Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
From Holoprosencephaly
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
This NICU is a unit of a hospital specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants. The NICU provides specialized temperature support with use of incubators or "open warmers”; isolation from infection risk; specialized feeding with use of feeding tubes or TPN; IV therapy for medications and fluid/electrolyte management; and access to specialized equipment like photo lamps used for jaundice and respiratory support devices such as oxygen tents or cannulas, CPAP or mechanical ventilators.
Most always, infants are attached to various types of monitors measuring oxygen saturation, heart rate and respirations.
Besides prematurity and extreme low birth weight, common diseases cared for in a NICU include perinatal asphyxia, major birth defects, sepsis, neonatal jaundice, and respiratory distress syndrome due to immaturity of the lungs. An infant may spend a day of observation in a NICU or may spend many months there.
Public access is limited, and staff and visitors are required to wear gowns, gloves, and/or masks to reduce infection transmission.
A NICU is typically directed by one or more neonatologists and staffed by nurses, nurse practitioners, resident physicians, and respiratory therapists. Many other ancillary services are necessary for a top-level NICU. Other physicians, especially those with "organ-defined" specialties often assist in the care of these infants. The NICU environment provides challenges as well as benefits. Stressors for the infants can include continual light, a high level of noise, separation from their mothers, reduced physical contact, painful procedures, and interference with the opportunity to breastfeed. If the baby is well enough, parents are encouraged to hold and cuddle their babies. If this isn’t possible, parents should touch, caress, talk and sing to their baby to promote comfort and facilitate bonding. Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions and it may be helpful to prepare a list prior to making phone calls or visiting the NICU. It is important for parents, especially new mothers to get plenty of rest, maintain adequate nutrition and remember to take care of themselves while their infant is being cared for in the NICU. Family members, friends, social workers and spiritual advisors may provide support during this difficult time.
Other resources: When your baby’s in the NICU: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/nicu_caring.html
