The U3 screening: measure, weigh, talk
A topic for new parents or people who are about to become parents: the U3 check-up. This is usually the first check-up that takes place at the paediatrician's practice. The U1 is actually always carried out in the hospital or maternity centre, and the U2 usually takes place there too.
So, what is done at the U3? First of all, the baby is measured and weighed and the head circumference is determined. It is important to keep a close eye on these body measurements at the beginning because they provide important information about the baby's well-being.
Then the child is simply examined from head to toe. An ultrasound of the hips is carried out, as there are so-called congenital hip dysplasias, which can be detected very well by ultrasound and can also be treated very well if they are recognised early.
Then we talk to the parents about the upcoming STIKO vaccination programme, talk about nutrition and advise them to breastfeed their child exclusively for the time being, which is simply the best and most recommended diet. The administration of vitamin D and fluorine is also discussed.
And: there should always be time for any questions that parents may have in the first few weeks of life. We also talk to them about the importance of providing relief and involving other people in the care at an early stage in order to create breaks and rest periods for themselves.
Another important point for us is to give parents a rough guideline on how they can recognise that their baby is doing well. We say: A baby should have a rosy face colour and should be drinking well and vigorously. A baby can sleep a lot in the first few months, in the beginning it can be 18 to 20 hours, but when it is awake, it must also appear awake, it must look around, kick, move - simply be lively. This is an unmistakable sign that the child is doing well.
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