NICU Units

SPECIAL NEONATAL CARE

Each infant admitted into the NICU will have an individualized plan of care based on their specific condition. Some of the procedures and equipment your baby may need during their stay may include the following: cardiac/respiratory monitor, oxygen saturation monitor, intravenous therapy (IV), Umbilical artery catheter (UAC), Umbilical venous catheter (UVC), ventilator or breathing machine, Percutaneous Central Venous Catheter (PCVL) also known as the PICC line, gavage feedings and phototherapy. The medical staff caring for your baby will discuss these issues with you if your baby's condition requires any of the above. We will also discuss your infant's plan of care during his/her stay in the NICU. We consider you an integral part of the plan of care and value your input into your baby's care.

Neonatal Intensive Care Units are ideal places to take care of newborns who:

• Are premature (born at least three weeks earlier than the due date)
• Experience complications during birth
• Have birth defects
• Suffer from a contagious illness or drug-related problem

Your baby's in the NICU or special care nursery, because she/he needs more care than is offered in the regular nursery. Babies come to the NICU for many reasons. At Seton Medical Center and Children's, our dedicated NICU team is trained to care for very sick babies. Our goal, along with providing quality care, is to provide families with the tools needed to share positive experiences with their baby.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What are those machines beeping for?

A. The NICU uses many different kinds of equipment to care for newborns. Some of the machines have different alarms. The noises mean something special to the doctors and nurses who work here. Over time, you will begin to understand what the machines are for and what all the beeps and buzzes mean.

Q. I have all these questions.  Who can I ask?
A. The NICU staff recognizes that you may sometimes feel anxious. They will encourage you to ask questions and will understand if you need to ask the same questions. Everyone in the NICU will be happy to talk with you.

Neonatologists - The doctors taking care of your baby are neonatologists, pediatricians specializing in the care of new (neo) borns (nates). During meetings with your baby's doctor, you may want to ask questions about:

• Your baby's medical condition
• Your baby's plan of care
• The discharge plan for your baby

NICU  Nurses - The nurses taking care of your baby are trained to care for newborns with special medical problems. Some hospitals have nurse practitioners, nurses with advanced trainin, who work directly with the neonatologist. Everyone on the nursing staff is licensed by your state. Turn to the nurses for information about:

• Day-to-day aspects of your baby's care
• Your baby's feeding and weight gain
• Any changes in oxygen needs or ventilator support
• Your baby's overall stability
• Questions about the NICU
• Anything you don't understand

Case Manager/Discharge Planner-The Discharge Planner works for Health Management Services. Your health plan/insurance company chose to coordinate your baby's care during the hospital stay through your transition home. The Discharge Planner follows the day-to-day progress of your baby. She may meet with you at the hospital or call you. She also supplies information about your baby to your health plan or insurer. Feel free to ask her questions about:

• Getting ready for discharge (this starts on the day of admission)
• Support resources for you or your baby
• Help in selecting a pediatrician
• Who to call to get information about insurance
• Who to call about billing/payment questions
• Anything you don't understand

DISCHARGE AND HOME QUESTIONS
As your baby gets healthier, you will work closely with the discharge planning staff. We try to make it as easy as possible to bring your baby home. A case  manager makes sure you have everything you need when your newborn gets home. She will also check on your home health care benefits and obtain insurance authorizations or referrals for your baby. She will follow up with the home care service agency to see that your baby gets the care that the doctor advised. If your baby is going to have home care services, ask the case manager about:

• Insurance coverage for services and equipment in the home
• Medical equipment you will need at home.