do you have to call and get a pediatrician before baby is born?

I guess it varies on hospitals, but for both my kids they assigned me one and I just kept them. I never got one ahead of time.

I think it depends. I called to the pediatric office that I'll be taking my baby to and they just told me that when I'm in the hospital to tell the nurse who I want for my pediatrician and they'll contact them.

Depends they wouldn't let me take baby home unless I had an appointment already with one

I found one after my son was born, but it doesn't hurt to get one ahead of time to eliminate an extra stress after baby is here.