Having a baby prematurely or born with serious health issues can be one
of the most overwhelming events in a parent’s life. Our Level lll
neonatal intensive care units provide the highest level of care with life-saving
technologies and compassionate support.
Your Baby may be admitted to NICU if:
He or she is born early
A health condition is recognized before the baby is born
The baby experiences an especially difficult delivery
He or she show signs of a health problem in the first few days of life
A baby’s stay in NICU depends upon his or her specific condition.
A NICU stay can range from 1 day to several months.
Some of the most common conditions treated at DCH Health System NICU include:
Prematurity
Breathing or Lung problems
Infections
Metabolic disorders
Birth defects
Genetic conditions
If your baby has to spend time at either our Regional Medical Center NICU
or Northport Medical Center NICU, a multidisciplinary team of experts
provide care. Our
Neonatologists are pediatricians with a specialty in caring for sick babies. They are
on the unit or are on call 24 hours a day and exam each baby daily. The
Neonatal Nurse Practitioners are specially trained registered nurses who manage the medical care of
each baby and are available on the unit daily. Other members of your baby’s
care team include respiratory therapists, pharmacists, social workers,
lactation consultants, occupational, speech and music therapists and Pastoral
Care Services.
Family-Centered Care
Parents are an essential part of their child’s health care team,
and are welcome to be with their infant
24 hours a day.
We support family bonding and are responsive to parent feedback and try
to make families feel comfortable in the NICU environment.
That is why we encourage participation by parents during daily rounds to
discuss their baby’s progress and care plans. Breastfeeding support
and Care Management services are available to all families. We provide
Lullaby time daily which allows families to enjoy time with their baby
without disturbances. Translation services are available 24/7. Our Sweet
Peas organization provide parent education and information on follow-up care.
