10,000 yen.

Although it is not a large number (approximately 30% of the total), some local governments conduct monthly health checkups. This is an individual health checkup that you receive at a medical institution, and the test content is the same as if you were taking it in person. The difference is that the municipality will send you a consultation ticket by mail, and if you bring it with you, you can receive it for free.
Some local governments have a cost subsidy system, so be sure to check if the city/ward/town/village you live in has one.

What do you do for a one-month medical checkup?

We will check your baby's physical growth, nutritional status, motor function, and check for any physical abnormalities.

The content of the examination varies slightly depending on the medical institution, but it generally includes physical measurements such as height, weight, head circumference, and chest circumference, as well as checking the skin, joints, organs, eyes, etc., and checking for strabismus and jaundice.
When testing motor function, we check for primitive reflexes such as squeezing your hand tightly when you touch it or reacting twitchingly to loud noises.

Also, part of the 1-month-old checkup is to give your baby vitamin K2 syrup to supplement the vitamin K that breast milk and formula cannot provide. It is given as a preventive measure because vitamin K deficiency can lead to easy bleeding.

Is there a medical checkup for mom?

During the one-month checkup, the mother's postpartum checkup is often conducted at the same time.
Pregnancy and childbirth place a huge burden on a mother's body. The purpose is to check your physical recovery status and to take care of your mental health, such as checking to see if you are experiencing any worries or stress due to the childcare that has just begun.

During the health checkup, we will measure your weight and blood pressure, perform a urine test, and check the recovery status of your uterus and episiotomy, as well as the status of lochia.
During the interview, we will also check your mental state.

Your life will begin to revolve around your baby, and before you can recover from the fatigue of giving birth, you will also experience lack of sleep, and your physical and mental fatigue will begin to accumulate. Many mothers feel depressed easily.
If you are feeling anxious or stressed, talk to your doctor or midwife for advice.

What should I bring?

To receive a health checkup, you will need your maternal and child health handbook, health insurance card, infant medical card (infant medical care fee recipient card), medical examination ticket, and medical checkup fee.
If you are attending a health checkup sponsored by a local government, please remember to bring your checkup ticket as it will be mailed to you by the city, ward, town or village. If you have received a medical history form in advance, filling it out before coming to the hospital will help your visit go more smoothly.
It may also be helpful to take note of things like breastfeeding and poop frequency, sleep cycles, etc. during the interview. If you have childcare notes, bring them with you.

You may need to breastfeed or change diapers, so be prepared with things to use at that time, as well as a change of clothes and gauze in case your clothes get dirty.

If you have a long distance to walk, it may be a good idea to use a stroller as you will have to carry a lot of luggage. However, please note that some small hospitals do not allow strollers to be brought in.
If you choose to use a baby carrier, choose one that can be used on newborns who are not yet able to sit upright. BABY&MeBeren first setThe head support that gently cradles your baby's head provides firm support around the baby's neck, allowing you to hold your baby face-to-face even before they are able to sit upright.

In addition, although the hip seat is often thought of as being used only after the child grows older, it can also be used to assist in holding the child before he or she gets into a sitting position, so it is a useful item to have on hand. However, the usable age varies depending on the manufacturer, so please check beforehand.

What should I be careful about when visiting a doctor?

Newborns up to 28 days old should avoid going outside. Therefore, for many babies, the one-month checkup will be their first outing.

Babies have thin and weak skin, and their body temperature control is immature, so they are greatly affected by ultraviolet rays and outside temperature. Avoid direct sunlight as much as possible, and wear clothing appropriate for the temperature, taking measures to protect you from the cold and heat.
Since your immune system is weak, it is best to avoid crowds and use public transportation to prevent infection. We recommend using your own car or taxi whenever possible.

You can wear the same underwear and baby clothes as you normally would. During the body measurement, you will only be wearing a diaper, so it will be smoother if you wear clothes that are easy to put on and take off. The room can get hot or cold due to the air conditioner, so it may be a good idea to wear clothes that can be adjusted and bring swaddles and bath towels.

Also, if the mother is going to have a postpartum checkup at the same time, be careful about what the mother wears. Since there will be a pelvic exam and a breast check, we recommend wearing nursing clothes, tops and skirts that open in the front.

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