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Holding your newborn baby for the first time is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. Before you take your little bundle of joy home with you, it’s important for your baby to have a series of newborn screening tests. As the leading family birth center in the Mid-Willamette Valley of Oregon, Santiam Hospital provides women with care and treatment relating to delivering babies, including newborn screenings.

Santiam Hospital’s family birth center recommends newborn screening tests to detect any developmental, metabolic, or genetic disorders in a newborn baby. By receiving these tests early on in life, any problematic symptoms can be taken care of right away. Here are the routine tests that are performed during the screening:

  • Blood Tests: Blood will be drawn from your baby’s heel during this test. The blood sample will then be sent to a lab for further analysis. They will check for items such as the levels of bilirubin to determine if your baby has jaundice.
  • family birth centerHearing Tests: A tiny microphone or earpiece will be placed in your baby’s ear to test their hearing. 
  • CCHD Screen: The critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) test is highly recommended for all newborn babies. For this screening, a small soft sensor will be placed on your baby’s skin. The sensor will be hooked on to a machine called an oximeter, which will take measurements of oxygen levels in your baby’s hands and feet.  

All of these tests are essential for protecting the health and well-being of your child as they come into this world. The family birth center of Santiam Hospital is dedicated to helping women deliver healthy and happy babies. Their experienced physicians and nurse staff provide exceptional care, from pre-admission to post-delivery.

Santiam Hospital is proud to have the best family birth center in the Stayton area. For more information about their preventative care and emergency services, contact them today at (503) 749-4734, or visit them online.

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