Witnessing the beauty and power of a tiny little life is magical. Every new mother aspires for this beautiful experience of delivering a baby to be smooth and peaceful. However, sometimes things do not go as per plan; babies can be delivered prematurely, with certain critical health concerns, or can become ill after delivery.

A baby born before 28 days of age is referred to as a neonate. As these babies are most vulnerable to the outside environment, a specialised environment is created with specialised doctors to monitor them. This specialised unit is known as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A NICU ensures that your baby is observed at all times and is completely safe.

What is a NICU? A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a unit of comprehensive care in a hospital that specialises in caring for premature, sick newborn babies or neonates. The NICU, with advanced technology, has a team of doctors, neonatologists, respiratory therapists, and trained nurses to provide the best care for the tiniest patients.

The NICU care in hospitals ensures the safety of the newborn babies by providing a favourable environment for the babies in a covered incubator or a heated open cot that maintains their body temperature. The NICU is well-equipped with:

The neonatal doctors, nurses, and other technicians are available round-the-clock to provide emergency support to the babies. The diagnostic machines in the NICU include:

Which babies need NICU care?

Most newborn babies admitted to the NICU are premature or preterm (babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy), have low birth weight (less than 5 pounds), or have some other health condition that requires special care. Twins, triplets, or other multiples are often admitted to the NICU, as they tend to be born before the due date and are smaller than single babies. Also, newborn babies with critical health conditions such as heart problems, heart defects, breathing trouble, certain infections, or birth defects are treated and cared for in the NICU.

Below are a few factors that can put a baby at high-risk and increase their chances of getting admitted to the NICU. Some of the high-risk factors are detailed below:

Maternal factors

A newborn baby can be at high-risk or may require admission to a NICU if the mother has the following conditions:

1. Ventilators for better breathing.
2. Various monitors measure heart rate, oxygen levels, breathing, and pulse.
3. Machines to provide accurate amounts of fluids and medicines to the babies.
4. Cooling beds to avoid brain injury in newborn babies with severe birth complications.
   1. Ultrasound, MRI, and X-rays
   2. Machines to monitor brain functions
   3. An echocardiogram to monitor heart function
   4. Blood pressure monitors
   • Being older than 40 years or younger than 16 years of age.
   • Having diabetes or hypertension
   • Heavy bleeding
   • Multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, or more)
   • Sexually transmitted diseases.
   • Too little or too much amniotic fluid

Delivery factors

A newborn baby may require admission to a NICU if the mother faces the following issues during delivery:

• Changes in a baby’s organs due to a deficiency of oxygen (birth asphyxia or foetal distress)
• Birth in a breech position or other unusual position
• The first stool of the baby (meconium) passed into the amniotic fluid.
• The umbilical cord gets wrapped around the baby\\'s neck.
• Caesarean delivery

Baby factors

A newborn baby may require admission to a NICU if the baby has any of the following issues after birth.

1. Baby born at less than 37 weeks or more than 42 weeks gestation
2. Less than 5 pounds of birth weight
3. Resuscitation in the delivery room
4. Birth defects like ventricular septal defects
5. Respiratory distress, such as rapid breathing, apnea, or grunting
6. Certain infections, such as group B streptococcus, herpes, chlamydia
7. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
8. Seizures
9. Need for special procedures or treatment, like a blood transfusion.

The fully equipped and technologically advanced NICU at Jehangir Hospital makes sure that we provide the highest level of care to the babies. With round-the-clock monitoring by our neonatologist, doctors, and nurses trained in neonatal care, we provide dedicated treatment and care to the little ones.