What to Expect When Your Newborn Needs NICU Care If you have a baby who is born too early or has serious health problems, he or she may be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a hospital unit that provides around-the-clock specialized care to newborns.
issues. Among common causes for a NICU stay may include preterm birth, complications during labor and delivery, birth defects, genetic conditions or other illnesses.
Common NICU Conditions Babies born too early and other sick newborns may face a variety of medical
Coping with Stress in the NICU When your baby is in the NICU, it may be hard to think about taking care of yourself.
Tests to Expect in the NICU If you or someone close to you is pregnant, Your baby may have tests and monitoring understanding what to expect if a NICU done in the NICU to determine health stay is required can help you focus on conditions and treatments for him or her taking care of the new baby and yourself. to grow and be healthy. Some tests, like blood tests, are common. Others are just Learn the ins and outs of the NICU with for babies with certain health conditions. information from March of Dimes, the Depending on his or her condition, your nation’s leading nonprofit that advocates baby might need scans or imaging to find for the health of all moms and babies, out what’s happening. You can also expect which partners with hospitals across the various screenings for vision and hearing, country through its NICU Family Support® and monitoring for things like weight program to provide in-person and online changes and urine tests, which can tell support for families with babies in the health care providers about your baby’s NICU. overall condition.
10 April 2021| PB Parenting |