Newborn babies are admitted to the hospital's NICU when they are born prematurely, have health issues, have a challenging delivery, and need special medical support. The acronym NICU represents "Neonatal Intensive Care Unit" where a group of medical professionals provide 24-hour care for infants. The majority of these newborns who need NICU support are admitted to the NICU within 24 hours of delivery, and their health determines how long they stay in that unit. While some newborns remain in the NICU for only a few hours or days others may stay there for weeks. 

Globally, approximately 1 million babies pass away soon after birth, and almost 75% of neonatal fatalities take place in the first week of life, which is why early NICU support is so important. The majority of neonatal fatalities are due to infections, birth abnormalities, or because of problems during the process of delivery like birth asphyxia or because of problems during the process of delivery like birth asphyxia

If your baby is in the NICU, this will be one of the most trying periods of your life and is likely to cause stress, trauma and even depression, and even depression. In this article, we have explained some of the greatest concerns parents face about NICU care and how the NICU operates.  

What Is NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)?

Newborns are given critical care at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as the NICU offers specialized care for ailing newborns, just like an intensive care unit does for adults. From birth Term babies are cared for in the NICU till they are about one month old. If they require care beyond this period they are shifted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit ( PICU)

Preterm babies may stay for longer durations depending on how premature they are at the time of birth, and months of age, newborns may stay in the NICU, but if they require more care, they are then transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

The NICU offers a range of care levels according to the patient's needs, and the NICU care level increases with the increasing medical requirements of the newborn. These NICU levels consist of:

• Level I - Premature newborns born just before 37 weeks of pregnancy receive basic care in Level I NICUs, often known as newborn nurseries.
• Level II - Level II NICUs, often referred to as special care nurseries, Usually cater to babies born between weeks 32 and 35 of pregnancy.
• Level III - Babies that require critical care because of severe medical issues or because they were born before 32 weeks of pregnancy are treated in Level III NICUs.
• Level IV - The highest level of care in level 1V NICU, usually catering to babies revering from surgery, extremely premature babies, babies with severe cardiac or neurological problems etc.

Teams of experts provide care that is essential for newborn infants in the NICU, Including a Neonatologist, specialized nurses, lactational consultants and other specialists all depending on the care required for the baby. Additionally, NICUs may feature a variety of specialized equipment, including infant warmers, incubators, devices for phototherapy, neonatal resuscitation devices, and Multiple parameter monitors.

Parents may feel overwhelmed by the sight of all of these devices, but it's crucial to keep in mind that these devices help to monitor the baby's condition and to treat the problem that the baby is suffering from.

Addressing Common Concerns of New Parents 

For parents, having a sick baby in the NICU may be extremely stressful, and they may develop a variety of issues and need extra assistance! Receiving accurate and truthful information is the most crucial factor for parents, and they need to become participants in the decision-making and baby care processes. These are the most common concerns parents express when their babies stay at the NICU: 

1. Is it possible to hold the baby? 

Even if your baby has an IV or is on a ventilator, you may still be permitted to touch them, depending on their health, and you can still hold your baby's hand, massage their head, and sing and chat to them if the physicians think it would be fine.   

Touching, however, can be distressing for some extremely preterm babies, so you must listen to the doctor! While doctors may advise limiting physical contact, you could still spend as much time as you can with your infant to calm your mind and feel connected with your darling.  

"Kangaroo care" or skin-to-skin contact is a fantastic approach to bonding with your infant if you can. For this process, place your infant on your chest under your shirt so that they are resting on your skin, and to help keep your infant warm, cover him or her with an extra blanket. Skin-to-skin contact can speed up recovery and facilitate nursing, allowing newborns to return home sooner, however, you can only do this if the doctors allow it. 

2. How can I get involved in the care process?   

Babies may be able to be breastfed by their mothers. However due to premature birth or other health issues, many newborns in the NICU are unable to feed normally at this time, and as a result, they can receive formula or breast milk via a feeding tube. NICU babies follow a feeding plan, and you can find out when your baby should feed and sleep from their nurse! 

Spending extra time with your infant will teach you more about what kind of engagement, such as singing or caressing that your infant prefers, and how long they respond to you before they become fatigued. Reduce the amount of noise, keep the lights low, and speak in a soothing, quiet tone to let your baby sleep when he or she needs to, even if you may want to spend a lot more time with them.

3. Can the other family members visit the NICU? 

Every NICU has its rules regarding visiting times and who can visit. Most NICUs, allow unlimited access to the mother and sometimes the father, but limit the access to other relations. Please speak with the NICU staff to find out the rules at your NICU. Most NICUs also require outsiders to wear hospital gowns, masks and sometimes shoe covers, before entering the NICU. Remember to wash and sanitise your hands before entering the NICU This is essential to maintaining the NICU as hygienic as possible to protect the infants from dangerous pathogens.

Before bringing toys, decorations, or other objects into your baby's room, you should consult the nurse, but these items should be simple to clean (which means no stuffed animals). The good news is, in certain hospitals, parents are permitted to attach decorations or images to the outside of a baby's incubator to show their love.

Who Looks after the Baby in the NICU? 

These are the highly qualified medical professionals who look after your child.

 Neonatologist - A neonatologist has received further training in the treatment of ill and preterm infants, and NICU nurses, pediatric fellows, and others are all under the supervision of the neonatologist, who is also sometimes referred to as the attending physician.

 Neonatal nurse practitioner - This registered nurse has received additional training in caring for newborns, and they can assist in overseeing the care of your baby and performing operations.

Neonatal fellow - This doctor is undergoing additional training in the treatment of ill and preterm infants, and they may oversee the care of your child.

Neonatal resident - This physician is undergoing additional training in paediatrics, and they may oversee your child's care and perform or assist with operations.

Lactation consultants - These medical professionals have received training and certification in assisting mothers with breastfeeding, pumping, and maintaining the milk supply.

Conclusion

For the entire family, an infant's need for NICU hospitalization can be stressful, so it is crucial that healthcare providers acknowledge parents' distress! When your baby is in the NICU, you will receive support and help from the NICU specialists, and additional workers will inform you about how to bond with your baby during their NICU stay. Regular contact with the primary physician of your baby is necessary as only the specialist will be able to give you a full update about your baby’s health condition. 

If you are in need of a Neonatologist, contact Medanta right now and book an appointment immediately to receive expert advice!