Best pediatric appointments near me in Portland, ME

Pediatrics is a branch of internal medicine that focuses on children's health. A pediatrician is a primary care doctor for children that oversees a child's mental, behavioral, and physical well-being from birth until the age of 18.

All board-certified pediatricians have specialized education in children's health, in addition to their medical school training. There are also pediatricians with healthcare subspecialties - like pediatric cardiologists, pediatric dermatologists, and pediatric neurologists. These doctors are qualified to diagnose and treat acute and chronic diseases, and can often offer preventative care.

On Sesame, you can connect with a real, quality pediatrician near you to get your questions answered and your child's symptoms addressed for one affordable, upfront price. Pediatricians listed on Sesame are licensed professionals. Many have practiced in children's hospitals, medical centers, walk-in pediatric clinics, and pediatric urgent care centers.

Save 60% on your next pediatrician visit when you book with Sesame.

It's recommended.

Though many pregnant women use obstetricians/gynecologists to take care of their health care needs before the baby is born, there are significant benefits to getting to know a pediatrician before birth. Pediatricians can offer several services to new moms, including lactation services to help support breastfeeding.

It's never been easier to find an appointment with a real, quality pediatrician in Portland, ME. All you have to do is enter "pediatrician" in our search engine to find therapists near you. Browse services, compare prices, and book when you're ready. Plus, our no-worries booking policy means that if something comes up, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance and still get a full refund- no questions asked. That's it!

Whether you're looking for a pediatrician or any other health care service, you can save up to 60% by booking your next appointment online through Sesame- no insurance plan needed.

Because children are different from adults when it comes to anatomy, psychology, immune system strength, development, and metabolism. Children can benefit greatly from seeing board-certified pediatricians who specialize in the kinds of care they need. Pediatricians can:
- Perform physical exams and wellness check-ups.
- Give immunizations (vaccinations).
- Conduct speech therapy.
- Offer guidance for pain management.
- Check for milestones in skills, behavior, and growth.
- Answer any questions you might have in regards to your child's development.
- Diagnose and treat diseases including illness, infection, as well as injuries.

Save 60% on your next pediatrician visit when you book with Sesame.

Put simply, pediatricians treat kids, family doctors treat all members of the family - from your infant to your spouse.

Family doctors often have a more holistic understanding of genetic health issues that run in your family, helping them tailor care directly to your family's needs.

No matter your choice of primary care doctor, Sesame can help you find quality affordable health care. On Sesame, you get to choose who you'd like to see, for upfront prices, on your schedule. Yep. It's really that simple.

In most cases, yes. Primary care is an umbrella term to describe medical care that treats a wide range of health-related issues. Primary care providers (PCPs) are usually the first doctors a patient will see if they aren't feeling well or are looking for a referral. Primary care is divided into two forms of health services: family medicine and internal medicine.

• Family medicine: Family medicine refers to healthcare provided for the whole family. A family medicine doctor is a primary care provider who mostly offers preventive care like immunizations, checkups, and medical advice. Doctors trained in family practice can treat patients of all ages from pediatrics to geriatrics, so they often act as the healthcare provider for whole families.

• Internal medicine: An internal medicine doctor (or internist) provides primary medical care for adults only. Internal medicine doctors diagnose and treat a wide range of health conditions for adult patients and provide medical advice to improve general wellness. Internal medicine doctors will offer referrals to a specialist if a patient is dealing with a specific condition.

In most cases, you can help reduce your child's temperature by:
- Applying a cool compress on their forehead
- Giving a lukewarm sponge bath
- Giving your child children's acetaminophen to help reduce fever, if your child is older than 2 years of age. (To avoid a serious condition called Reye's syndrome, never give your child aspirin.)

If your child (older than 3 months) has a fever of 104 F, you should speak with an advice nurse or pediatrician. Infants under 3 months should seek medical care with a temperature of 100.4 F or higher.

Other symptoms that accompany a fever, such as a stiff neck, ear pain, sore throat, or severe headache may indicate a bigger issue.

Pediatric urgent care centers treat minor medical emergencies, offer vaccinations, and perform lab work for newborns, children, and teenagers.

Sesame offers telemedicine appointments, including video pediatric urgent care visits, for any non-life-threatening urgent care needs. It's perfect for fevers, sore throats, sprains, infections, and accessible from the comfort of your home.

Pediatric urgent care offers an accessible and kid-friendly space to take your child for healthcare services in the event of a minor emergency.

