Well the title says it all - if you have a HB, where and how are the newborn tests done?

eg: cord blood testing if mother is Rh neg; newborn hearing, heel prick etc.

Have I missed any of those early tests? I assume a newborn health check is done by the midwife with referral for anything out of the ordinary... is this right?

thanks in advance!

My midwife took blood from the cord i think to test for my children's blood types (i'm RH-ve), and got anti-d from the hospital for me when they were +ve. She also does the heel prick test herself at home.

I haven't done the hearing test with the last 2, but i'm pretty sure CYH do those tests. Your midwife can organise a visit from CYH if you like, or you can make your own appointment for the hearing test.

My GP wrote up the pathology slips in advance for the blood typing and I think for the NST (newborn screening test). I can't think off the top of my head if a referral is needed for it, I think there is. She took his cord blood and dropped the sample off herself on her way home. The result was back to us personally via a phone call only a few hours later. She did the heelpricks on day 2 or 3 while I was sitting at the dining table feeding him.

The hearing test offered by the local area health service was accessed via the MCHN that I saw. My midwife performed the newborn checks and there was nothing to refer on to any other services. The referral for further investigation of his suspected club foot (picked up at the 20 week scan) was organised via my GP and he was seen by the paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at about 2 weeks of age.

With the recent changes to the legislation, I'm not sure if those midwives deemed eligible for MBS/PBS can currently refer women for pregnancy/birth related pathology, or scans, or what related medications can be prescribed. I have my head in the sand regarding all that stuff.

You don't need a pathology slip for the NST. Its just a card that has the details filled out on it and blood applied and then its sent away via regular mail. I'm pretty sure anyone who can access a card can do it and post it to the address marked on the back of it.
No slips or GP's required for that one.

Yep, this is correct. My midwife did this test on her day 3 visit.

As per a PP I got the pathogy request forms for cord blood typing prior to the birth.

Healthy hearing can be done at Community Health.

HTH

Don't know about the blood thing, but everything I wanted was done by my Midwife and I didn't chose not to have any invasive testing done (ie heelprick, vacc's etc)

I was told that in SA the child nursey person can organise the tests if you want them done. Either that, or you can head on up to the hospital after the birth and have the testing done there.

Edited For Clarity

Sorry to barge in but im considering a HB for #2 when we conceive but my DD had/has hip problems and had some liver function problems, non life threatening but enough to cause concern and required monitoring via regular blood tests

Would these issues be picked up by a MW in the tests following birth? Or what would i have to do to get these things checked in a new baby?
And what happens if bub is jaundice? Do they book you into the hospital and put bub under lights? DD was under lights and jaundice was the start of her other liver issues
When DD was born her hip problems weren't picked up until she saw a Paed but the heel prick test (i think) picked up her other issues

DH leans toward birthing in the hospital again because of all the issues DD had. He thinks it would be easier as he expects us/bub to end up there if baby follows DD's health pattern.

Sorry for all the questions, i just dont know who else to ask and saw the thread

ETA: im not even sure if we would be in the catchment for the CMP in WA but just would like to know if i should even entertain the thought of a possible HB.
FWIW my pg/labour/birth with DD was complication free and only the hip issue was suspected prior to birth as there was a strong family history

hi
i've had two homebirths/freebirths and still got the heel prick nns test done and birth immunisations with one bub done. I just waited until I felt ready ((3-4days) to go to the local gp and got the gp to do the typical newborn tests (usually includes hips). As I did all my prenatal care thru the local hospital I got immunisation, hearing tests and nns done there for my first homebirth as gp didn't want to deal with it lol. My second homebirth i had it all planned to self refer to the hearing clinic for hearing tests, any pathology should do a nns without a referral, i was going to get a gp to give bub the once over and i wasn't going to do any newborn immunisations. Bub went to the gp day 3 for a checkover and bloodtest (gp wanted to check jaudice). Bub was admitted on day 4 for jaundice (gp rang with test results and we went straight to special care) and has had regular blood tests thru hospital and admissions since for phototherapy etc. As I did all my antenatal care thru the local hospital i was able to go straight to special care with bub. While in hospital they did hearing test and nns. It really made no difference that bub was born at home when he was treated in hospital except that he was talked about alot by staff lol. Just get a gp to check bub over for hip issues or refer to paed if need be and get a bloodtest done for jaundice if worried but you'll know what to watch for from previous experience. oh and depending on what the liver issue were you might want to discuss with midwife whether your bub liver could cope with delayed cord clamping if you choose to do that as it may cause jaundice if not functioning properly.

Having had two bubbas with jaundice (first one going under lights for about a week) I would trust my midwife - she also did the hip check when I was ready and because she spent way more time with us than a hospital midwife, she could see how everything was going a lot better IMO.

When my second bubba was jaudice (not as bad as DD though) we just breastfed constantly and got lots of dappled sunlight. Was much better IMO than being shoved in a box under harsh lights and not being allowed out for cuddles (as happened to DD). Was also much better for me too. Sunlight is an old cure used way before medical interventions.

Have you thought about sourcing out and chatting with the Independant midwives in your area? Many are happy to meet up and chat

If you have any issues, concerns, worries, etc, talk to your midwife (if you choose that route) or head straight into hospital after the birth. After all, thats what they are there for

Thanks freakypet and bubba boo. I think i will make some calls to the CMP and find out some more info.

DH just thinks that if baby is going to end up in hospital with the same issues as DD had then baby should just be born in hospital.
I will have to try and convince him otherwise

White Lily - CMWA are wonderful and I am sure they will answer all your questions, just give them a call and you should be able to speak directly to one of their midwives :)