The time after delivery can be a hectic time for both you and your baby. In all of the excitement, it can be hard to keep track of all the information discussed. That is particularly true about newborn screening.

Even though almost every baby born in the US is screened for a range of treatable conditions, many parents still feel like they don’t have the full picture. Here are answers to the top 3 questions you may have about newborn screening.

Why is my baby being screened?
All newborns are required to be screened for a range of rare but serious health conditions such as cystic fibrosis, heart disease and many more. Babies with these health conditions may seem healthy at birth but can become very sick if they don’t get treatment early. If left untreated, babies with these conditions can suffer intellectual and physical disabilities, and in some cases death.

How will my baby be screened?
Newborn screening usually takes place in the 24 to 48 hours after birth. In some states, a second screen is done at the baby’s first health checkup. There are a couple of parts to newborn screening.

First is a heel prick, where a few drops of blood are collected and placed on a special kind of paper. This paper is sent to the state lab to be screened for metabolic and genetic conditions. Feel free to hold or nurse your baby to comfort him or her during the heel prick.

Secondly, there is also a hearing screening to check how well the baby’s ears are working. Some states have also started screening babies for heart defects by measuring the amount of oxygen in baby’s blood.

What if my baby needs to be retested?
If you get a phone call or letter saying your baby needs to be retested, do not panic. The screening process picks up any baby who might be at risk for a condition. Follow up testing is needed to determine if your baby actually has a disease or health complication. It’s very important to follow up with your pediatrician to be sure your baby is healthy.

Have more questions?

To learn what conditions your state screens for and questions to ask your healthcare provider, go to babysfirsttest.org.