Baby’s First Hours（3）
Lifesaving Screenings
Sometime during your newborn’s first two days of life, blood will be drawn from her heel and screened for certain disorders. Exactly which disorders she’ll be tested for depends on where you live.
All states require testing for congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare but serious metabolic disease. Most states also test for sickle-cell disease. Before delivery, ask your doctor what other screenings are done routinely. If any metabolic disorders appear in your family history and your state doesn’t screen for them, your doctor can order specific tests.