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A pediatrician examines the newborn baby before discharge from hospital. On average, babies are examined at the age of 1 or 2 days. If your baby has been examined early (at the age of less than one day), you will be invited to a re-examination.
The doctor checks the data on mother's health, pregnancy and labour and on the baby's condition immediately after the delivery and in the ward. Then the doctor examines the baby.
The pediatrician:
evaluates of the baby’s general condition, behaviour and external features - evaluates the baby’s nutritional status and possible yellowing
- auscultates the lungs and heart
- palpates the abdominal organs
- checks the hips and feels the femoral arteries
- feels the fontanels (the soft spot), evaluates the baby’s muscle tone and early reflexes
A thyroid function test is performed on the cord blood of all babies, and phenylketonuria screening is performed on babies belonging to an at-risk group. A hearing test is performed before discharge from hospital. Newborn babies belonging to an at-risk group receive a tuberculosis vaccination.
If anything abnormal is detected in the check-up or screenings, further care or monitoring of the baby is arranged in a hospital ward, an outpatient clinic or your own health centre.