Newborn Screening

Why is a Newborn Screening Test Necessary for an Infant?

Getting a newborn screening test done for your newborn baby can be a blessing in disguise. This test aims to check for any metabolic, genetic, or developmental disorders in your baby. Although it is quite rare to incur any of these illnesses, it does keep one better prepared for any unforeseen situation in the future.

It is best to catch the problem early on so that the treatment can be quick and more effective. Visit Apollo Cradle to get a newborn screening test for your child. This test will determine any disorder or illness that might be detrimental to your child's development if left unchecked.

Ideally, this test is done right after childbirth and before the child and mother are discharged from the hospital. There is no reason to panic if your child tests positive for any of these conditions since the sole purpose of this test is to track and avoid any symptom that may cause any major problem in your child's developmental years.

The team at Apollo Cradle is extremely dedicated and focuses on the complete care of both mother and child. Trust the doctors at Apollo Cradle and get the newborn screening test done to identify any illness right from the beginning. This will ensure that your infant gets timely preventative medical intervention, thereby securing a healthy future.

How is a Newborn Screening Test Done

There are multiple ways to perform a newborn screening test:

1. Heart screening: Heart screening is a method that is used to test infants for any heart ailments like critical CHDs (CCHDs - critical congenital heart defects). It is done by a simple pulse oximetry method to check if the necessary amount of oxygen is passing into your baby's blood. To determine this, a pulse oximeter machine and sensors are placed on the skin of your child and then a reading is recorded.
2. Blood test: A blood test can also be done to perform a newborn screening test and determine or rule out the presence of serious health ailments. You don't have to worry about the procedure because all it involves is a blood sample. Your healthcare attendant will take a few drops of blood from your baby's heel by pricking with a needle. The test results usually take a few days. You can ask your doctor for more information on the same.
3. Hearing screening: This test is done majorly to check for hearing impairments in your baby. A pair of earphones, that are connected to a computer, is placed in your child's ears and his/her response is monitored to check for discrepancies.

If your baby checks off the above tests successfully, you can rest assured that there are no serious illnesses affecting your child from birth.

What is the Probability of an Infant Having These Ailments?

Statistics say that the mortality rate in newborn babies is quite low across the world in developed countries. The number amounts to about 5-10 babies per 1000 newborns. However, the same in India is about tenfold more. It is, therefore, highly critical that the newborn screening test is done for every child that is born to negate the high mortality rate. Healthcare specialists in India claim that with this screening, around 10-20% of such cases have a higher chance of survival.

When Should One Register for the Screening?

It is highly recommended, although not compulsory, to register yourself during the pregnancy itself. Even if you miss registering for the screening during pregnancy, you can very well do that right after childbirth.

Things to Remember:

1. Getting a newborn screening test done for your child only ensures you are better prepared against unforeseen circumstances.
2. The test itself is not rigorous. However, one can avoid a deadly illness or genetic disorder, by using preventative medicine at the right time.

Do not panic. Talk to your healthcare expert about your concerns and they will surely walk you through them.

Request an appointment at Apollo Cradle, Bengaluru - Koramangala. Call 1860-500-1066 to book an appointment.