Circumcision
If you choose to have your baby boy circumcised, it will usually be done by your OB while the baby is in the hospital. Circumcision has some medical benefits including a lower risk of urinary tract infections, HIV, and cancer. It is now generally recommended for all healthy male infants whose parents desire it due to the medical benefits, but it is also a cultural consideration as well. Most babies now receive local anesthesia first so the procedure is no longer painful.
Red blood cell count (hematocrit)
The number of red blood cells in the blood can be too high or two low. When it is too low, it is usually due to maternal antibodies attacking the baby’s red blood cells, or due to a placenta problem during labor such as abruption. If it is very low, the baby will need a transfusion in the NICU.
The red cell blood count can also be too high. If it is very high, the blood can be too thick and cause poor blood flow or strokes due to blood clots. If it is very high, the baby will be treated in the NICU to bring the level down.
Blood sugar testing
Some babies are at higher risk of having low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). If a baby is at risk, then the levels are checked, sometimes only once and sometimes for 12-24 hours, or until a certain number of them in a row are normal. Because we still do not know exactly what levels are too low at a number of hours of life, experts and hospitals often have slightly different protocols for checking for and managing low blood sugar. Levels are checked with a few drops of blood from a heel stick.
CBC (complete blood count, blood count, white blood cell count)
A CBC measures the number of white blood cells and red blood cells present in the blood. This can be used as a measure of the risk of having a bacterial infection, but it is not a very reliable test for infection and additional tests are usually added including a blood culture.
Blood type and Coombs antibody test
Mothers who have type O blood have antibodies against type A and B blood cells. These antibodies cross the placenta. Therefore, if a mom with type O blood has a baby with type A or B blood, her antibodies will attack her baby’s blood cells. For babies with type O moms, the baby’s blood type will be tested and a test for an antibody reaction (Coombs test) will also be done. These babies are at higher risk of jaundice.
Car seat test
Babies who are very small sometimes have a hard time breathing in a car seat. If your baby was born at less than 35 weeks old or is less than 2500 grams in weight, your baby will monitor for oxygen levels while in the car seat to be sure your baby is safe traveling in it. If not, there is a car seat bed your baby can use until big enough to tolerate the car seat.
Blood culture (test for bacterial infection)
Blood cultures are used to determine if a bacterial infection is present in the blood. Blood is drawn from a vein or artery and placed in broth then observed for several days to see if bacteria grow in the broth. If the culture is positive, then antibiotics are needed to treat the infection.