Newborn Tests and Admin
Ok so you have just been wheeled from the delivery room into your ward with your new baby, you are getting your bearings and adjusting to having a baby and staring at them in awe and with love, but what happens next, what should you expect during the hospital stay and over the first few days and weeks in terms of tests and checks for your baby?
1.Heel prick Test
2.Hearing Test
3.Newborn clinical examination
4.Arranging the Public Health Nurse Visit
5.Registering the birth
Heel prick Test
All babies born in Ireland are screened for six medical conditions soon after birth, this screening is often referred to as the “Heel Prick Test”
This is carried out 3 – 5 days after the baby is born, on my first child it was carried out before I left the hospital; on my second child, due to covid restrictions, I had an outpatient appointment at Holles Street for the test, the Sunday after getting discharged on the Friday which proved to be a bit of a nightmare as my husband couldn’t come in due to the restrictions so had to drop us outside which left me trying to juggle breastfeeds in between being called for the test.
While there I also asked the nurse to check my stitches as I was super-sensitive about them getting infected the second time around. With my first child I felt I was able to rest up and not be physically moving around so much and also walk around in my dressing gown a good bit with a nightdress on with no underwear to let the air at my stitches to let them heal, with my second child I didn’t have that luxury, I was moved around a lot more and as a result my stitches were a lot more painful as they healed. Luckily the nurse agreed to check them and assured me all was ok. Incidentally, the second time around I was less prudish about asking the public health nurse or my GP to check my stitches, I was more concerned about everything healing well and not getting an infection and they have seen it all before and are more than happy to help!
But back to the heel prick test, the midwife or public health nurse carries out the screen, if you are still in the hospital, they will usually come to your bedside. They take a small sample of blood from your baby’s heel … this is why it is known as the heel prick test! Laboratory staff then check your baby’s blood for 8 rare but serious conditions such as cystic fibrosis. See more details HERE on the HSE website.
Hearing Test
A hearing test is performed in the hospital, again someone will come to your bedside to perform this. You should be given the results immediately and if there are any concerns the specialist will let you know. More details about hearing tests HERE
Newborn clinical examination
Your baby should get a full newborn clinical examination within 72 hours of birth. This is carried out by a doctor or specialist midwife.
If your baby was born in a hospital, the examination will usually happen before they go home. If you had a home birth provided by the HSE, your baby will be examined by your GP or at a maternity hospital.
Your baby will be examined from head to toe, it will not hurt your baby although it is normal for babies to cry. The idea of this examination is to spot any problems as early as possible so treatment can start if needed. The midwife or doctor may chat to you briefly about your pregnancy, the birth and any health problems you may have. They may also ask about health problems in your family and if you have any concerns about your baby. Again, more detail about this examination can be found on the HSE website HERE
Arranging the Public Health Nurse Visit
You will be visited at home by your public health nurse (PHN) during your first 3 days at home with the baby.
If you had a hospital birth, they will let the PHN know when you have been discharged. If you are on a Domino scheme (midwife-led antenatal care), your first visit at home will be from a midwife, after which they will then hand over your care to your Public Health Nurse. Your community midwife will notify the PHN if you had a home birth provided by the HSE. You will be visited by the Public Health Nurse after you have been discharged from your midwife’s care.
The Public Health Nurse usually will phone you to let you know they will be coming that day or the following day so you will have some notice! This is the first time you will meet your PHN. They are there to support you and your family and are like an experienced and knowledgeable friend who you can rely on for help, information and support . My advice would be to make the most of their knowledge and experience and be ready with any questions you’d like to ask them, they will be delighted to answer and to help.
Registering the birth
When your child is born, the hospital staff, doctor or midwife will send the civil registration service a birth notification form. However, a “Qualified Informant” will still need to register the birth within three months of the date of birth. A qualified informant is usually a Parent or both Parents.
Registering a birth is free. When you are being discharged from hospital the nurse will give you a piece of paper and explain how to go about registering the birth. Previously you had to go to the office in Lombard Street to do so but now it is possible to complete the process entirely online. You can find more information and all of the details you will need HERE
