In the NICU, we see infants born with a wide variety of health challenges, and the way we treat one baby with a certain condition may be entirely different than the way we treat another baby. It’s true that we see almost anything and everything; however, not every baby can be admitted to our unit.
NICU patient population admissions range from birth to one year of age. MOST of our babies (about 99.9% of them, in fact) are admitted directly from L&D, Mother/Baby, or are transferred to us from other facilities (in order to receive higher level NICU care). In other words, if your child is older than one year old and is in need of intensive care, they would be admitted to the Peds ICU rather than the NICU.
Listed below are just a few of the reasons a baby would be admitted to a NICU:
Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Rule Out Sepsis (Maternal Fever, UTI, Premature Rupture Of Membranes, GBS +)
Rule Out Bowel Obstruction (Volvulus, Perforation, Imperforate Anus)
Digestive Disorders
Hyperbilirubinemia/Jaundice
Multiple Gestation (Twins, Triples, etc.)
Blood Disorders (Incompatibility)
High Risk Delivery (drug related, STI exposure, unknown pregnancy)
Medical Issues (Cardiac Defect)
Traumatic Delivery/Birth Injury (Shoulder Dystocia, Hypothermia Therapy)
Premature Birth (22-37 wks) “Preemies”
Postmaturity
Disorders of CNS
Congenital Defects (Chromosomal, Genetic, Cardiac, Rare Syndrome)
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
Infant of Diabetic Mother (IDM)
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
Feeding Difficulties
Infection
Low or Very Low Birthweight
Substance Abuse
Small for Gestational Age
Large for Gestational Age
NICU nurses & NICU parents: Any that I’m missing? Let me know!