Leaving the hospital with your baby
What to expect after the baby is born and as you prepare to leave the hospital with your baby.
Newborn screening and prevention programs
A newborn baby can look healthy but have a rare and serious disorder that you and your doctor or midwife may not know about. When found and treated early, the chances of serious health problems are prevented or reduced later in life. If not treated, these disorders can cause severe health problems.
Heel prick blood sample
Before leaving the hospital, a small blood sample is taken from your baby by a heel prick and sent to the laboratory at B.C. Children’s Hospital to screen for rare but serious disorders.
You can learn more about this screen by visiting this HealthLinkBC page or download this PDF from Provincial Health Services Authority.
Newborn Screening Test EN | 中文(繁體) | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
B.C. Early Hearing Screening Program
Newborn hearing testing is important. Without screening, there are no obvious signs to tell if a newborn has hearing loss.
Most babies in B.C. have their hearing screened before they go home from the hospital. A trained hearing screen technician will use a device to play soft sounds into your baby's ears while a computer measures the response from your baby. The screening tests are safe and will not hurt your baby. Results will be given to you immediately after the test.
For babies not screened in the hospital, hearing screening is offered at your local audiology (hearing) clinic or audiology clinic in your local public health unit. There is no cost for this hearing screening and you do not need a referral from a doctor. Learn more
Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening – checking newborn babies for critical congenital heart disease
Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) refers to conditions related to malformation of a baby’s heart or major blood vessels that occur before birth.
A baby with CCHD may not get enough oxygen in their blood. Babies who have CCHD may need emergency care or surgery in their first few days. CCHD is extremely rare but it can be serious if it is not diagnosed quickly.
Babies are checked carefully after delivery and screened before going home. A test called pulse oximetry is used to screen babies for CCHD. This is a quick, painless test to measure how much oxygen is present in a newborn’s blood. The nurse will place a small, soft sensor on your baby’s right hand and one of their feet after they are 24 hours old, or just before leaving the hospital.
Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) EN | 中文(繁體) | 中文(简体) | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Child car seats
From birth to one year, including when they leave the hospital, all babies are required to ride in a rear-facing, Canadian Motor Vehicles Safety Standards (CMVSS) approved infant car seat. This helps to protect and support the baby’s head and spine when travelling in a car, during sudden stops and in the event of a crash.
Your nurse will check your car seat for a CMVSS label, the expiry or manufacture date, the suitability of the seat for your baby’s weight and size, and check for broken, missing, or unnecessary parts. It is against the law to use a car seat that does not meet these standards.
Watch the following videos to learn more:
You can learn more about this by visiting BCAA or Transportation Canada.
Resources for new parents
Visit the New parents and baby resource section for tools for recovering and adjusting to your new baby, to help you care for your new baby and yourself. We've included a few resources below, and encourage you to visit the section for more information.
New baby basics
Caring for a newborn baby can be a little scary at first. Your baby might seem small and helpless, making you feel like you might break them. But don't worry; babies aren't as fragile as they look. In no time, you'll be taking care of your baby with confidence.
Breastfeeding/chestfeeding
By making the decision to breastfeed/chestfeed, you are bringing many benefits to your baby, yourself and the community.
Signs your baby needs medical attention
It can be hard to know if something is wrong with the baby. After all, they're a brand-new human being and you're still learning how to communicate with each other. So, don't be afraid to ask questions. Talk to your doctor, midwife or Public Health Nurse about any concerns.