What to Expect in the NICU

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is the NICU? " пїЅ "NICU " пїЅ is short for "neonatal intensive care unit. " пїЅ It is a part of the hospital where doctors and nurses take care of babies who are sick or were born too early. The NICU is sometimes called the special care nursery, intensive care nursery, or newborn intensive care unit. ( "Neonatal " пїЅ means newborn.) пїЅ пїЅ

Why might my baby need to go to the NICU? " пїЅ Your baby might need to go to the NICU if he or she: пїЅ пїЅ

Is born sick or premature (3 or more weeks before the due date)
Has problems during the birth process, such as infection or trouble breathing
Shows health problems within a few days of being born, such as jaundice (when the skin or white part of the eyes turn yellow) or problems with the heart, lungs, or intestines

Who will take care of my baby in the NICU? " пїЅ The doctors and nurses in the NICU are specially trained to take care of sick and premature newborns. The NICU staff might include: пїЅ пїЅ

A neonatologist " пїЅ This is the doctor in charge. Neonatologists are trained in newborn medicine.
Nurses " пїЅ There will be one or more nurses assigned to take care of your baby.
A respiratory therapist " пїЅ This persons job is to give treatments that help with babies ' breathing.
A nutritionist " пїЅ This person is specially trained to take care of newborns ' feeding needs.
Specialists " пїЅ These are doctors who are trained to treat problems with certain parts of the body, like the brain or heart.

What kinds of things happen in the NICU? " пїЅ Lots of different things happen in the NICU. First, your baby will be placed in a special bed such as: пїЅ пїЅ

An incubator or "isolette " пїЅ " пїЅ This is a bed that is surrounded by clear plastic to help keep your baby safe and warm.
A warmer " пїЅ This is an open bed with an overhead heater.

Some of the things that usually happen in the NICU include: пїЅ пїЅ

Monitoring " пїЅ The doctors and nurses carefully monitor, or watch, each baby. You might see wires connecting your baby to a screen (similar to a TV screen). These wires are attached to the skin with stickers and are not painful for the baby. The screen keeps track of the baby's vital signs. Vital signs include temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
Tests " пїЅ The NICU doctors and nurses will probably do tests to make sure they are giving your baby the best care. These might include blood tests, urine tests, or X-rays.
Medicines " пїЅ Most babies in the NICU need to take one or more medicines. These can include antibiotics (to fight infection) or medicines to help the heart or lungs to work. Your baby might have an IV (a thin tube placed in a vein) to make it easier for the doctors and nurses to give medicine.
Other treatments " пїЅ Depending on the reason your baby is in the NICU, he or she might need other treatments, too. Babies with jaundice are put under a special light. Babies who are having trouble breathing might be attached to a ventilator, a machine to help them breathe.

Will I be able to visit my baby in the NICU? " пїЅ Yes. You can and should spend time with your baby if he or she is in the NICU. пїЅ пїЅ

In some cases, you will be able to hold your baby. This can help you bond with and comfort your baby. Your baby's doctor or nurse might suggest that you try "skin-to-skin " пїЅ contact. This is when you hold your baby on your bare chest while he or she is wearing only a diaper (and sometimes a hat). пїЅ пїЅ

It might not be possible to hold your baby if he or she is very sick or was born very early. But you might still be able to hold your baby's hand or stroke his or her head. Even if you cannot touch your baby at all, you can still talk or sing to him or her. The NICU doctors and nurses can help you figure out what kind of touch is safe for your baby. пїЅ пїЅ

Other family members can usually visit your baby in the NICU, too. But there might be rules about when they can visit, and what they need to do (such as wash hands, or wear special hospital gowns or masks). Children might not be allowed to visit, since they are more likely to carry germs that could hurt a very small or sick newborn. пїЅ пїЅ

How will my baby eat in the NICU? " пїЅ It depends on how sick your baby is or how premature he or she is. Your baby might be able to breastfeed, or drink breast milk or formula from a bottle. On the other hand, your baby might need a feeding tube. A feeding tube is a small tube that goes into the baby's mouth or nose, down his or her throat, and into the stomach. The tube can deliver breast milk or formula right into the baby's stomach. For babies who are too sick to be fed even through a feeding tube, nutrition is given through an IV. пїЅ пїЅ

If you want to breastfeed your baby, talk to the NICU doctors and nurses. There are also breastfeeding experts, called "lactation consultants, " пїЅ who can help. If your baby is not able to suck from the breast, you can try using a breast pump. A breast pump is a device that pumps milk from the breasts. The milk can then be fed to the baby from a bottle or through a feeding tube. If your baby can't yet have milk, your breast milk can be stored and fed to your baby later. пїЅ пїЅ

When will I be able to bring my baby home? " пїЅ It depends on your baby's condition. For some health problems, a baby only needs to stay in the NICU for a few days. Babies who are very sick or premature might need to stay for weeks or even months. пїЅ пїЅ

Your baby's doctors and nurses will work with you to help you understand how your baby is doing and when he or she might be able to go home. You will also get instructions on how to take care of your baby at home, and what kinds of follow-up appointments your baby will need. пїЅ пїЅ

How can I get support while my baby is in the NICU? " пїЅ Having your baby in the NICU can be hard and stressful. Social workers and hospital chaplains (spiritual counselors) can provide support during this difficult time. There are also support groups for parents of sick or premature babies. It can be helpful to talk to other people who are going through the same things. Try to get help from these sources and from relatives and friends. That way you will have support both in the hospital and at home. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 17208 Version 6.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

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What to Expect in the NICU

The Basics

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