PKU/Heel Stick screening questions

EmmieB · October 2009

I'm now trying to decide if this is something we want to do or not - what did you do, and why?

(I've asked Dr. Google, but I'm having a hard time finding a legitimate reason for NOT doing the screening.)

TIA!

Hippinski · October 2009

We were going to do this at our drs office but my bff's mom is a nurse at the hospital we had Kate at so she did the test.

But here is site that I really like. It has a lot of great info that was in line with how I believe.

eml569 · October 2009

I saw no reason not to do it. Jay did great - didn't really mind. Most kids hate the squeezing of the foot a lot more than the needle poke. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if he ended up having some metabolic disorder that could be treated and we didn't get the testing done.

My first year out of nursing school and in the ER, I had a 3 day old little boy patient who came in with "lethargy". It turned out he had a metabolic disorder that hadn't yet been diagnosed (it wasn't one that was tested for). He died the day after we admitted him. I cried for days about it and kept thinking about him after Jay was born. I just don't see a reason to not get the testing....it is so simple, and is one of those things that could absolutely save a baby's life.

UrbanHippieMama · October 2009

We did it, especially because all the things they test for are treatable. DD was sleeping when the MW did it, and she didn't even wake up! It's really not a big deal (or at least it wasn't for us.)

julia0402 · October 2009

Just curious, why would you look so hard for reasons not to do it? PKU is 100% treatable and your baby can die or have serious problems later in life if he/she has it and goes undiagnosed.

14years · October 2009

We did it. In fact, we had to do it twice. The hospital lost DS's results from the first one, so he had to do it again at the pediatrician's office. We did it because it was important for us to know the results, and it was easy. DS didn't really mind that much. He didn't like it, of course, but it wasn't that bad. I can't think of any reason not to do it.

caeliesmom · October 2009

This test is mandatory in PA whether your baby is born in a hospital or at home b/c early treatment is so important. Your probably not finding a legitimate reason not to do it b/c there really isn't one. The dangers of having the diseases that are screened for far outweigh the downside of a pinprick to the foot.

ErinMSB · October 2009

We did it. I think the benefits far outweighed the one downside - baby had to get poked. And I was going to suggest you check out the same site Hippy suggested. LOVE that site!

Hippinski · October 2009

caeliesmom:
This test is mandatory in PA whether your baby is born in a hospital or at home b/c early treatment is so important. Your probably not finding a legitimate reason not to do it b/c there really isn't one. The dangers of having the diseases that are screened for far outweigh the downside of a pinprick to the foot.

You can object to any medical procedure. They can't "make" you do anything. And if you look up the consequences of not doing what they say you will usually find that there are none. You might have to sign a waiver or pay a very small fine.

Also, there are increased risk of infection with any hospital stay or procedure. If I had had a vagival birth Kate would have had the procedure done at our pedi's office. Only because I was on the hospital for 4 days and we knew the care provider doing the test did we allow it to be done at the hospital.

You gotta do what works for you and your family. I'm not saying that people shouldn't do the test...after all we did it with both kids. I'm just saying that I understand why families would opt out or delay. It's all about weighing the benefits and the risks and doing what works for you. But just because something is mandatory doesn't mean that it's "right" for everyone.

moroccojade · October 2009

I know lots of people who didn't do it. They're extremely low-intervention types and don't do anything. None of the newborn stuff. No vax. No anything.

I guess the rational for dropping PKU is not to put the baby through the trauma of a painful procedure (however momentary) and even though the disorders they test for are treatable, they don't believe them to be widespread enough to warrant a test at that early stage of the game.

That said, we did the test. We have thyroid issues in our family and I wanted her tested. Didn't hurt that 30 other problems were tested for at the same time. Don't regret our decision.

LydiaE2 · October 2009

We did the screening. It was required by my hospital (either a state or city requirement). I opted out of the hep B vaccine for DS, and it was a big hassle (received a sheet on risks and had to sign that I was disobeying the doctors recommendation). I have been vacinated for hep B, so I knew that I did not have it.

I encourage you to know your hospitals policies with regard to Vit. K, Eye Antibiotics and Pitocin after the birth. Also, it is good to know when these things are very necessary. In my case I had a vacuum extraction and DS needed a Vit. K shot. Since DS was a vacuum extraction, DS went straight to an issolette (in the same room), but I basically had no say in what they were doing to him over there (I was trying to push out the placenta). I knew what was going to happen, and that was a relief to me.

meganschneider · September 2013

Please please please get the newborn screening, including the heel stick. Because of this stick my son was diagnosed with PKU a rare metabolic disorder. Without this knowledge he would have suffered irreversible brain damage and would be mentally retarded. This stick is NOT bad I promise! I have to take him for blood work weekly to get it drawn from his arm. This started at two weeks and still now at almost 2. I urge/beg/plead for everyone to get this test done, a small prick can save a life.

PumpkinAndThePeanut · September 2013

julia0402 said:
Just curious, why would you look so hard for reasons not to do it? PKU is 100% treatable and your baby can die or have serious problems later in life if he/she has it and goes undiagnosed.

This. Why wouldn't you do it?

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