After Your Baby is Born

Tests done at Birth

Apgar
Your baby's health is scored at birth, and again five minutes after birth, using an Apgar scoring method of 1-10, 10 being a perfect score. Registered nurses assess the baby's heart rate, respiration rate, color and other factors.

PKU
This routine blood test, mandated by the state of Connecticut, is a screening measure for possible phenylketonuria, a problem with metabolism that could lead to mental retardation if not addressed. The test is done shortly after birth and again within 14 days in your pediatrician's office.

Antibiotic Ointment
An ointment is placed in your baby's eyes shortly after birth to treat any bacteria present in the eyes that could lead to blindness. This preventive step is required by law.

Vitamin K
Your baby receives an injection of vitamin K shortly after birth.

Hepatitis B
Your baby may have his first of three hepatitis B vaccines while in the hospital. Discuss the need for all immunizations with your pediatrician or pediatric nurse practitioner.

Hearing screening
Most newborns will receive at least one and possibly two screening tests to determine if he or she has a moderate to severe hearing loss. The tests are painless. You and your pediatrician will receive formal reports of your baby's hearing results. Otoacoustic emission (OAE) screenings are conducted in the nursery. A soft earphone is placed in your baby's ear canal. Sounds emitted through the earphone stimulate the ear and cause a measurable echo. If an echo is not detected, an additional screening test will be performed. Automated auditory brainstem evoked response (AABR) screening involves placing electrodes on the infant's head, neck and shoulders stimulating the hearing through earphones and measuring the electrical activity generated by the ear in response to sound. If additional information is required after these two screenings, you will be referred to your pediatrician for followup.

Blood Type
Blood will be taken from the umbilical cord to check the baby's blood type and to screen for syphilis (required by law).

Identification Bands
After your baby is born, identification bands with matching numbers are placed on mom, baby (2) and one other person of mom's choice. I.D. bands are checked every time your baby goes to and from the nursery. Only authorized staff with hospital IDs will transfer your baby.

Birth Certificate and
Social Security Numbers
The birth certificate and social security applications will be brought to you on the post-partum floor. A representative from the Vital Statistics office at Yale-New Haven Hospital will be delivering and collecting these forms from you.

They will be inquiring about your marital status so it can be determined if paternity papers are needed. If mom and dad are not legally married, paternity papers are required to include the father's information on the birth certificate. This is a state of Connecticut requirement and the father must have photo identification to complete the paternity papers.

Later, you will be able to obtain a copy of your baby's birth certificate from New Haven City Hall. Staff from the Yale-New Haven Vital Statistics office are available 7 days a week for you convenience. (Excluding some holidays). Please call the Vital Statistics office at Yale-New Haven Hospital at (203) 688-2308 for information.

What Do Newborns Look Like?
Unless you have seen a newborn baby, you may be surprised what your newborn will look like! Newborns are usually very red in complexion. Their skin is often covered with a soft covering. Their legs are usually thin and may be curved because of the way they were crowded in the uterus. Because of the pressure during delivery, their heads may be cone-shaped but will soon become round.

Maternity Services home page

Last revised: November 7, 2005 (mv)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.