What is NICU in Hospital?
It might be overwhelming for parents to see their little bundle of joy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The machines, incubators, and the professionals checking on your babies might seem serious. A NICU hospital in Navi Mumbai is equipped to handle complex cases, such as offering 24/7 monitoring and extensive care to preterm babies. Let’s learn more about NICU and what you can expect.
Who Needs NICU Care?
When a baby leaves the mother’s womb, many physical changes occur. From breathing to nourishment, they rely on their mothers before birth. Now, they have to adjust to life outside the womb. While that may go easy for some babies, others with low birth weight or birth complications are referred to the NICU. It’s mainly for:
1) Premature Infants:
If your baby is delivered before 37 weeks, it will be considered a premature baby. They may need NICU as their lungs and other organs might not be fully developed yet.
2) Newborns with Health Complications:
Mothers who went through a prolonged labor might have to admit their babies to NICU right after birth. That’s specifically required for babies who were deprived of oxygen during labor. Babies diagnosed with severe jaundice might also need NICU for phototherapy.
3) Low Birth Weight:
For babies with a low birth weight (below 2.5 kilograms), a neonatologist in Navi Mumbai may recommend the NICU. This helps the baby breathe, gain weight, and fight infections.
Key Features of a NICU
Here’s what parents can expect from the NICU:
a) Advanced Medical Equipment
NICU is designed for underweight babies and those born with complications. As parents, you can expect your little ones to receive the best possible care. The units are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including incubators that keep babies warm, monitors that track their vitals, ventilators that help with breathing, and feeding tubes.
b) Highly Trained Medical Staff
At the NICU, your little one will receive the best care from neonatologists, respiratory therapists, NICU nurses, and lactation consultants. They will be monitored around the clock by professionals trained to handle complex health issues in babies.
c) Counselors
Some NICUs have counselors and social workers who assist overwhelmed parents. They offer emotional support to parents struggling with stress and concerns about their baby’s health.
Common Conditions Treated in NICU
Here are a few common conditions treated in the NICU:
i) Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Due to their undeveloped lungs, premature babies might experience difficulty breathing. NICUs are equipped with machines that stabilize their vitals.
ii) Neonatal Jaundice
Jaundice is a normal condition in neonates and usually resolves on its own within a few weeks. However, if the baby develops jaundice in the first 24 hours of birth or has too high bilirubin levels, they may need phototherapy and, rarely, blood transfusion.
iii) Congenital Anomalies
Babies born with birth defects, like heart issues, an undeveloped digestive system, spina bifida, musculoskeletal problems, and issues with the central nervous system must be admitted to NICU for specialized care.
Although the neonatal intensive care unit may sound intimidating, rest assured that many babies are discharged as soon as they are strong enough to adapt to the world.