The Neonatal ICU is a hospital environment prepared to receive babies born before 37 weeks of gestation, with low weight or who have a problem that can interfere with their development, such as cardiac or respiratory changes, for example.
The baby remains in the ICU until he is able to breathe without the aid of devices, has ideal weight and is able to suck all the food, and the treatment is continued at home. The length of stay in the ICU varies according to the baby and the reason he was taken to the ICU, however in some hospitals a parent can remain with the baby for the entire duration of the stay.
What is it for
The neonatal ICU is a place in the hospital prepared to receive newborns who were born premature, before 37 weeks, with low weight or with respiratory, liver or cardiac problems, for example. Right after birth, the baby is referred to the neonatal ICU, receiving appropriate care and treatment according to the reason for which he was referred to the unit.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit consists of a multidisciplinary team consisting of neonatologists, pediatricians, nurses, nutritionists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists who promote the health and development of the baby 24 hours a day.
Each Neonatal ICU is composed of equipment that helps the baby's treatment, such as:
- Incubator, which keeps the baby warm; Cardiac monitors, which check the baby's heart rate, reporting any changes; Respiratory monitors, which indicate the baby's breathing capacity, and it may be necessary for the baby to be on mechanical ventilation; Catheters, which are mainly used to promote baby nutrition.
The multiprofessional team periodically evaluates the baby so that it can check the baby's evolution, that is, if the heart rate and respiratory rate are normal, if the nutrition is adequate and the baby's weight.
Lenght of stay
The time the baby stays in the neonatal ICU can vary from day to months according to the baby's needs and characteristics. During the ICU stay, the parents, or at least the mother, can remain with the baby, accompanying the treatment and promoting the baby's well-being.
When discharge occurs
The discharge is given by the responsible physician, taking into account the evaluation of the professionals involved in the care of the baby. It usually happens when the baby gains respiratory independence and is able to suck all the food, in addition to having more than 1.8 kg. Before the baby is discharged, the family receives some guidelines so that the treatment can be continued at home and, thus, the baby can develop normally.
