Screening U1 To U5: What Is Done?

The preventive medical checkups U1 to U5 are performed by the pediatrician on your baby during the first seven months of life. These first examinations are intended to detect any developmental disorders at an early stage.

Immediately after birth, the baby is given an examination booklet in which all examinations and results are written down, including the first screening examination U1. This takes place directly after the birth in the hospital or birth center, as well as in most cases the U2 is still carried out in the clinic. All further check-ups are carried out by the pediatrician.

The U1 to U5 check-ups always include a routine check on the physical and mental development of your baby. Body size, body weight and the circumference of the baby’s head are checked and recorded on an ongoing basis. Read here what is examined in detail during the U1 to U5 check-ups.

Table of contents

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Screening U1 To U5: What Is Needed?

  • Child examination booklet

Screening U1 To U5: What Is Examined?

Screening U1

During the very first examination after birth, the baby’s heartbeats, muscles, reflexes, and also skin color are checked. This screening is also known as the Apgar test. In the examination booklet, which by the way must be taken to the pediatrician at every check-up, the following data are entered under U1:

  • Which health insurance company do you belong to.
  • Dates of pregnancy. For example, the first examination, in which SSW, or how many weeks of pregnancy this is, and more.
  • Birth data. The date and time of birth, sex, abnormalities, the position of the child, weight, height, and Apgar count of the baby are recorded here. The Apgar test takes place again after the birth, about 10 minutes later.
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Screening U2

Between the third and tenth day after birth, the second screening check is due. The doctor examines the newborn’s internal organs, heartbeat, bone structure, and reflexes. The reflexes are important in the examination because they are very informative for the maturation of the brain.
In order to detect any metabolic and hormonal disorders, a blood test is performed on the baby. The doctor in charge takes some blood from the baby’s heel for this purpose and this is sent to the laboratory for evaluation. Furthermore, a hip joint examination and a hearing test are also scheduled at U2.

Screening U3

The U3 examination takes place between the 4th and 6th week of your baby’s life. Here, in addition to the routine check of height and weight, the same examination points as the U2 are carried out again.
The doctor will make various checks on the functional activity of the sensory organs and reflexes as well as a hearing test to get a clear picture in order to be able to exclude possible impairments. Malpositions of the joints and the spine can already be detected and treated at U3.

Screening U4

This pediatrician appointment is scheduled between the baby’s third and fourth month of life. Your baby can already do quite a bit now and the doctor will check this to see if your baby’s development is also age-appropriate. At U4, the hip examination is performed again and, as with every examination, height, weight, and the like are also checked.

Preventive Examination U5

If your baby is 7 months old, the U5 examination is due at the end of this month. This examination includes the control of mental and motor development. Furthermore, the doctor looks at whether the little creature can support itself independently with its arms and whether it turns from its stomach to its back. At this point, the development of speech is examined for the first time and, in addition to the hearing test, the child’s height and weight are also checked.

Repeated Examinations In U1 To U5

U1 to U5 always include checking the baby’s weight, growth and body proportions. In addition, the doctor also takes a close look at the eyes, nose, mouth and ears during each examination.
He also listens to the heart and lungs and carefully feels the abdomen and internal organs. The physique and individual body parts are checked for proper development and, in addition, motor skills and reflexes are the focus of all examination appointments.

Tips And Advice

  • Take every single check-up appointment with your baby seriously, as these examinations can detect early developmental disorders.
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