Jess Newland: How to Prepare for Doctor Visits

Before Zachary, doctor appointments for my children consisted of well-check appointments and what seemed like the yearly ear infection visits for antibiotics. I would call and make an appointment, go to the doctor, get the sick child weighed and measured, leave with a prescription order, and that was it. That's all I knew!

Zachary's first appointment with a specialist was at 2 days old. I was a tired, sore, emotional mother who had just gone through the most traumatic delivery I had ever faced. I sat in that doctor's office and the tears flowed. I learned my baby would have 2 upcoming eye surgeries. I was so scared and felt so clueless as to what was ahead.

That 2 day old baby is now 5 1/2 years old and I would have never believed you if you told me the amount of doctors appointments we would have faced so far in his short 5 years. Looking back I had no idea what was involved. It's kind of crazy yet kind of fun to think about how far we've come and how much my husband and I have learned along the way.

For the very first Special Needs Life Hacks topic, we're sharing a little glimpse at what we wish we had known when we first started this journey with literally lists of specialist doctors. My friend Melissa and I will be chatted about this topic and went into how we prepare for doctor visits.

One of my biggest sanity savers is the prep I do the week before an appointment. Right close to that is the sanity saver of learning to leave an extra 30 minutes early to have time to stop for coffee along the way. Coffee in hand when I walk into any hospital or doctor appointment is a must! Ha!