Medications and Screening offered to Newborns
Vitamin K
This is offered to all newborns within a few hours of life. Vitamin K is made in the digestive system and is not transferred easily to babies through the placenta or breastmilk. Over the first few weeks of life, babies start to manufacture Vitamin K as they digest food. Vitamin K is an important factor in a body’s ability to clot blood. At birth, a newborn has little Vitamin K in their system and because of this, they are at risk of an internal bleed (primarily in the brain) that can lead to cognitive impairment or death. A small amount of Vitamin K by injection in the thigh is recommended by the Canadian Pediatric Society to reduce this risk.
Erythromycin Eye Ointment
The application of a small amount of this antibiotic to the eye may reduce the risk of an eye infection following a delivery. The antibiotic is a gel that is not painful for the infant and dissolves quickly following application. The Canadian Pediatric Society does not support the use of this ointment, stating that a single small dose of the antibiotic is unlikely to protect an infant from a serious eye infection.
https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/ophthalmia-neonatorum
Newborn Screen
This blood screen is done after the newborn is 24 hours of age. The procedure involves a heel prick and collection of 5 large drops of blood. The screen investigates the possibility of several different metabolic and amino acid disorders and the risk of cystic fibrosis. As this is a screening tool, a positive result means that the infant is at greater risk then the average population and further diagnostic testing will be required.
https://www.newbornscreening.on.ca/en/about-screening
Bilirubin
This blood test is also done after 24 hours of age. A small amount of blood is collected in a tube from a heel prick and is tested for the presence of bilirubin, which can cause jaundice. Most babies develop some jaundice and appear slightly yellow. High amounts of bilirubin can cause severe jaundice which can result in lethargy, dehydration, and in rare cases, mental impairment. Bilirubin is a byproduct of the breakdown of fetal red blood cells during the formation of more mature red blood cells in the first days after delivery.
CCHD Critical Congenital Heart Disease
This test is done by placing a probe on the baby’s right hand and a foot. The probe does not hurt and detects blood oxygen levels. Babies who demonstrate low oxygen levels in their extremities may be at risk of an underlying heart issue and require further investigation to determine if there is an issue.
Vitamin K
This is offered to all newborns within a few hours of life. Vitamin K is made in the digestive system and is not transferred easily to babies through the placenta or breastmilk. Over the first few weeks of life, babies start to manufacture Vitamin K as they digest food. Vitamin K is an important factor in a body’s ability to clot blood. At birth, a newborn has little Vitamin K in their system and because of this, they are at risk of an internal bleed (primarily in the brain) that can lead to cognitive impairment or death. A small amount of Vitamin K by injection in the thigh is recommended by the Canadian Pediatric Society to reduce this risk.
Erythromycin Eye Ointment
The application of a small amount of this antibiotic to the eye may reduce the risk of an eye infection following a delivery. The antibiotic is a gel that is not painful for the infant and dissolves quickly following application. The Canadian Pediatric Society does not support the use of this ointment, stating that a single small dose of the antibiotic is unlikely to protect an infant from a serious eye infection.
https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/ophthalmia-neonatorum
Newborn Screen
This blood screen is done after the newborn is 24 hours of age. The procedure involves a heel prick and collection of 5 large drops of blood. The screen investigates the possibility of several different metabolic and amino acid disorders and the risk of cystic fibrosis. As this is a screening tool, a positive result means that the infant is at greater risk then the average population and further diagnostic testing will be required.
https://www.newbornscreening.on.ca/en/about-screening
Bilirubin
This blood test is also done after 24 hours of age. A small amount of blood is collected in a tube from a heel prick and is tested for the presence of bilirubin, which can cause jaundice. Most babies develop some jaundice and appear slightly yellow. High amounts of bilirubin can cause severe jaundice which can result in lethargy, dehydration, and in rare cases, mental impairment. Bilirubin is a byproduct of the breakdown of fetal red blood cells during the formation of more mature red blood cells in the first days after delivery.
CCHD Critical Congenital Heart Disease
This test is done by placing a probe on the baby’s right hand and a foot. The probe does not hurt and detects blood oxygen levels. Babies who demonstrate low oxygen levels in their extremities may be at risk of an underlying heart issue and require further investigation to determine if there is an issue.
