What it is
Newborn procedures are a short list, and you can ask about each before birth. The vitamin K shot stops a rare bleeding disorder. Without it about 1 in 10,000 babies has a late bleed, often in the brain. With it that almost never happens. Erythromycin eye ointment guards against eye infection from bacteria in the birth canal. California law requires it; ask your hospital how it handles a decline. The hepatitis B vaccine is offered in the first 24 hours. Newborn screening means a heel stick blood test, a hearing test, and an oxygen check for heart defects.
What's typical
Most of this can wait until after the first hour of skin to skin. The heel stick is done between 12 and 48 hours and checks for more than 80 rare conditions in California. About 1 in 100 babies gets called back, and most repeats are normal.
What's known
AAP, CDC, and ACOG all recommend the shot, the ointment, the vaccine, and the screens. Oral vitamin K protects less well.
What helps
- Ask that procedures wait until after the golden hour. Weighing can happen on your chest.
- Hold or nurse your baby during the shot and heel stick.
- If you plan to decline anything, tell the pediatrician in pregnancy.
When to call someone
- Nowa newborn with bleeding from the nose, mouth, or cord, blood in stool or vomit, unexplained bruising, or extreme sleepiness. Go to the emergency room, especially if vitamin K was declined.
- Todaya call about the newborn screen. Call back the same day.
- At your next visita hearing screen marked refer needs a full test by 3 months.
Who helps
Tools: Birth Plan Generator
Related
- Skin-to-skin and the golden hourGetting Ready for Birth
- The first 24 hoursBirth and the First Days
- Newborn jaundiceBaby Basics
- Vaccines: the baby's schedule and who around the babyBaby Basics
- Writing a birth plan that actually helpsGetting Ready for Birth
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Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Policy statement on vitamin K and the newborn
- California Department of Public Health — Newborn Screening Program parent information
- California Department of Public Health — Newborn Hearing Screening Program parent FAQ
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