Babies require a lot of care and attention at birth itself. Newborn screening allows doctors to evaluate your baby and confirm that he is healthy. Read on to know more about what makes it essential.
About newborn screening
Newborn screening is carried out in the first few days of your baby’s birth. Typically, it will be done before you leave the hospital for home with your little one. The purpose of newborn screening is to check the baby for any medical conditions or disorders that require attention. As with any other illness, early detection followed by the appropriate treatment is the key to prevent further damage.
What does newborn screening involve?
Shortly after birth, i.e. within 24-48 hours, a blood sample is taken from your baby. While it does involve some pain, rest assured that the discomfort will be minimal for your newborn. Additionally, newborn screening also includes a test to evaluate the baby for hearing loss and the pulse oximetry test to check for congenital heart disease. The timing on these tests is crucial because certain medical conditions may go undetected after 24 hours of birth.
Why is newborn screening recommended?
Most new-borns look healthy and are born healthy. However, some can be born with serious medical conditions that cannot be detected by merely looking at them; this is what makes screening one of the best starts you can offer your baby at birth itself. This pre-emptive testing makes sure that any conditions are caught immediately before the baby can actually get sick because of them.
What are the tests offered under newborn screening?
Globally, a range of tests are offered, and the parents may elect to opt for some more as well, under medical advice. Below is an indicative list of some of these tests:
- Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sickle cell disease
- Critical congenital heart disease
All these tests can be carried out using the same sample of your baby’s blood.
Awaiting new-bornscreening test results
If your baby’s test results come back negative, it means that all his parameters are in the normal range and do not require further investigation. However, should the reports come in as positive, they should definitely be discussed with your doctor. Often, the concerns can be addressed right from then itself, for instance by incorporating a special diet and follow-up testing. What you need to keep in mind is, do not let this be a stressful or trying time for you as a parent.
Your next steps
Once the reports are in, your doctor will discuss them at length with you if there is anything that requires attention. But do keep in mind that a screening test is not diagnostic in nature and needs to be followed up with further testing that is specific to the indicative condition. Hence, while as a new parent you would naturally be anxious, do not panic and evaluate all available options calmly with your doctor.