Whether your child has strep throat or needs an x-ray, consider booking a pediatric telehealth appointment with Sesame, with appointments available as early as today.

Well-child visits are recommended every few weeks during a baby's first year of life. After that, it is recommended that the child sees their pediatrician every few months, then every year after that. These visits help prevent disease and illness and track developmental progress through growth charts.

Here's what to expect at a well-child visit:

- Physical exam: The pediatrician or family medicine physician will perform a full-body physical exam to check for infections and abnormalities. The skin of the child will be visually checked for jaundice. A stethoscope will be used to check for breathing difficulty and heartbeat regularity. The organs in the abdomen, as well as the genitalia, will be checked for infection or abnormal lumps. The bone structures in the head are lightly examined to make sure that the bones in the skull are forming and joining properly.

- Measurements: During the physical exam, the pediatrician, or family medicine physician, will measure certain areas of the child's body to track development and growth. For example, a special tape will be used to measure the child's head circumference. The child will also be weighed. These measurements are recorded on a growth chart that tracks the child's growth curve. This helps determine if the child is growing normally, and what the child's growth is like compared to other children of a similar age.

- Immunizations: At certain times during the child's growth, it will need vaccines to help protect against disease and illness. Both the CDC and the AAP have released recommended immunization schedules to help parents stay on schedule with vaccinations and disease prevention. Immunizations help boost a child's immune system while protecting against diseases such as tetanus, polio, measles, hepatitis B, mumps, chickenpox, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).

The CDC strongly recommends following the immunization schedule listed above. While immunizations may cause mild side effects, these are expected and typically go away quickly. There are many common misconceptions about the risks of vaccination for children, and the dangers of not vaccinating a child against contagious, harmful diseases far outweigh these potential side effects. Studies have shown that vaccines do not cause autism, or sudden infant death syndrome, which are two commonly held misapprehensions about vaccination.

- Motor skills and development: Doctors will check the child's developing motor skills with a few simple tests. This includes checking whether or not a child turns toward sound, and if their eyes follow a certain sight. A doctor may ask about social behaviors (such as imitation of sounds and facial expressions), and skills such as crawling, standing, and reaching.

Bright Futures, from The American Academy of Pediatrics, have released a periodicity schedule that clearly outlines the recommended timetable for screening tests and checkups for a newborn infant up through childhood. The first well-baby visit is done 3-5 days after birth. Then, visits are recommended every month-2 months for the first year of life. After that, visits should be done at 3-month intervals until the baby is 2 years old. Then visits are recommended every 6 months-1 year. This continues through adolescence.

The periodicity schedule outlines different tests, vaccinations, and checkups needed for each specific visit. Not every visit will require a vaccination, and some will only consist of a physical exam. Tests and procedures may vary depending on the needs of the child, medical history, and specific wellness concerns.

Developmental pediatricians, also known as developmental-behavioral pediatricians, are healthcare providers that focus on learning and behavioral issues in children.

It is common for a developmental pediatrician to work along with a team of healthcare providers that may include, an occupational therapist, mental health provider, physical therapist, neurodevelopmental disabilities pediatrician, and social worker.

Developmental pediatricians are trained medical doctors that specialize in children's behavioral issues, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disorders, including:

Behavioral disorders: Including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

Developmental delays: Including delays in motor skills, speech and language skills, social and emotional skills, and cognitive skills.

Developmental disabilities: Including Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and hearing loss

With some conditions, including autism spectrum disorders, research shows that early intervention can play a major, positive role in helping your child's development long-term. Early intervention can help improve learning disabilities, behavioral problems, as well as physical, social, thinking, communication, and emotional skills.

Connect with a real, quality pediatrician on Sesame who can assess your child's condition and determine whether a referral to a developmental pediatrician may be right for your family.

Pediatric urology is the field of medicine dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of urinary and genital conditions in children. A pediatric urologist has special training to provide a warm and comforting atmosphere for children and an advanced knowledge of common conditions that affect children.

Some urinary/ genital problems a pediatric urologist can help treat include:
- Incontinence (bedwetting and daytime accidents)
- Undescended testes
- Hernias
- UTIs
- Genital defects (such as urethral prolapse)
- Kidney stones
- Cancers of the urinary tract (bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer)

Because these conditions can be sensitive and possibly embarrassing, pediatric urologists focus on creating a safe space for children to receive treatment. Pediatric urologists can perform physical exams and diagnostic testing. If your child is dealing with problems related to the urinary tract or genitalia, you may consider getting a recommendation for a pediatric urologist from your primary care provider or family medicine physician.