Routine newborn blood glucose testing?

[bbnurse]

Our nursery has been routinely performing a blood glucose test upon admission and in 2 hours. The majority of peds and GPs agree that this will diagnose and prompt intervention for the asymptomatic infants and prevent brain damage by quick treatment. One physician insists that only LGA, SGA and infants of gestational diabetic mothers are to be tested. Our standards and orders suggest routine screening at birth and in two hours whether at risk or not as well as PRN.

WHAT does everyone else do? Is there a national SOC ? Where would we find literature to support one or the other of these practices?

We are all very stressed when we forget and test his babies. And we need some data to support or delete our current practice. It would obviously cost less to only test those at risk babies as listed.

What do you think? Any help would be great!!!!

Thanks

[SmilingBluEyes]

When I worked in a hospital that had separate PP and L and D, the baby NEVER left mom's arms, period, unless baby or mom were sick. Just cause units are separate, is no reason to warehouse babies in nurseries who are healthy, for any reason.

[parteiranagua]

When I worked in a hospital that had separate PP and L and D, the baby NEVER left mom's arms, period, unless baby or mom were sick. Just cause units are separate, is no reason to warehouse babies in nurseries who are healthy, for any reason.

Thre is no reason to stick bb at birth. encourage breastfeeding frequently (q2hrs) (or glucose water) and early when mom is still in bed!!!! no low sugar will show up..

protocol should be sticks for bb more than 8lbs or from mom who was gdm non controlled by diet or under insulin. sga and premiees should be watched closely though..

Ginny DOULA RN SNM

[Highland Queen]

Our nursery has been routinely performing a blood glucose test upon admission and in 2 hours. The majority of peds and GPs agree that this will diagnose and prompt intervention for the asymptomatic infants and prevent brain damage by quick treatment. One physician insists that only LGA, SGA and infants of gestational diabetic mothers are to be tested. Our standards and orders suggest routine screening at birth and in two hours whether at risk or not as well as PRN.

WHAT does everyone else do? Is there a national SOC ? Where would we find literature to support one or the other of these practices?

We are all very stressed when we forget and test his babies. And we need some data to support or delete our current practice. It would obviously cost less to only test those at risk babies as listed.

What do you think? Any help would be great!!!!

Thanks

Hi there.

I work in a teaching hospital in Inverness, Scotland. We certainly do not do routine blood sugars on all babies. If a baby is at term, good weight, and healthy with no risk factors, such as maternal diabetes why interfere? As long as you're observing the baby for any signs of hypoglycaemia, poor feeding etc. there really is no need to do this routinely. Why give a new mum something else to worry about !! Anyway I'm sure I have some literature somewhere about this. Will let you know when I get it. Good luck with the doctors. Sometimes old habits die hard!!

[BETSRN]

When I worked in a hospital that had separate PP and L and D, the baby NEVER left mom's arms, period, unless baby or mom were sick. Just cause units are separate, is no reason to warehouse babies in nurseries who are healthy, for any reason.

That's one of those holdovers from the "we've always done it that way" era, with a nurse manager who probably isn't very flexible either. There are several hospitals around here like that.