Your baby will experience a number of procedures during the first few days of life and over the next few years. Some of these procedures may be stressful for them.
In their first year, every baby will have:
Vitamin K injection
All newborns are at risk for vitamin K deficiency bleeding because there isn't enough in breast milk to meet their needs. An intramuscular injection of vitamin K is given shortly after birth.
Newborn metabolic screening
A routine test where a sample of your baby’s blood will be collected, sent to the lab, and screened for rare disorders, including several metabolic, blood, endocrine, and immune disorders.
Routine bilibrubin screening
All babies will their have blood tested to measure the amount of bilirubin. When red blood cells break down, bilirubin is leftover but the liver processes it from the blood stream. Newborns often have high bilirubin in their blood because it can take a little while for their liver to start working fully. We screen all babies after they are born to see if they need extra help getting rid of the bilirubin while in hospital!
Immunizations
The process of becoming resistant (less likely to become infected) or immune (have protection against) a disease or infection, by receiving a vaccine.
Some of these procedures will happen shortly after your baby is born in hospital and some, like immunizations, will take place in the community with public health or your primary care provider.
This baby is getting their blood sugar tested.
In special cases in hospital your baby may need extra blood tests to monitor their blood sugar levels (1) or medication for eye care. (2,3)
References
- Narvey, M., Marks, S., Canadian Paediatric Society, & Fetus and Newborn Committee. (2019). The screening and management of newborns at risk for low blood glucose. Retrieved from https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/newborns-at-risk-for-low-blood-glucose
- Moore, D., MacDonald, N., Canadian Paediatric Society, & Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee. (2015). Preventing ophthalmia neonatorum. Retrieved from https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/ophthalmia-neonatorum
- Canadian Paediatric Society. (2019). Neonatal ocular prophylaxis: Shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment for use in newborns. Retrieved from https://www.cps.ca/en/media/neonatal-ocular-prophylaxis-shortage-of-erythromycin-ophthalmic-ointment-for-use-in-newborns