Understanding Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU)

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Table Contents Definition Introduction What a NICU looks like? NICU Staff Baby s Care in NICU Conclusion 2

Definition A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a hospital intensive care unit that specialises in looking after premature and sick newborn babies. 3

Introduction The NICU is a nursery in a hospital that provides around-the-clock care to sick or preterm babies. It has health care providers who have special training and equipment to give your baby the best possible care. Most babies admitted to the NICU are preterm (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy), have low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds), or have a health condition that needs special care. 4

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What a NICU looks like? The first time you go into a NICU, it can feel overwhelming. At the entrance, you ll see a series of taps or antibacterial hand gel dispensers. You need to wash your hands with sterilising soap for several minutes before you go in. Babies in NICUs can very easily catch infections, and proper hand-cleaning cuts the risk of this happening. 6

What a NICU looks like? The NICU might have periods when the lights are dimmed and it s quiet. This is because babies in the NICU can be overwhelmed by too much noise and light. Most babies will have either a heated open cot or a covered incubator. These keep their bodies at the right temperature. 7

What a NICU looks like? Depending on what medical support babies need in the NICU, there might be: ventilators to help with breathing machines to give measured amounts of fluids and medicines to the babies through tubes going into their veins monitors attached to the babies with cords to measure heart rate, breathing and the amount of oxygen in their blood 8

What a NICU looks like? Other large machines are brought into the NICU when they re needed. These might include machines to: take X-rays and ultrasounds monitor brain function give babies treatment under lights, or phototherapy, for jaundice. The NICU is usually a calm place, with nurses and doctors quietly looking after the babies and other specialists coming in and out. 9

NICU Staff Specialist Nurses: Every baby in a NICU has an individual bedside nurse. This nurse is highly qualified, having done extra study in nursing newborn babies, on top of a nursing degree. Your baby s nurse will be able to tell you most things about your baby s medical condition. The nurse will know about recent test results, changes in how your baby is being looked after, and your baby s condition over the previous few hours. 10

NICU Staff Neonatologists NICUs also have neonatologists. These are doctors who are specialists in newborn care, which is also called neonatal care. These doctors have first trained as paediatricians and then done further training as neonatologists. Most NICUs have several neonatologists. One will be in charge of the whole NICU. There s always a neonatologist on duty, and you can ask to speak to this person. 11

NICU Staff Visiting staff Paediatric specialists like cardiologists, ophthalmologists, neurologists or surgeons might also visit some babies. NICUs also have other visiting professionals to help both parents and babies, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, speech pathologists, social workers and pastoral care workers. 12

Babys Care in the NICU Do cluster care, which might mean bathing and feeding your baby in one session Schedule care and feeding so that they don t need to wake your baby from a deep sleep Do fewer vital signs checks if your baby doesn t need them Cut down on stimulation during feeding for example, by feeding your baby in a quiet, shielded corner, or feeding without talking and looking at the baby 13

Babys Care in the NICU Let your baby suck something during and after feeds, or give your baby something to hold when they re being handled Cover or shield your baby s eyes so that being on the treatment table is less stressful Avoid patting, rocking and talking to your baby all at once to avoid overstimulation. 14

Babys Care in the NICU After cares , the nurse will watch your baby again to see how the handling has affected them, and whether they need extra help to resettle for example, by being put in a different position. Nurses will also change the environment to make sure your baby is comfortable. This might mean making sure your baby s bed isn t near noisy taps or sinks, cutting out telephone and radio noise, or using a water, gel or ripple mattress. 15

Conclusion The NICU is a nursery in a hospital that provides around-the-clock care to sick or preterm babies. It has health care providers who have special training and equipment to give your baby the best possible care. 16

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