Things you need to know about the NICU

Today’s guest blog is written by the wonderful Courtney Garland - an NICU Nurse, Lactation and Sleep Consultant. Courtney is also a Mum of 3 (nearly 4), and the founder of the Mama Linc app - a week-by-week in-app support system for new parents.

Sometimes after babies are born, they need a bit of medical help. This can happen when they are premature, have difficulty breathing, or have other health concerns that may mean they need some extra support and monitoring from specialists. Many large hospitals are equipped with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) specifically for this purpose.

But what exactly happens in the NICU, and what can you expect if your little one does need to spend some time in there?

What is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?

The NICU is a department in the hospital that is usually close to the maternity/birthing ward. It is a special unit that helps little babies who may have been born prematurely or who are having health concerns.. Depending on the unit, little ones can be as young as 24 weeks gestation at birth.

The NICU has all the equipment needed to help these little ones like breathing machines, special incubators to help babies grow, etc. And I may be biased but the medical staff are absolutely lovely on these units.

What to expect in the NICU?

If you and your little one are separated due to baby being born early or sick it can be really hard. Please be kind to yourself and know that you can see your little one whenever you are able to. The medical team caring for your baby have had specialist training in this area and will be with your little one around the clock to make sure they get all the care they need.

Depending on your little one’s health concerns, they may spend anywhere from a few hours to a few months in the NICU. Sometimes it’s just a case of some extra monitoring, and other times babies may need more care and support as they grow or recover. Every baby is unique and the team is on hand to tailor their care to exactly what your baby needs.

When you do go to see your baby here are a few things you may see:

• Stickers with cords on their chest that hook up to a monitor to help the medical staff watch their heart rate and breathing. They will also have a white looking bandaid type of cord with a red light on it either on one of their feet or hands/arm that helps monitor baby’s oxygen levels.
  
  
• A small tube in their nose that is taped to the side of their cheek that is called a feeding tube or nasogastric tube. This little tube does many things and one of the main things is helping give milk to baby if baby can’t feed yet on their own. Not all babies will need this, but it’s good to be aware of what it’s for just in case your little one does need it.
  
  
• Now depending on your baby’s needs, they may be in an incubator, which is an enclosed safe place for baby. The incubator can help provide a warm and humid environment for babies to grow, as well as providing oxygen. Imagine a safe little cocoon where baby is protected.
  
  
• Lots of sinks and hand sanitiser! It is really important to wash your hands constantly when you are on the unit and before ever touching your little one.
  
  
• A big ear shaped light on the walls around the NICU, these ears flash green, yellow and red to remind everyone to keep the sound levels down in the NICU to help babies develop, recover and grow.
  
  
• IV/drip pumps. Sometimes babies will need to have fluids and special nutrition to help them until they can handle milk. So with the pumps being set up beside the bed, you may find the tubing hooks up to a special cannula in the hand, foot, or other areas. Again, this is not something that all babies will need - just something to be aware of.
  
  
• Blue light blankets, or babies who are immersed in bright blue UV lights. These babies may also be wearing special goggles to protect their eyes. When babies are premature, they are more likely to have jaundice and the UV light therapy can help their bodies to break down bilirubin in their blood.

Every baby is different

The NICU journey can be so different from baby to baby - and that is because the unit can cater to so many different needs and medical conditions. Therefore, it’s really important to know that the equipment used to care for little ones can vary so much. The biggest thing to know is that the team is there to support your family. If you ever have any questions about your baby’s care, please don’t hesitate to speak to one of the Nurses or Doctors. We are always more than happy to provide guidance and reassurance to families as we know this can be a stressful time and want to make it as smooth as possible for you all.