Newborn Health and Screenings

Newborn screening is an important step to ensure a newborn is in good health. Screenings can help identify conditions that may affect a child's long-term health and survival. Learning about any conditions early on, provides helps determine what can be done so the child reach their full potential.

Throughout this section of the website, you will learn more about:

• Newborn Bloodspot Screening
• Newborn Hearing Screening
• Birth Defects
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Critical Congenital Heart Disease

Newborn Health

While screenings are crucial, there are many other important steps to ensure your newborn remains healthy. Make sure you have follow-up health care appointment for your baby and yourself. Follow Safe Sleep recommendations to make sure your baby sleeps in a safe environment. Avoid smoking around your baby. Secondhand smoke weakens babies' lungs and can increase the risk of SIDS.

Other programs that help ensure your newborn is healthy include:

Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting

This Program helps pregnant women and parents of young children improve health and well-being for themselves and their families by connecting home visitors with families to set and achieve goals. Maine Families is offered to all families who are expecting or have a new baby at home. Maine Families' certified Family Visitors can provide information, encouragement, and support around topics that matter to you regarding health, nutrition, safety, development, and your family's well-being. Best of all, they will come to you at your convenience and at no cost to you

Maine contracts with Maine Children's Trust to administer the Program. Learn more and get started.

Count The Kicks

Count the Kicks is an evidence-based stillbirth prevention program of Health Birth Day, Inc. On average 69 babies are stillborn every year in Maine. Count the Kicks, has the potential to save 1 in 3 at-risk babies. The aim is to educate expectant parents on getting to know their baby's normal movement, and to speak up if a change is noticed. Decreased fetal movement can indicate a need for more evaluation and has the potential to save lives. The program offers free monitoring tools and materials to order.

Ordering Newborn Screening Brochures

Each order contains a bundle of 25 brochures