Your First Appointment: What to Expect
Most of the time, your baby’s first visit with the Special Infant Care Clinic is 4-6 weeks after hospital discharge. Bring your child well-rested and comfortable. During your appointment, you and your baby will meet multiple specialists. They’ll assess your child’s needs and talk with you about any concerns you have. You and your baby will remain together throughout the appointment. Plan on 90 minutes for your first visit. Bring baby supplies and snacks for your child and yourself.
The visit may include evaluations of your baby’s:
- Physical growth and nutrition
- Neuromuscular function, including posture, strength and motor skills
- Social interaction skills
- Language development
- Hearing and vision
- Family and community support
One-Stop-Shop Multidisciplinary Care
We’ll make the most of your time at UNC Medical Center. You may see several Special Infant Care Clinic providers in the same visit.
Your team includes:
- Nurse Coordinator – Supports multidisciplinary care for newborns through toddlers with expertise in complex care coordination
- Physicians – Lead our multidisciplinary team, hold board certifications in neonatology and general pediatrics, and supervise neonatology fellow and resident physicians.
- Nurse Practitioners – Provide compassionate individualized care with expertise in medically complex newborns through toddlers and hold certifications in early developmental assessments
- Dietitians - address nutrition or feeding concerns
- Psychologists – provide family support, assess psychological needs of children
- Physical Therapists – Assist your child with strength, balance and coordination
- Occupational Therapists – Help your child gain skills to perform everyday activities like regulating state, socializing, and using hands to explore the environment
- Speech Pathologists – Help your child develop communication skills and safe feeding skills
- Audiologists – evaluate hearing skills for children with risk for hearing loss
- Social Workers – Identify community resources and connect families to support
Consultations with specialists from other areas are available as needed.
