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Baby's First Tests

What You Can Expect During Your Hospital Stay

By Erin Gifford

Most babies are born with very low levels of vitamin K, which is essential for normal blood clotting. It is therefore standard practice to give newborns a vitamin K injection in the upper thigh, usually within the first hour of life. This injection prevents a serious bleeding condition known as hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN).

To prevent serious eye infection caused by exposure in the birth canal to gonorrhea or chlamydia, both of which can be asymptomatic in the mother, the antibiotic ointment erythromycin will be applied to your newborn's eyes soon after delivery. However, because the eye treatment can cause puffiness and temporarily blurred vision, you may want to ask your doctor to delay treatment at least until you've had time to feed and bond with your new baby. "I specifically wrote in my birth plan that I wanted the eye ointment and any shots delayed as long as possible after birth," says Terri Lindeman, mother of two from Hercules, Calif. "I was glad I did, as I felt like I had ample time to hold and look at my babies."

Some hospitals also give newborns a hepatitis B vaccine in the hospital, but most will hold off until the first visit to the pediatrician. "As long as Mom does not have the disease, we are in no hurry to give the vaccine," says Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann, a pediatrician in Westlake Village, Calif., and a clinical instructor at UCLA. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that newborns whose mothers either are infected with the hepatitis B virus or who have not been tested get their first shot in the three-dose series within 12 hours of birth. All other babies can get their first shot by 2 months of age.

Within 24 hours, your baby will receive full exam from a pediatrician who will evaluate your baby's color, make sure his movements are symmetrical and feel the soft spots on his head. Most important, he will listen to your baby's heart for murmurs and make sure he's not breathing too fast, both of which may show up first as a problem, Dr. Altmann says.

Want to see more?

• The First Year: Birth to 3 Months
• Newborn Cord Care: Cleaning and Caring for Your Baby's Umbilicus
• Newborn Circumcision: A Parent's Guide to Proper Care
• Talk about it!