My wife just gave birth to our son and the Dr. took some blood from the heel of our baby.Why was that for?

Answer 1

A phenylketonuria (PKU) test is done to determine whether a newborn has the enzyme to metabolize phenylalanine.

It is important to test your baby for PKU soon after birth to prevent brain damage. Within 24 hours of drinking breast milk or formula, phenylalanine blood levels in a baby with PKU start to rise. A PKU test within 2 to 3 days after birth will indicate whether your baby has PKU. Almost all states in the United States have laws that require a PKU test for newborns within a few days after birth.

For a heel stick blood sample, several drops of blood are collected from the heel of the baby. The skin of the heel is cleaned with alcohol and then punctured with a sterile lancet. Several drops of blood are collected inside circles on a specially prepared piece of paper. When enough blood has been collected, a gauze pad or cotton ball is placed over the puncture site. Pressure is maintained on the puncture site briefly to stop the bleeding and then a small bandage is usually applied.

For a urine test, either a drop of special test fluid or a special testing strip is used on a diaper with fresh urine.

Your health professional will diagnose jaundice in your newborn by doing a physical examination and taking a medical history. As part of the medical history, your baby's health professional may ask questions about:

* The mother's general health, particularly during the pregnancy.
* Whether your baby was born prematurely or at full term.
* Whether your baby had any difficulties during delivery.
* Your baby's birth weight and whether there has been any weight gain or loss since birth.
* Your baby's feeding and elimination habits since birth.
* Whether the baby and mother have incompatible blood types (ABO or Rh incompatibility).
* Your family history of health conditions that could cause jaundice.

Answer 2

That was probably a PKU test. It is required by most states. It is repeated at an out-patient lab when the baby is a bit older, It tests for the presence of the enzyme which metabolizes phenylalanine. In many states, the test looks for other metabolic diseases and includes a thyroid screen.

Answer 3

They do that to check the baby's blood for various different tests. From just a simple CBC to certain genetics tests. Most of them are all state mandated and must be done before the baby leaves the hospital. If there's anything abnormal about them, they will keep you informed. If they all come back normal, then usually you won't hear a thing about it.

Answer 4

It is Called d a PKU test, that stands for Phenylketonuria, is an inherited metabolic disease (also called an inborn error of metabolism) that leads to mental retardation and other developmental disabilities if untreated in infancy. all states routinely screen newborns for PKU. To test for PKU, the infant's heal is pricked and a few drops of blood are taken. This blood sample is then tested in a state laboratory for abnormal amounts of phenylalanine.
Congratulations on your new son!!!

Take care...Imma

Answer 5

Its called a billieruben check. It checks the amount of bille in the babys blood to make sure the baby is not jaundice. Both of my babies were jaundice and had their heels pricked many times. Ask the nursery nurses for a handout on billieruben and why its done.

Answer 6

Newborn screening test. A test that is mostly mandatory in every country. They will look for genetic diseases in the baby's blood. lt has saved hundreds of baby lives. l saw on TV how a young child of about 10 years of age benefited from that test. She is allergic to beans and even a small consumption of it can be fatal.
Thank God for that test.

Answer 7

They actually do a test for a lot of things. At 2 days or so they check for PKU which is a disease that means you have to restrict certain proteins in your diet. They also check liver function at about 2 days (bilirubin). There are other things they check for as well.

Answer 8

MY Dr took blood when my baby was born because I am RH negative and they were testing the baby to see if he was negative or positive in order to know if I got another rhogam shot or not.

Answer 9

They do that to test him for certain things (AIDS being one of them, even if your wife is negative) and for his blood type. Don't worry it's different from state to state but they only do it to protect your baby =)

Answer 10

not to be smart but just ask the doctor. mostly to type the baby's blood and screen or illnesses and diseases.