The following procedures and tests are routinely done on all newborns. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your pediatrician before you deliver. (
If you would like to download a brochure containing this information, click here.)
DAILY PEDIATRIC EXAMS
Choosing a pediatric provider before your baby is born is important. This may allow the provider to see your baby during the hospital stay. You may also request to meet with the provider before your baby’s birth. If your provider does not come to Hartford Hospital, the hospital pediatric providers or covering pediatricians will see your baby. For a list of pediatric providers who see patients at Hartford Hospital,
click here, or call the Hartford Hospital Health Referral Center at (860) 545-1888 (toll-free 1-800-545-7664).
BABY FOOTPRINTS
After your baby is born two sets of footprints will be taken of your baby. These will be placed in your baby’s chart and one set will be given to you before you go home.
SECURITY BANDS
As soon as your baby is born, identification bands will be put on the baby and mother. Another band is available for fathers or other support persons identified by the mother. DO NOT REMOVE THESE BANDS BEFORE YOUR BABY GOES HOME. YOU CANNOT ENTER THE NURSERY OR TAKE YOUR BABY TO YOUR ROOM WITHOUT THESE BANDS IN PLACE. SPECIAL NOTE: For the safety and security of your baby, we ask that when walking in the hallways, you keep your baby in the bassinet.
JAUNDICE (BILIRUBIN) SCREEN
In order to measure the level of jaundice (yellow pigment) in your baby’s skin, a monitor is placed on your baby’s forehead for a few seconds. This gives a reading, and if high, a blood test for bilirubin is done. Some jaundice is normal but a high level can be harmful.
VITAMIN K INJECTION
Given in your baby’s thigh muscle in the first 4 hours of life, this protects against a bleeding disorder in the first weeks of life until your baby can make his/her own vitamin K.
HEPATITIS B VACCINE – FIRST DOSE
Given in your baby’s thigh muscle in the first 4 hours of life, this safe vaccine protects your baby right from birth against a serious viral infection of the liver. Hepatitis B can be fatal or result in your baby becoming a carrier for life. (
For more information, download a "Hepatitis B Information Sheet" from the CDC.)
CAR SEAT TOLERANCE TEST
For babies born at less than 37 weeks of pregnancy, your baby’s breathing and oxygen will be monitored in your infant car seat for one hour. This will check to see if it is safe to put your baby in the infant seat for the ride home. If this test is required you will need to bring your infant car seat to the hospital a day prior to going home so that the test can be done.
The following tests and procedures are mandated by the State of Connecticut and are performed on all newborns before discharge from the hospital (for more information, visit
www.state.ct.us/dph):
HEARING SCREEN
This is a non-invasive test for early detection of hearing loss. It takes about 5 minutes. If your baby does not pass the test, a referral will be made for further testing after discharge.
METABOLIC SCREEN
Within 24 hours after birth a small amount of blood is taken from your baby’s heel. It is sent to the State Laboratory to screen for multiple rare metabolic disorders. Your baby’s provider will be notified of an abnormal result.
ERYTHROMYCIN EYE OINTMENT
This is applied to both baby’s eyes in the first hour after birth and protects against a serious eye infection.