Any Sibley Pediatrician who is open-minded on vaccines?

[Anonymous]

Hello, I am scheduled to deliver at Sibley this winter and am looking for a pediatrician who will be more low-intervention on vaccinations for my newborn. I know we're supposed to look into doctors before birth, so I am trying to do my research in advance. I want to make sure that the baby is not given anything unnecessary or not approved by me (e.g., Hepatitis-B). And i would prefer to follow the delayed / staggered vaccine schedule within the first few years.

Please let me know if you have any recommendations for pediatricians at Sibley who will be OK with this.

Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

You don't need a pediatrician with Sibley privileges; if you choose one who can't visit patients at Sibley, a staff ped will check on your child during your post-partum stay.

That said, Dr. Promise Ahlstrom at Chevy Chase Pediatrics does have Sibley privileges, and I know that she's open to a delayed/staggered schedule. She's our ped, and although we're following the standard schedule, she has mentioned in the past that she works with many families that stagger shots. In general, she's totally non-judgemental and flexible, and my limited experiences with her three partners has been similarly positive.

[Anonymous]

And don't worry, you'll have to sign a consent for anything to be done to your baby at the hospital, regardless of who your ped is. I didn't deliver at Sibley, but I filled out all of the admission and other paperwork in advance and it was really nice. I declined Hep B and the antibiotic eye ointment, but allowed the Vit. K shot. Some places present it to you like "here, sign this" but just know that there is a place on the form where you can sign that you DECLINE.

I was prepared for it to be a big deal and nobody cared.