Welcome to the neonatal clinics at Karolinska University Hospital

The vast majority of babies who are taken care of in hospitals as newborns will be healthy and develop normally. However, there are babies who may develop difficulties that cannot be detected during their time in hospital. To identify infants and families who need extra resources during childhood, some of our patients are invited to participate in our national follow-up programme for premature or sick newborn infants. Upon discharge, the baby's consulting physician decides what type of follow-up, within the scope of the follow-up programme, will be relevant for your baby.

You can talk to us at the check-up that takes place when your baby is fully developed, then at three months of age, the one-year check-up, the two-year check-up and at age 5.5 before starting preschool. At our clinic, you will meet experienced paediatricians, paediatric nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians and psychologists who will make accurate assessments of the baby's motor skill development, cognition, behaviour and growth. This is in order to be able to offer your baby and your family the support and help you need.

The results of the surveys are collected in the national quality register, SNQ. The register is used for research into sick and premature babies. As a parent, you have the opportunity to opt out of registering information about your baby.

At our clinic, you can also book nursing visits as a complement to BVC (the Child Healthcare Clinic) during the early stages following your baby's discharge from hospital. We are responsible for your baby's first vaccinations and coordinate the check-ups that may be relevant for your baby following discharge.

The length of appointments can vary from 30-60 minutes. Appointments may take a little longer if the baby is being vaccinated or blood tests are being taken.