NICU Clinical Services

Therapeutic Environment
Baptist Health System offers spacious and modern NICUs with an experienced staff available to provide your baby with the care he or she deserves. Care is provided in varying levels of intensity based on your child’s individual needs while allowing for a lowered level of stimulation to facilitate healing. A level IIIB NICU is provided at North Central Bapist Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital.

Developmental Care
Premature infants (infants born less than 37 weeks gestation) are at risk for developing a range of problems because their major organs are not completely developed. There is increasing evidence that an unfavorable environment in the NICU can add to these problems and negatively affect an infant’s growth and development. This is why we practice developmentally appropriately care, which means that according to the infant’s age and diagnosis, we reduce the noise and light, minimize handling and provide longer resting periods in between.

In addition to the developmental care environment, we have on staff physical and occupational therapists that work with each infant regarding positioning, feeding and any other identified needs.

We also actively promote parental involvement in care along with kangaroo care and non-nutritive sucking while limiting environmental stimulation.

Also, as new parents you can room in with your baby so that you can learn to tend to their every need with the help of a specially trained neonatal nurse. Every step is taken to ensure that your transition to home is as smooth as possible.

Information and Support
Upon admission to the NICU, all families will be provided with an admission handbook along with literature to help them transition to home. Prior to discharge, we offer all parents the opportunity to take an infant CPR class. Parents of our NICU patients are kept well informed by both the nursing staff and the neonatologists with daily updates. If however, you have questions, feel free to call the NICU directly and ask to speak with your baby’s nurse.

Breastfeeding
Research has shown that breast milk is the best nutrition for your new baby. Baptist Health System has Lactation Consultants that are available to support you through the process of breastfeeding your baby. Our consultants will assist in your first attempt to place infant to breast, help set up your breast pump and answer any questions that may arise either while here at the hospital or once you have been discharged.

Going Home
Our goal in the NICU is to discharge your infant home as soon as they are ready. Most of the infant’s admitted to the NICU are preemies therefore a target date for your infant to be discharged is around your planned due date. Depending on the infant it may be before or after this date.

Once it is time for discharge, you may feel both anxious and happy…this is a normal feeling. We will do everything possible to make you feel comfortable with you baby prior to leaving the hospital by teaching you how to change the diaper, take your infant’s temperature, and read your infant’s cues. You will also get a chance to room in with your infant, in the hospital, for at least one night where you will be responsible for all of your infant’s needs but will have the NICU nurses accessible for questions and concerns that may arise.

Most parents’ first question once admitted to the NICU is “when is my baby going home”? Our answer to you is your baby must meet certain milestones prior to discharge and those are: he/she must maintain his/her temperature in an open crib, consistently gain weight and take all feedings by either breast or bottle.

Kangaroo Care
Kangaroo Care is when the infant is placed skin-to-skin on either the mother or father’s chest. While holding the infant in this manner, the infant is placed in an upright position wearing only a diaper and a hat. Kangaroo care can be used to promote bonding between the infant and both the mother and father. Research has shown that Kangaroo care can reduce the oxygen requirements of the infant, increase the milk supply in breastfeeding mothers as well as increase weight gain and decrease the length of stay. Ask your baby’s nurse for more information and when your infant will be ready for Kangaroo Care.