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Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond

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Your hospital stay: Tests your newborn will have

More about newborn testing

For more about the Minnesota Newborn Screening Program, call 1-800-664-7772 or visit health.state.mn.us/newbornscreening.

If you live outside of Minnesota, ask your health care provider or check with your state's health department.

According to state law, every baby born in Minnesota must be tested for several rare disorders. These disorders can be treated if found early. This can mean preventing mental retardation or development problems.

Even if your baby seems healthy, he or she needs to be tested. The test is simple. It only uses a few drops of blood taken from your baby's heel. The test is done before you leave the hospital.

Your baby will also have a hearing test.


 

Source: Allina Patient Education, Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, sixth edition, preg-ahc-90026, ISBN 1-931876-25-8; Minnesota Department of Health

First published: 10/04/2002
Last updated: 08/15/2011

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts