How the NICU Protects Your Baby
How the NICU Protects Your BabyWhen your baby goes to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, it’s only normal to feel a range ofemotions, including worry and anxiety for your baby’s health.But rest assured if your baby has been referred to a NICU, its exactly the right place he needs to be in thosefirst days.Babies in the NICU are supported with special tools and medical staff who know how to support preemies andmedically fragile babies. They have equipment that is designed to keep your baby warm, breathing regularly,and helping your baby to grow and develop in a safe environment.Every person working in the NICU has specific training in caring for the tiniest of newborns. Each piece ofequipment has been designed to support the needs of these fragile infants.“We monitor their vital signs continuously because babies are so unpredictable about what they’regoing to do. We watch their heart rates, we watch their breathing, we watch their temperature and wewatch the oxygen levels in their blood with a little pulse oxymeter around the clock.”Breathing difficulties are among the most common reasons for infants to stay in the NICU. Babies may needthe assistance of a ventilator or a machine called a CPAP, which stands for Continuous Positive AirwayPressure, to help them breathe.At times, parents may feel a little overwhelmed at the number of machines and noises the equipment makes,but they’re all necessary to help the babies get better.“We actually felt very lucky and very blessed to be surrounded by science, technology and family at thatcrisis.”A premature infant may not look or behave like a full-term infant because they may have difficulty breathing,they may cry softly or not at all. Their heads may appear large for the rest of their bodies. Preemies may nothave much fat on them, making it possible to see their veins and making it difficult for them to stay warm.Some babies may need to stay in a clear plastic box called an Isolette, so doctors and nurses can carefullycontrol their environment.NICU’s are also carefully designed to protect your baby against infection. Even a little sniffle for an adult canmean a big problem for a baby in the NICU. Anyone who enters the NICU must do a thorough hand washingand sanitizing before they are allowed to be near the babies.“Ultimately, it’s the baby that’s at our center.”“Hey guys, how you doing? You doing okay, good, good.”“And we use all of this knowledge to help your baby along. Rest assured that your baby is in a highquality area with a lot of expertise, that we’re using every day to assess how to help your baby movealong, and our outcomes when it comes to premature babies are getting better and better.”This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.VER59717A EN HowTheNICUProtectsYourBaby.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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