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GPH Materntiy Your Journey Book PI499 0216

36 Greenslopes Maternity Your Journey Hearing screen This is one of the routine health checks your baby will have soon after birth, with your consent. A small number of babies are born with a hearing loss that could affect their speech and language skills. Hearing loss may not be obvious in the first few weeks of life, but can be detected by a hearing screen. You will be given the results as soon as the screen is completed. Ongoing hearing tests will also be part of your care in the community via your local community health nurse. Hepatitis B immunisation Hepatitis B is a disease caused by a virus that affects the liver. Hepatitis B is spread by infected blood and other body fluids such as saliva. It is recommended that babies are immunised soon after birth and during infancy. With your consent, we will give your baby a Hepatitis B vaccine. To complete the immunisation, more vaccinations are given up to four years of life. If you are Hepatitis B positive, it is suggested that your baby be given an immunoglobulin injection while in hospital. This is to provide your baby with some immediate protection from Hepatitis B. Something to Remember Newborn neonatal screening test It is recommended that all babies in Queensland have a screening test that checks for uncommon but serious medical conditions. These conditions can Remember present at birth and may cause serious complications. In most cases, if the conditions are found in the newborn, they can be treated and the baby will grow and develop normally. This test screens for: • congenital hypothyroidism • amino acid disorders • cystic fibrosis e.g. Phenylketonuria (PKU) • fatty acid oxidation disorders • other rare metabolic disorders. How is the test performed? When your baby is between 48 and 72 hours old a midwife or nurse will do a heel prick and put three small spots of blood on a piece of blotting card. If the results are normal, you will not be contacted. This is the case for more than 99 percent of babies. If your baby is found to have a medical condition, you will be contacted and your baby will be referred to a paediatrician. Newborn Vitamin K Greenslopes Private Hospital recommends that babies be given a single dose of Vitamin K by injection within a few hours of birth. Newborns may be deficient in Vitamin K in the first eight days of life. Vitamin K is needed to help the blood clot and to prevent bleeding. Wound care after a caesarean After you have had a caesarean birth there will be a dressing covering your wound for, at least the first 24 hours. Stitches (if not dissolvable) or clips will be removed prior to discharge. If you notice any of the following after discharge, contact your doctor: • wound redness • discharge • if you have a fever or you are feeling generally unwell • increasing pain. You will be offered a number of medications and tests for your baby during the first few days of life. Helpful Hints Important Information Info to note It is recommended that all babies in Queensland have a screening test that checks for uncommon but serious medical conditions.


GPH Materntiy Your Journey Book PI499 0216
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