As a first time Mum, I hated the idea of this but it’s really nothing to worry about. After having blood tests done with Jazmine for jaundice, this test in comparison was a piece of cake for the girls as babies. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Throughout your pregnancy you will likely have had various scans and blood tests to check everything is well with you and your baby and it doesn't stop with the safe arrival of your tiny human!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When your baby is 5 days old newborn blood spot screening will be offered to check if you baby has one of 9 rare conditions. The vast majority of babies will not have any of these conditions but for the very small few that do test positive the benefits of early detection and treatment are enormous.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ During the test the midwife or doctor will prick your baby's heel and press the drop of blood 4 separate times onto a special card. You can settle your baby throughout the process with either feeding or cuddles.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Occasionally you may be asked for the test to be repeated. More often than not, this is due to an insufficient sample rather than a suspected problem.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The conditions being tested or are; cystic fibrosis, sickle cell, congenital hypothyroidism, Phenylketonuria, MCADD, Maple Syrup Urine Disease, Isovaleric academia, Glutaric aciduria type 1, Homocystinuria (HCU). Many of these are inherited metabolic disorders which result in babies being unable to breakdown and process certain substances in the body such as amino acids.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As mentioned the majority of babies will screen negative for these conditions. If your baby does get a positive result for one of these conditions further diagnostic tests will be explained and discussed.⠀
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