The U1 examination of your baby – that’s done

The U1 examination is carried out directly in the hours after the birth and usually only takes a few minutes. During the examination, the gynecologist or pediatrician gets a first impression of your baby’s state of health and checks all the important vital functions.

First the Apgar test at the U1 examination

First of all, the so-called Apgar test is carried out at the U1 . With the help of a points system, the Apgar scores, the state of health of newborns can be easily classified. The test is named after its inventor, Virginia Apgar, but also works as an acronym for the five areas that are tested:

A: breathing

P: pulse (heartbeat)

G: attitude

A: Appearance (skin color)

R: reflections

Shortly after birth, the Apgar test is performed after one, five and ten minutes. Zero points (= features are missing), one point (= features are not pronounced) or two points (= features are well present) are awarded for the individual features and entered in the examination protocol.

The ideal value is nine or ten points, but seven to eight points are also completely normal. Less than seven points are considered critical. The infant will then be monitored extra closely and may need life support.

What else is checked during the U1 examination?

As part of the U1, the pediatrician or gynecologist will also examine your child for birth injuries. If your baby has swallowed too much amniotic fluid, this will now be suctioned out to ensure that the child can breathe easily. Your baby will be weighed and its length and head circumference will be measured. In addition, the symmetry and condition of the fontanelle, eyes, ears, and limbs are examined.

pH value measurement during the U1 examination

Some blood is taken from the umbilical cord at the U1 to determine the pH value. The pH value provides information about the oxygen saturation in the baby’s blood and should ideally be 7.30 or higher. A value between 7.12 and 7.29 is normal and harmless. A value below 7.12 requires special observation, but the pH value usually reaches the normal range all by itself in the first two hours additionally supplied with oxygen.

maturity test

During the U1, the doctor also assesses the maturity of your child. The maturity test allows doctors to determine whether your child is fully developed or was born a little too early. To be examined:

• Cartilage formation on the auricles
• Skin color and skin folds, as well as the furrows on the soles of the feet
• formation of the nipples
• formation of the sexual organs

Vitamin K prophylaxis

Newborns receive vitamin K drops as part of the U1 examination. They prevent the (rare) consequences of a deficiency.

Eye prophylaxis in the U1 examination

In eye prophylaxis, the infant is treated with eye drops to protect him from eye infections. This measure is only carried out at U1 after consultation with the parents, because the eye drops contain silver nitrate or antibiotics. Eye prophylaxis is controversial, because as part of the extensive prenatal care, pregnant women are tested for numerous infections that could be transmitted to the baby at birth. It is therefore only really necessary in exceptional cases. However, it is still performed as standard in many clinics. It is best to ask at the clinic or with your doctor.

Blood test at the U1 examination

In pregnant women who are rhesus negative, the blood group characteristics of the child are tested. At birth, the child’s blood enters the mother’s bloodstream. If the blood of the child of a rhesus-negative mother also shows the trait rhesus-negative, that is not a problem. However, if the child is Rhesus-positive, the administration of an anti-D immunoglobulin injection will prevent the formation of antibodies. This is now routine and you don’t need to worry, even if you are Rh negative.

A few days after the U1 comes the U2. It takes place between the third and tenth day of your baby’s life, i.e. usually while you are still in the hospital. Find out now what exactly is happening at U2.