MemorialCare - Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care

Newborn Screenings

Newborn health screenings (tests) are done shortly after birth to identify any medical conditions that may not show up during a physical exam. Make sure the hospital and your baby’s health care provider have your contact information so they can notify you of the test results.

SCAN + PLAY

NEWBORN SCREENING

HOW TESTING IS DONE

• A few drops of blood are taken from baby’s heel • Blood sample is sent to the lab for testing

• Typically done after 24 hours but no later than 2 to 3 days after birth • Tests for genetic, endocrine, and metabolic disorders • By identifying rare conditions early, allows treatment before health issues worsen • May be repeated when baby is 1 to 2 weeks old • Estimate: 1 to 3 of every 1,000 newborns will have serious hearing loss • Standard practice to conduct hearing screening on newborns in hospital • Unless hearing loss is identified early, the hearing center in baby’s brain won’t get enough stimulation, delaying speech and other development

Blood

• Painless, 10-minute test while baby is sleeping • Uses a tiny earphone, microphone, or both • Two ways to check baby’s response to sound: Otoacoustic (OAE) Auditory brainstem response (ABR) • Sensors placed on baby’s hand and foot with sticky strip and small red light or probe • Sensors measure baby’s oxygen level and pulse rate • Test takes a few minutes and is done while baby is still, quiet, and warm • Light meter placed on skin or blood sample from heel • If bilirubin level is high after light meter testing, blood test can confirm the reading • Initial screening typically occurs after the first feeding • Drop of blood from baby’s heel is placed on a test strip and analyzed • Nurse can see the results quickly and know if baby’s blood sugar is low • Heel prick test can be repeated every 2 to 3 hours until blood sugar stabilizes

Hearing

• Pulse oximetry can detect congenital heart defects in newborns • Simple, painless test that measures baby’s blood oxygen level • Done when baby is more than 24 hours old

Heart

• Caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the newborn’s blood • If bilirubin level becomes too high, it can cause brain damage • All newborns are screened for jaundice before discharge Babies who are considered at risk may also need their blood sugar level tested after birth. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may cause long-term health problems. Risk factors for low blood sugar • Prematurity • High or low birth weight • Maternal diabetes • Infrequent or inadequate feeding

Jaundice

Blood Sugar

Treatment options • Breastfeeding or expressing colostrum to feed the baby

• Holding baby skin-to-skin after feeding until blood sugar is rechecked • Supplementing baby’s feedings with donor human milk or infant formula • Placing glucose gel in baby’s mouth to quickly raise their blood sugar Approximately 1 hour after your baby receives the sugar gel and extra feeding, their blood sugar will be rechecked to make sure it has improved.

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Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care