Newborn screening is a group of simple tests done on a baby in the first few days after birth to check for certain health conditions that are not visible at birth but could seriously affect the baby’s growth and development if missed. These conditions include some metabolic disorders (where the body cannot process certain foods or nutrients properly), hormonal problems (such as an underactive thyroid gland), certain blood disorders, and hearing loss.

The testing usually involves three simple steps:

*A few drops of blood taken from the baby’s heel (this is often called the heel-prick test) and sent to a laboratory
*A hearing test done using a small, painless device while the baby is asleep or resting
*A quick check of the baby’s oxygen levels to screen for certain heart conditions

None of these tests are painful in a lasting way, and none of them require the baby to be sedated or admitted separately. The idea is simple: catch a problem before it causes harm, at a stage when the baby looks and behaves completely normal.