Well-Woman & Pediatric Care in Mount Juliet, TN

Women should begin annual well-woman exams around age 21 or when they become sexually active, whichever comes first. Pap smears typically start at age 21 and are performed every 3 years for women ages 21-29, then every 3 years or every 5 years with HPV co-testing for women 30-65, depending on results and risk factors. Clinical breast exams are usually included in annual visits starting in the 20s, with mammography screening beginning at age 40 (or earlier for women with family history or other risk factors).

However, even before age 21, adolescent girls benefit from preventive visits for immunization record review and education (including discussion of the HPV vaccine, which we do not administer on-site), discussion of menstrual health, contraceptive counseling if sexually active, and establishing a relationship with a primary care provider. These visits don't necessarily include pelvic exams unless there are specific concerns. The well-woman visit is also an opportunity for screening for other conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, osteoporosis (for older women), and mental health concerns including depression and anxiety. In our practice, we customize the screening schedule to your individual risk factors and health history rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends well-child visits at specific ages to monitor growth and development. In the first year, visits occur at birth/newborn, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. In the second year, visits are at 15, 18, and 24 months. In the third year, visits occur at 30 and 36 months. From age 3 onward, annual well-child visits are recommended through adolescence (age 21).

At each visit, we measure height, weight, and head circumference (for infants and toddlers), plotting these on growth charts to track trends over time. We perform a complete physical examination appropriate for the child's age, assess developmental milestones using validated screening tools, and review your child's immunization records while providing education (please note that we do not carry or administer vaccines in our office, and we respect each family's choices about immunizations). We also offer anticipatory guidance, which means discussing what to expect in the coming months regarding development, safety, nutrition, sleep, and behavior.

These visits are also opportunities for parents to ask questions about anything from picky eating to screen time to discipline strategies. In our model, well-child visits are longer than traditional practices (often 30-45 minutes instead of 15), allowing time to address multiple concerns, provide education, and build a trusting relationship between the provider, child, and parents. This relationship becomes especially valuable during challenging periods like colic in infancy, tantrums in toddlerhood, or behavioral concerns in school-age children.

As family nurse practitioners, we provide prenatal care coordination and shared care models where we work alongside your obstetrician or midwife. While you'll see a specialist for your regular prenatal visits and delivery, we remain your primary care provider throughout pregnancy, addressing any non-obstetric medical issues that arise, managing chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension during pregnancy, and providing support for common concerns like nausea, fatigue, or minor infections.

Before pregnancy, we offer preconception counseling to optimize your health, review medications for safety, ensure you're taking appropriate prenatal vitamins with folic acid, screen for and treat any infections or chronic conditions, and discuss lifestyle factors like nutrition, exercise, and substance use. This preconception period is one of the most important times to establish good health habits that support a healthy pregnancy.

After delivery, we provide postpartum care including physical recovery assessment, breastfeeding support and troubleshooting common concerns like latch difficulties or milk supply questions, screening for postpartum depression and anxiety (which affect up to 1 in 7 new mothers), contraceptive counseling when you're ready to resume sexual activity, and ongoing support as you adjust to new parenthood. The continuity of having the same provider before, during, and after pregnancy is incredibly valuable, and our transparent per-visit pricing means you always know what a visit costs before you schedule it.

We provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling and can prescribe a range of methods including birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, and injections (Depo-Provera). We take the time to discuss the benefits, risks, and effectiveness of each option so you can choose what fits your life. Please note that we do not perform in-office IUD insertion or removal; for long-acting reversible options such as IUDs or the contraceptive implant, we are happy to discuss whether they are right for you and provide a referral to a provider who places them.

For women or couples interested in permanent contraception, we can discuss options and provide referrals to gynecologic surgeons for tubal ligation or to urologists for vasectomy (which is safer, simpler, and more cost-effective than tubal ligation).

During contraceptive counseling, we discuss your reproductive goals, medical history, lifestyle factors, preferences around hormones and menstrual bleeding patterns, and effectiveness rates of different methods. We believe in shared decision-making where you have all the information to choose the method that best fits your life. When a prescription method is right for you, we can often start it during the same visit as your counseling, with transparent pricing you know in advance.

This is one of the greatest benefits of our practice model for families with children. When your child wakes up with a fever, ear pain, sore throat, vomiting, rash, or any other acute concern, you can text or call us directly that morning and we'll typically see you the same day or within 24 hours. There's no waiting on hold, no being told the next available appointment is in two weeks, and no need to resort to urgent care centers where providers don't know your child's history.

Because we keep our practice personal and are not driven by insurance-volume quotas, we work hard to maintain appointment availability for urgent needs. Many minor illnesses can even be managed via phone or video visit after we examine photos you send via text, saving you a trip to the office when your child is feeling miserable. We can call in prescriptions, provide guidance on home management, and schedule a follow-up in-person visit if needed.

For families with young children who tend to get frequent ear infections, strep throat, or other common childhood illnesses, this access is invaluable. Parents tell us they finally feel like they have a partner in their child's healthcare rather than feeling alone trying to navigate symptoms and wondering whether they need to be seen. The peace of mind knowing you can reach your child's provider quickly when you're worried is one of the most appreciated aspects of our practice model.