Currently at Darent Valley Hospital we offer a BCG referral to parents of babies who are more likely than the general population to come into contact with someone with TB from high prevalence areas. If your Midwife discusses this with you, they will then provide a detailed information leaflet.
You will be offered screening tests for your new baby in their first few weeks of life. Screening is entirely your choice. Please ask if there is anything you do not understand.
For information regarding newborn screening, please visit
Within the first 72 hours of birth, you will be offered a physical examination for your baby. This will be completed by a specially trained midwife, or a doctor, depending if there were any difficulties during your pregnancy or birth,
The aim of this examination is to identify if there are any suspected problems with baby’s eyes, heart, hips or testicles (if baby is a boy). The health professional performing the examination will record the results of the examination in the baby’s ‘red book’. If they suspect any abnormality, they will refer baby to the relevant team for a review. The appointment will take place with the GP or as an urgent outpatient appointment at the hospital. If a serious abnormality is suspected, baby will be referred to the neonatal team to review whilst in hospital.
This will be carried out prior to you going home. If the hearing test cannot be completed whilst you are in hospital, you will be offered an outpatient appointment in the Children’s Resource Centre
- You will be offered the newborn bloodspot screening test for your baby. This will be taken on day 5 of life. The community midwife will complete this at your home, or by the midwife providing your care if you are still in hospital.
- This is an important test to screen for sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria and MCADD, and four other inherited metabolic diseases. England are currently offering additional screening for SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency).
- You can choose to decline all or some of these tests. Please discuss with your midwife regarding declining screening.
The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) has additional leaflets regarding changes to screening if your baby is pre-term or unwell.
It is not uncommon for your baby to lose a small amount of weight, up to 5 - 6% of the birth weight when the baby is reweighed at 5-6 days old. If the weight loss is between 7 - 10% the midwife will assess and observe the baby feeding and then discuss the feeding assessment with you and arrange extra help/visits.