DNA Sampling On A Newborn Infant

Babies are some of life’s greatest joys. There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing those innocent tiny little arms reaching out for your hand and holding it tight. A perfect start to begin the life of a big happy family. Unfortunately, that is not the case for everyone. There are those who are stuck in uncomfortably stressing situations where doubts would begin on the parental responsibility and legitimacy of said child.

That pressure of not knowing whether that precious newborn babe is truly yours can be unnerving and heartbreaking. As such, the only way to settle the truth once and for all is to initiate a DNA paternity test. But can such a young child be tested for a paternity test?

The answer to that question is a resounding YES. As early as the baby is first pushed out into the world, the DNA testing procedure can begin. Simply inform the medical professionals ahead of time about sending your baby for a DNA sample for testing to receive the results as soon as possible.

How Does The Process Work With A Newborn Baby?

The fastest and simplest way to receive a DNA sample from a baby would be to use the cheek swab method. It is fast and harmless to the child so there is absolutely no cause for alarm about having your child be hurt in the process. You can also expect to undergo the same procedure similar to your child to collect your DNA sample.

First and foremost, you need to ensure that your child has no breast milk, amniotic fluid, meconium, or any foreign substance near or inside their mouth. Any contact with foreign debris or substance could cause your sample to be contaminated and result in an invalid DNA. It is best to conduct this procedure an hour or 2 after they have drunk milk to ensure that the substance does not linger inside their mouth.

Babies often slumber in a deep sleep. Therefore, that would be prime time for you to strike and take their DNA sample without them causing a fuss. Their sleeping bodies would be too preoccupied with getting enough rest that they would not even notice that their DNA sample was taken.

Now you need to gently cup your baby’s on the cheek of your child and open their mouths to insert the swab. It is important to ensure that you are collecting the cheek cells thoroughly. You should be able to feel the swab circling around your baby’s cheek while you are taking their cheek cells. Avoid letting the sample be too soaked with saliva as that can cause your packaging envelope to rip and risk contaminating the sample.

In case the swab gets coated with high amounts of saliva, let it dry naturally with air for about a minute. It is imperative that the swab does not come in contact with any foreign substance while you are air-drying the tip. Finish up the procedure by sealing the sample in a paper envelope. Do not re-use the same packaging as it originally came from and avoid plastic containers as both can cause the sample to grow stale and produce mold quickly resulting in an inconclusive sample.

Morality Of DNA Testing A Baby

Having a baby is already a stressful endeavor during the pregnancy and through the birth itself. The addition of doubts and mistrust will only aggravate things to an intensely unbearable level. It would be best to consider conversing your doubts with your partner and figuring out a solution early in the pregnancy to prevent any sort of tension during the whole process.

The quicker you both can come to terms with accepting the facts and clearing your suspicions, the easier your lives as both a couple and future parents will be.

Related Articles:

• Can a Man Force a Woman to Take a Paternity Test?
• Using DNA Paternity Tests to Combat Paternity Fraud
• Thinking of Prenatal Paternity testing? Know some basic information 
• Cheating in a Paternity Test (Part I)
• DNA Profiling 101