
Dr Lathiesh
Dr. Lathiesh Kumar Kambham is a Neonatologist and Paediatrician with over 12 years of experience. He has a special interest in the management of birth asphyxiated babies and extreme preterms and ha More
Reviewed by Dr Lathiesh MBBS, MD (Pediatrics)
DM (Neonatology), Lead Neonatology and NICU Services
Aster Women & Children's Hospital
17 years of experience
Dr. Lathiesh Kumar Kambham is a Neonatologist and Paediatrician with over 12 years of experience. He has a special interest in the management of birth asphyxiated babies and extreme preterms and ha More
Written by Aparna Hari
Is your newborn facing health issues and is admitted to the NICU? Are you worried about caring for your baby in the NICU? After a baby is born, every family looks forward to bringing the baby home, amidst all the glee and excitement. However, if your baby has to be admitted to the NICU or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, it can be quite a worrisome and painful experience.
Parents, especially the mother feel overwhelmed if their baby is in the ICU as it hampers the interaction with her tiny bundle of joy. However, understanding the NICU, its functions, and its needs will ease our fears and you will be able to help your baby better. It is important to understand that the baby is now under a team of experts, and everything will be fine in no time.
In This Article
The answer to this question depends on many factors such as the gestational age of the baby, the health of the baby at birth or the presence of birth defects.
Generally, the following categories of babies need to stay in the NICU or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Babies born before 37 weeks of gestational age are termed preterm or premature babies. Babies who are born early need a lot of care and are admitted to NICU so that they can be provided with all the necessary support.
Some babies may be born full term but still need extra care due to underlying health conditions at birth such as respiratory distress, severe jaundice, infections etc. Such babies will need to spend some time in the NICU till they can get better.
Babies born with certain birth or congenital defects such as heart issues, kidney issues or any other major disorders and need surgical intervention or medical support will spend a few days or months in the NICU till the condition stabilizes and they are ready to go home
If your newborn baby has any of the above conditions or health issues, it is quite likely that he will be kept at the NICU for some days for specialized and better treatment.
[Read : Understanding Birth Defects And Their Symptoms]
The length of the stay in the NICU depends on
The neonatal staff who take care of your baby in the NICU comprise of
These are expert pediatricians who specialize in critical conditions and care pertaining to a newborn baby both preterm and full-term. Fellows assist neonatologists in a learning process towards becoming experts themselves.
They provide round-the-clock support throughout your baby’s stay. They take instructions from the neonatologist or senior doctor and ensure that all the necessary treatments and medications are provided to your baby on time. Junior doctors usually work in shifts and maintain your baby’s charts and make decisions about your baby’s treatments in case of emergency when the experts are not available
Nurses play a vital role in maintaining your baby’s hygiene. They take care of your baby’s cleaning up, changing diapers, etc. They are also responsible for monitoring your baby’s vitals and ensuring that everything is fine.
Then there are lactation consultants who help new mothers with latching and breastfeeding support and help them provide the right feed at the right time to babies. Physiotherapists help babies with unique needs such as breathing difficulties or other physiological issues
To monitor your baby, your little sweetheart may be attached to various machines, it can be quite a scary thing, and many mothers have known to break down at such a sight. However, you should know that all these machines and tubes are only going to help your baby grow and be strong, so as to be able to go home with you.
Here are some machines you can commonly find in an NICU.
Bonding with the baby is very important but ICU has its limitations and safety measures that should be kept in mind while visiting. Doctors will allow the mothers to visit the baby in the NICU once the baby is stable. Fathers can have a limited number of visits once the doctor is satisfied with the baby’s progress.
The mother will be allowed to spend some time with the baby for multiple purposes.
Most NICU babies will be put on drip or tube feeds as they are still not in a condition to such milk from mothers. This is especially true for preemies whose sucking reflexes were not given enough time to mature within the mother’s womb.
For most NICU babies, the mothers will be asked to provide expressed milk, which the trained hospital staff will feed to the baby in specific quantities as per doctor’s recommendations.
In some cases, as the baby gains some strength, the mother may be instructed to breastfeed the baby. In such a case, the nurses will assist in nursing your baby in the NICU. Some NICUs also have dedicated feeding areas for mothers who are breastfeeding.
[Read : Spoon Feeding a Newborn]
Depending upon the severity of the illness, you will be allowed to hold the baby. If the newborn has an IV or is on a ventilator, you will be allowed only to touch the baby’s hand or stroke her/his head. But a consistent gentle touch is also very assuring for the baby.
In the case of very delicate premature babies, touching is not allowed as they are extremely vulnerable to catching infections. Doctors advise parents to have minimal physical contact with their premature babies. You can ask the staff or doctor to tell you what type and how much contact is safe.
Once your baby is ready for physical touch, the doctor will ask you to give kangaroo therapy to your munchkin and spend some time with them.
Kangaroo care or skin-to-skin touch is a proven therapy that has many benefits for the baby. The bonding time with the mother increases and regulates the body temperature of the baby which results in increased body weight. As the baby lays on the mother’s bare chest, the baby’s heartbeat along with the body temperature get regularized. Bonding time is important for the baby to thrive well under the extreme circumstances he/she is in. This is also a form of therapy for the mother who may be worried about the wellness of her baby.
In cases where the mother cannot provide kangaroo therapy due to illness, any other family member such as the father or the grandparents can also provide this skin-to-skin touch therapy to the newborn.
[Read : Kangaroo Mother Care For Newborn Babies]
While in ICU you need to learn certain important etiquette and follow it. Here are a few basics to help you learn ICU basics.
Your stay in the hospital, while your baby is being treated, is very stressful. A myriad of thoughts keeps flashing in your mind and you feel apprehensive every now and then. Your life has turned topsy-turvy and you eagerly wait for the day when the little joy bundle will be given back to you smiling at your face.
Follow the following tips:
Though having your baby in NICU can be disturbing for parents, please be assured that there are many parents going through the same. Caring for your baby in the NICU has become a lot easier thanks to all the advances in medical sciences and compassionate doctors and staff. The fact that your baby is in the safe hands of an expert neonatal team should ease your worries. Help your baby by staying positive and being cooperative.
Different hospitals may have different guidelines according to multiple factors including the baby’s health condition. But in most cases, the baby is allowed to leave the NICU once it reaches 2 kg weight.
Some hospitals may allow the mother to stay in the room they booked for giving birth. Others may offer special rooms for the mother for the length of the baby’s ICU stay. If the baby is staying in the NICU for longer months, the hospital may advise the parents to go home and come back during set visiting hours. It all depends on a case-to-case basis.
In most cases, mothers will be asked to express breast milk so that babies can be given through different ways such as tube feed. Depending on your baby’s health and intake, you may need to express once every couple of hours during the day and 2 to 3 times at night if you are in the hospital. If you are staying far away from the hospital during your baby’s NICU stay, the lactation consultant may advise you on the number of feeds required and how many times you would need to express.
Preemies have an immature body as they did not have enough time to grow and mature in their mother’s womb. Due to weak abdominal muscles, they may produce a grunting noise when passing gas or stool. But as they grow, preemie babies will figure out how to manage silently without grunting.
Read Also: Taking Your Premature Baby Home
Her experience in impactful writing combined with her background in Home Sciences makes Aparna the perfect candidate for content writing in the pregnancy and parenting niche.Read more.
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