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KAISER PERMANENTE MODESTO INFANT CARE
NICU CARES FOR THE AREA’S EARLIEST ARRIVALS BY JORDAN SCOTT
W
hile it typically takes about 40 weeks for new babies to fully develop before they are ready to join the world as a newborn, there are some little ones who just can’t wait that long. For those early birds who may need a little extra assistance getting off to a healthy start, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center is equipped to take care of babies born as early as 24 weeks. “The 24-week mark represents the earliest a premature baby can be cared for in a traditional NICU setting,” says Kaiser’s Director of Perinatal Services Lorena Acevedo, MSN, RN, NE-BC. “It not only means we can care for the babies, but we can also attend to the high-risk moms who need any specialized care before their delivery.” A baby born at 24 weeks is about the size of an ear of corn and weighs just 1.3 pounds. It is at this stage of development when a baby starts to breathe on its own, its hearing 48
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2022 SJ HEALTH AND MEDICAL GUIDE
becomes more acute, and physical growth accelerates. At this early stage, a baby can face any number of health challenges. Without the ability to provide adequate care for such a level of prematurity, patients likely to give birth earlier would otherwise need to look beyond the Central Valley, such as Kaiser Permanente facilities in Roseville and Santa Clara. With proper resources and a highly trained team of neonatologists and supporting personnel at the Modesto NICU, parents can remain close to their home, families, and support network, and eliminate unnecessary stress. “Our Neonatologists have been specially trained to treat babies born at this early stage of pregnancy and are dedicated to providing the highest level of care for our most vulnerable,” says Kaiser’s Chief of Inpatient Pediatrics Yeseli Arias, MD. “Their passion and commitment to caring for our littlest patients is evident every day in the work that they do.”
