Motherhood is hard.

On a good day, we are drowning in laundry and homework and carpool lines. We are making multiple meals for picky eaters and managing meltdowns over not washing the pajamas they’ve already worn six days in a row. There are school obligations, extracurricular actives and playdates. There are giggles and smiles balanced with whining and bumps and bruises. We handle it all and make it through each day ready to do to all over again in a few short hours.

Then there are the times when those wrenches get thrown in our days. You know the ones I’m talking about. You get a call from the school nurse about a fever that emerged out of nowhere. Or your child wakes up at 3am telling you they are about to puke and you spring into action to minimize the collateral damage to sheets, towels and blankets. It happens to the best of us and is the reason we spend so much time researching pediatricians to make sure they are accessible whenever we may need them. And I don’t know about you but I LOVE my pediatrician. I never feel rushed out of the room as she takes the time to forge relationships with my kids. She is an incredible and trusted resource.

So, when I was approached my Blueberry Pediatrics to check out their service, I wasn’t sure how it would fit with the relationship that has been well-established for more than 6 years at this point with my pediatrician. It sounded great in theory, but how would a service boasting a 24/7 pediatrician play out in real life? I’ll tell you.

Amazing. Plain and simple.

Here’s the thing. Blueberry Pediatrics is not a replacement for your pediatrician, it’s an enhancement. Think of it as another layer of sanity for those moments when you really need a doctor on the phone – big or small. While I love my pediatrician there are definitely times where I wait a full day for a call back if it’s not an “emergency”. After hours pediatrics is not always consistent and if you are anything like me you start pacing waiting for a call back. I try not to be that mom that calls multiple times just “making sure the doctor received my message”. But when you have a sick kid – whether it’s a cough or a pukefest, minutes feel like hours and you start to get antsy. Plus, the idea of setting foot in a pediatric urgent care is far from the top of my list. And many of the regular urgent care locations are not necessarily equipped to handle pediatric patients – whether it’s regarding the supplies they have on hand or the bedside manner we prefer for our littlest patients.

I don’t want to be in the pediatrician’s office every single time I have a question. I don’t want that co-pay for visits that could have easily been addressed on the phone and I certainly don’t want to be hanging out in the lobby while the flu season cooties are floating around waiting for their next victim. And here’s where Blueberry comes in.

The service is web-based and you do everything through your computer or smartphone. It’s one of the most user-friendly interfaces I have ever seen (even if you are in that 2am panic about your sick kid). When you initialize your account you have an intro call with one of the board certified pediatricians. And I can tell you first-hand they are not even phased by children running loose in their diapers screaming for cookies, or older kids who want nothing more than to monopolize the conversation and talk to the doctor themselves. While everything is done online, they still take the time to establish a relationship with you and your family to ensure that there is already a level of familiarity when you start making sick visits. You’re dealing with a real pediatrician, not a robot somewhere spitting out pre-fabricated answers.

Once that intro call is under your belt, it’s as easy as hopping online to your account and starting a sick visit whenever you need one. It will ask which child it’s for as well as questions about general stuff – symptoms, etc.

From there you are promised a call in under an hour but I can tell you that I have never waited more than 20 minutes to date. The Blueberry team will address your concerns, talk you though it and do their best to troubleshoot. If they feel you need to be seen in person they will suggest you see your primary pediatrician.

I know what you’re thinking. This sounds great but how many times can I have a sick visit per week/month? There must be a limit. The answer is, whenever you want. Seriously, no limit. As many times as you need to speak to a Blueberry Pediatrics pediatrician you have the ability.

Now I really know what you’re thinking. It must be SUPER expensive. I’ve heard about the big price tags that accompany concierge-style medicine and I can’t swing it. Spoiler alert – it’s NOT expensive at all. As a matter of fact, right now they are offering a limited-time promotion for $15 per month. (RUNNNNN!!!!)

As a blogger and local mom, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t approached regularly about kid-related products and services. Some intrigue me and some I turn down from the get go. But for me, Blueberry Pediatrics was an immediate yes. I’m not afraid to admit that I love that added peace-of-mind from having access to a brilliant team of dedicated pediatricians in addition to my primary. I own the fact that sometimes, even with something small, I love the reassurance of being able to talk to a doctor without putting on a bra, getting in the car and schlepping my kids into an office. It’s one of the most valuable services I could ever ask for as a mother.  It’s literally like having a pediatrician in my pocket at all times.

So, while I started my relationship with Blueberry Pediatrics as an Ambassador, I have used the service in real life as a mother and can tell you that I am officially a superfan. Their approach to pediatric telemedicine has won me over and I have no doubt that anyone who experiences the service for themselves will agree.

If you’d like to have your own pediatrician in your pocket, use this link to get special savings for being a loyal Whine and Cheez-Its reader >>https://blueberrypediatrics.com/?pr=Whine%20And%20Cheezits

 

 

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