Newborn Screening: What Every Parent Should Know

If you’re an expectant parent, we all know the one thing you truly wish for is a healthy and happy baby. But do you know that every year in India, more than 1.7 million babies are born with serious health conditions and birth defects. Many of them show no visible signs in the beginning.

At birth, babies may look completely fine, but some are born with rare genetic or inherited disorders that could turn life-threatening later.

Therefore, detecting these conditions early is essential, and this can only be done through newborn screening. If you want to understand what newborn screening is and why it plays such an important role in your baby’s future health, keep reading.

What is Newborn Screening?

Newborn screening is a quick test that checks your baby’s blood for rare but serious health problems. These could be issues related to your baby’s growth, and may include inherited or genetic conditions like Homocystinuria (a disorder where the body can’t break down certain proteins).

The best thing is that newborn screening helps detect these problems before your baby shows any signs of illness. This gives doctors a chance to step in early and help your baby get the healthiest start possible.

The newborn screening test is usually performed within the first few days of life, typically between 24 and 48 hours after birth. In many countries, this test is mandatory and is carried out in hospitals or birthing centres.

Types of Newborn Screening Tests

Now that you know what newborn screening is, let’s look at its different types that give a complete picture of your baby’s health:

1.   Blood Test

Doctors usually recommend newborn screening at birth through a blood test. Now, if you’re worried after reading “blood test,” don’t be! This test is completely painless for your baby.

It’s usually done with a quick heel prick or finger prick and analysed to detect rare but serious health conditions. The test is generally carried out within the first 5 to 7 days of your baby’s life.

The test can detect a variety of conditions, such as:

• Amino acid metabolism disorders
• Biotinidase deficiency
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Cystic fibrosis
• Fatty acid metabolism disorders
• Galactosemia
• G6PD deficiency
• Organic acid metabolism disorders
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Sickle cell disease and other hemoglobin disorders

If you’re looking for a convenient option for a blood test, LifeCell offers Newborn Screening TMS. This comprehensive test screens for 52 congenital disorders. You can easily book it online, and a certified paramedic will visit your home to collect the sample.

And the best part is you’ll receive the reports digitally at home, making the entire process safe, simple, and convenient.

2.   Hearing Screening Test

Hearing screening for babies is done through two types of tests. Both of the tests are very quick, requiring only about 5–10 minutes. They are painless and completely safe, and can even be done while your baby is asleep. This includes:

OAE Test (Otoacoustic Emissions)

During the test, a tiny earphone and microphone or soft foam are placed in your baby’s ear, and soft sounds are played. If the baby has normal hearing, an echo is reflected back, which is measured with a microphone or a computer. If no echo is detected, it may mean there’s a hearing problem.

ABR Test (Auditory Brainstem Response)

In this test, earphones are again placed in the ear, and sounds are played. Small sticker-like electrodes are placed on your baby’s head and connected to a computer to check how the brain responds to these sounds. If the brain doesn’t respond properly, it could indicate hearing loss.

3.   Pulse Oximetry

Pulse oximetry is a simple, painless test that measures the oxygen in your baby’s blood. Doctors use it to detect heart issues in babies, including Critical Congenital Heart Disease. 7

The test involves a small sensor which is placed on your baby’s skin, and the test only takes a few minutes. It’s usually done after 24 hours of the baby’s birth, before they are discharged from the hospital.

Do You Need to Prepare for Newborn Screening?

There’s no real preparation needed for newborn screening test because the tests are simple and quick, taking just a few minutes. For the blood test, just make sure your baby is fed and calm before the heel or finger prick.

The other screenings, like hearing and pulse oximetry, can even be done while your baby is asleep. All you need to do is just be with them.

Conclusion

If you’re an expectant parent, one of the best things you can do for your baby’s health after birth is get newborn screening done.

It’s a simple, safe, and painless process that can detect rare conditions early, which may not show up for weeks or even months. Catching them early gives doctors a chance to treat your baby promptly and help them start life healthy.

And don’t forget to share this with other parents-to-be. Every baby deserves a healthy start, and a parent’s awareness is the first step towards achieving this.

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