High-Risk Infant Follow Up

The High-Risk Infant Follow Up clinic at MassGeneral for Children at North Shore Medical Center provides comprehensive evaluation and follow-up services for children from birth to age two. Our specialists work with you and your infant’s pediatrician or family medicine physician to improve your baby’s growth, development and nutritional status, and to identify any medical, neurological, or developmental abnormalities.

Evaluations for High-Risk Infants


Most infants are evaluated at three, seven and twelve months of corrected gestational age (if born prematurely, from the due date, not the birth date) and two years of chronological age. 

Car seat evaluation
 
A car seat evaluation is recommended for all babies born before 37 weeks gestation. The evaluation ensures that a premature baby is able to safely travel in a car seat without experiencing any difficulties breathing (such as desaturation, apnea, or bradycardia). Infants who are found to have breathing problems while in a car seat are instead placed in a type of car seat that allows them to lie flat (a car bed). A follow-up screening determines when it is safe for the premature infant to start using a traditional car seat.

Conditions treated include:

  • Birth weight less than 1500 grams (3 lbs., 5 oz..)
  • Gestational age less than or equal to 30 weeks
  • Apgar score at 5 minutes of 3 or less
  • History of neurological abnormality or intraventricular hemorrhage
  • Oxygen and/or diuretic dependent chronic lung disease
  • Infants with a positive drug screen/maternal substance abuse
  • Severe Intrauterine Growth Retardation
  • ECMO Grade III or greater
  • Retinopathy of prematurity
  • Neonatal meningitis

The First Three Years

You and your baby are always part of our family. If your growing baby is found to be at higher risk for developmental issues, our pediatric nutrition experts, occupational therapists, neonatologists and psychologists will follow your baby from birth through the first three years. Our clinic provides education for parents and community providers, and we make referrals for Early Intervention and Partners Home Care.