Why Newborn Screening Matters for Every New Baby

Why Newborn Screening Matters for Every New Baby

Newborn screening helps families and health care providers identify serious health conditions before symptoms appear. Performed shortly after birth, this routine test helps ensure babies receive treatment and care as early as possible.

"Routine newborn screening is usually done 24 hours after the baby is born. It looks for rare but serious health conditions that may not necessarily present right away in the newborn period," saidSarah Baldwin, pediatric nurse practitioner with Aspirus Health.

Many babies with screened conditions appear healthy at birth and show no obvious signs of a health concern. According to Baldwin, even prenatal ultrasounds and newborn physical examinations cannot detect every disorder. Newborn screening can help identify metabolic, endocrine and blood disorders, including phenylketonuria (PKU), sickle cell disease, congenital hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis.

Newborn screening is recommended for all babies and is routinely performed shortly after birth. The newborn screening test is quick and simple. A few drops of blood are collected through a heel prick and sent to a state laboratory for testing. In addition to the blood test, newborns are routinely screened for hearing loss and certain congenital heart defects.

"Early detection is incredibly important. It can help prevent serious long-term outcomes, including learning disabilities and developmental delays, and supports healthy growth and development," Baldwin said.

Newborn screening is one of the first important health checks a baby receives, helping families and providers identify potential concerns before symptoms develop. Parents with questions about newborn screening are encouraged to speak with their pediatrician or health care provider before or after delivery.

To learn more about pediatric care, visit aspirus.org/pediatrics.

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