Is my child really he althy? - new moms are worried. Their fears may be dispelled by numerous examinations and tests that the newborn undergoes in the hospital. What tests await the baby immediately after giving birth?

Examination of the newborn after birthallows, if necessary, to react quickly to abnormalities, which is of colossal importance for the future of the child. Immediately after delivery, the newborn is closely monitored and examined. While some of these tests may be a bit unpleasant for him (e.g. a needle stick), they are always done for his benefit. After all, the point is to detect and treat any irregularities as early as possible. It is worth knowing what kind of research it is.

Newborn screening: Apgar score

Immediately after delivery, the baby is measured (height, head circumference), weighed and examined by a pediatrician, who assesses his he alth according to the so-called Apgar scale. This foreign-sounding name (named after an American doctor) defines the five most important criteria for assessing a child's condition. They are:

  • breathing activity
  • heart rate (beats per minute)
  • skin color
  • muscle tension
  • reaction to reflexes.

In each of these categories, the child receives 0 to 2 points. So the maximum number of points is 10 - then the toddler is in very good condition. But you do not have to worry when you start with these points 7 or 8. It is enough that the child was a little hypoxic, and the score is lower, because the heart rate slows down and the color of the skin changes, which depends on the amount of oxygen in the blood. Usually, the administration of oxygen allows for a quick correction of these disorders and a quick improvement of the condition of the newborn. 5 points or less means your little one needs urgent medical attention. Apgar grades are performed in the first, third, fifth and tenth minutes of life.

Examination of the newborn: the most important reflexes

Soon after birth, the pediatrician also checks if the baby shows the most important reflexes:

  • reflex to look for the nipple
  • sucking and swallowing reflex
  • grasping reflex (the child clenches his hands e.g. on the finger given to him)
  • Moro reflex - involves throwing both hands to the side and back, and then bringing them to the chest.

Newborn screening: hearing screening

For several yearsevery child in Poland has their hearing tested no later than on the third day of life. Severe hearing loss is rare, affecting approximately 20 out of 1,000 newborns. However, this is a serious drawback. In a child with hearing loss, learning to speak is very limited, often even impossible. That is why it is so important to detect this problem as early as possible, preferably by 6 months of age. A toddler who is diagnosed with a hearing impairment is equipped with a hearing aid, thanks to which he can hear and learn to speak freely. The hearing test is performed using the otoacoustic emission (OAE) method; it is an analysis of the so-called soft sounds emitted by the human ear. This is achieved by means of an easy-to-use device the size of a telephone handset. The test takes about 5 minutes and is painless (performed while you sleep). It is worth mentioning that the dissemination of hearing screening tests is due to the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.

Neonatal examinations: hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria

Puppies are also screened. In the 3rd-5th During the day of life, the child has capillary blood (from the heel) taken to check for one of these diseases. Hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria are genetically determined (congenital) conditions. They are extremely rare: congenital hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism) occurs in 1 in 4,000 newborns and phenylketonuria occurs in 1 in 8,000 newborns. Their early diagnosis is very important, because only the initiation of treatment in the early childhood period prevents irreversible damage to the central nervous system.

Medical examination of the newborn and first vaccinations

The child is also examined by the pediatrician during the next days in the hospital with his mother. The doctor auscultates his heart and lungs, palpates (touching) the internal organs, checking for enlarged kidneys, liver and spleen, and also examines the hip joints. During their stay in hospital, each child is also vaccinated against tuberculosis and hepatitis B (hepatitis B).

He alth book - the first important document

All information about the course of childbirth, baby's he alth and test results is entered in the baby's he alth book. Parents receive it on discharge from the hospital. This is a document that should accompany your child during each medical examination. You have to protect it like an eye in your head, because it is to describe the development and he alth of a child up to the age of 18.

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