Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Some infants require special care due to prematurity or other conditions after birth. The Women’s Hospital sets a standard of excellence in providing the highest-quality care to our communities’ tiniest babies.
Our neonatologists and NICU team round on a daily basis to provide updates on your baby’s care and progress. We explain equipment being used and what testing may be required. We are here to answer any questions you may have.
NICU Testimonial
Expert Team
The goal of the NICU team is to help babies and families get home healthy, happy and as soon as possible. These experienced professionals work together to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art care for your baby.
Our family-centered care team includes:
- Parents
- Board Certified neonatologists
- Neonatal nurse practitioners
- Registered nurses
- Occupational therapists
- Respiratory therapists
- Physical therapists
- Speech therapists
- Lactation consultants
- Registered Dietitians
- Social workers
- NICU pharmacy
- Chaplain
NICU Developmental Care
Our Developmental Care program is designed to provide supportive interventions and parent education to help your baby’s body and brain grow and develop. Our Developmental Care team is committed to creating a therapeutic environment that mimics the mother’s womb to support your baby’s healing process.
Comprehensive Team
- Parents
- Board-certified neonatologists
- Neonatal nurse practitioners
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech language pathologist
- Registered nurses
- Registered respiratory therapists
Our developmental specialists support babies and families with individualized care and help educate parents on activities based on their baby’s developmental needs. Some services may include:
- Handling
- Swaddling
- Head control
- Feeding
- Head shaping
- Positioning
- Skin-to-skin
- Massage
These interventions help babies’ brains, nerves and muscles mature and grow and allow families to be a primary part of their baby’s care. Our therapists, Certified in Neonatal Touch and Massage, also help to provide and educate on nurturing techniques through touch and massage that decrease stress and help your baby sleep, which is important for brain development.
Premature babies have special needs. Our goal is to deliver treatments and guidance that promote a more healthy development and foster a family-centered approach to address your baby’s special needs.
Breastfeeding Services for NICU babies
If your baby needs intensive care in the NICU, breastfeeding support is still available. Our lactation consultants can teach you how to express milk using a breast pump and support you as your milk supply changes. The team coordinates with the neonatologist and NICU nursing staff to ensure pumping and breastfeeding goals are met.
Donor Milk in the NICU
We know that human milk can make a vast difference in babies’ digestive systems and in their early development. When supplementation is needed, donor breast milk is the best option for premature and other NICU babies. Donor milk is available for babies requiring supplementation because the mother’s milk supply is not sufficient or when the baby is born prematurely and donor milk is needed to protect their digestive system.
Learn more about our
comprehensive breastfeeding services.
Follow-Up Care
After being discharged from the NICU, your baby may benefit from the specialized care offered at
Deaconess Riley Children’s Specialty Center. Our Developmental Clinic provides services to meet the unique needs of your infant.
Going Home
Like most parents, you are probably anxious to take your baby home. Before discharging your infant, our NICU team will ensure that the recommended screening guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are completed and that both baby and parents feel confident and prepared to return home.
Baby Preparation
Before going home, it is important that your baby is:
- Breathing on his or her own with stable vitals
- Maintaining proper body temperature in an open crib
- Feeding from either a bottle or the breast
- Gaining weight steadily
Parent Preparation
To be prepared to care for your baby, you should:
- Feel comfortable handling and feeding your baby
- Be able to take your baby's temperature
- Know how and when to give any medication your baby may need
- Have a car seat available to transport your baby home
- Be educated in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
Parent Room
Before your baby is discharged from the NICU, you and your baby will stay the night in our Parent Room. By “rooming-in,” you get the opportunity to care for your baby with the comfort of knowing the NICU team is available to answer questions and provide support.
Neonatal Transport Services
The Neonatal Transport Team at The Women’s Hospital specializes in the safe and swift transport of premature and sick newborns in need of critical care. With an on-site ambulance equipped with the most advanced technology, the transport team is committed to a rapid departure. Our team, guided by a neonatologist, consists of specially trained neonatal nurses and respiratory therapists with expertise in airway management and stabilization of critically-ill babies to extend the same high-standard and quality of care as our very own NICU.
In addition, the Neonatal Transport Team offers these services:
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet your specific needs
- Dedicated Medical Director and transport coordinator to ensure high clinical standards and oversee daily operations of transport team
- Temperature regulated transport isolette
- Ability to transport twins in same isolette
- Conventional and high-frequency ventilation on transport
- Advanced certification in NRP, STABLE and Cardiac STABLE
