pulse oximetry test

IdyllicPursuit

Hey ladies! I'm 37w2d and having a home birth. My CNM says that baby will need a pulse oximetry test as well as a hearing screen. The oximetry test I guess is most accurate within 24-48 hours after birth...but I'm not too keen on taking my baby out in the cold that young for the test. Wondering if any of you had thoughts on this? We're going to discuss it more when I get off of work, just thought I'd see what you ladies did! Thanks:)

 

jess9802

I did not have a homebirth. My hospital has pulse oximetry tests for newborns upon discharge. My son passed with flying colors. (He does have a congenital heart defect, but it's not usually functionally significant, and many people who have the same defect are never aware they have it.)

My cousin's hospital did not have pulse oximetry screening for newborns. She was sent home with her newborn. A few days later she noticed some disconcerting bluish coloring on the baby's lips. Turns out the baby had tricuspid atresia, a very serious heart defect that required three open heart surgeries by the time she was three years old. She is a very healthy and happy little girl now, fortunately.

A very small percentage of babies will be born with undetected critical congenital heart defects. Pulse ox testing can catch some of these babies and get them the interventions they need ASAP. I know in winter and in the cold it's hard to imagine bundling a baby up and taking him or her out, but this is one test I personally would insist on...but I may be biased.

IdyllicPursuit

Thanks for your input:) Sorry to hear about your son and cousin!! How scary! I will see about taking him to the closest hospital for it rather than the one I'd normally go to for labor.