Your new baby's first checks and tests

Immediately after birth, your baby will be given an Apgar score and within her first 24 hours, his first checks and tests. We tell you what it all means

Apgar score

The very first series of tests your baby will undergo is the Apgar score, just after birth. The score is taken twice, at one minute and five minutes after the birth, and is carried out by the midwife or doctor.

Your baby will be checked for:

* heartbeat

* breathing

* muscle tone

* reflexes

* skin colour

A score of 0, 1 or 2 will be given for each check, with a total of 10. A normal score is seven or over. If your baby has a low first score - for instance, she may be affected by Pethidine - but a normal second score, this is counted as normal.

Your baby will also be weighed, the fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of her head) checked, and her head circumference and body length measured and checked for any obvious abnormalities or bruising that may have occurred during the birth.

Physical examination

Within her first 24 hours your baby will have a complete physical check-up. If you give birth in hospital this will be done by a doctor or paediatrician, if you have a home birth, it will be carried out by your midwife or GP. The examination will include:

* Heart and lungs Your baby’s heartbeat will be checked a stethoscope and her breathing pattern watched. Many babies have a heart murmur at birth, which usually disappears of its own accord.

* Abdomen The doctor will feel your baby’s tummy to check her kidneys, liver and spleen are in the right place and are the correct size.

* Ears and Mouth He will feel inside your baby’s mouth to make sure she does not have a cleft palate and inside the ears to check for any abnormal discharge.

* Hips Your baby’s legs will be rotated to check for ‘clicky’ hips. The doctor will push your baby’s knees up to her chest and then drop them down before opening them out into a frog-like shape. If the hip is dislocated, the doctor will feel a clunk or jerk. Congenital hip dislocation, if detected early, can be successfully treated.

* Spine The doctor will check for signs of spina bifida.

* Genitals He will make sure the genitals have developed properly and, in boys, that the testicles are inside the scrotum.

* Back passage This will be examined to make sure it’s open and you will be asked whether your baby has passed meconium yet.

* Features These will be checked for signs of Down’s syndrome. If your doctor or midwife is dissatisfied with the results of any of the checks done, further tests may be carried out or you may be referred to an expert in the field.

* Dressing When you first hold your baby and dress her, remember that her head needs constant support. The muscles in her neck are not capable of supporting it for around the first three months, so you must cradle it in your free hand to prevent it flopping back and forth. At first you may feel all fingers and thumbs when handling your baby, but you will soon be an expert! A vest and sleepsuit with enclosed feet is probably all she needs to wear, unless it is particularly hot.