The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU): what to expect

NICUs have highly trained medical and nursing staff and special equipment to care for premature babies and sick newborns. Each baby is closely monitored by an individual bedside nurse and other specialists. Most hospitals are family friendly and aim to involve parents.

What a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is

A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a hospital intensive care unit that specialises in looking after premature and sick newborn babies.

NICUs have specialist doctors, nurses, other professionals and equipment to care for premature and sick babies.

What the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) looks like

The first time you go into a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), it can feel overwhelming.

You need to wash your hands with sterilising soap for several minutes before you go in. Babies in NICUs can very easily catch infections, and proper hand-cleaning cuts the risk of this happening.

The NICU might have quiet periods when the lights are dimmed and it’s quiet. Often, babies in the NICU can be overwhelmed by too much noise and light.

Most babies will have either a heated open cot or a covered incubator. These keep their bodies at the right temperature.

Depending on what medical support the babies need, there might be:

  • ventilators to help with breathing
  • machines to give measured amounts of fluids and medicines to the babies through tubes going into their veins
  • monitors attached to the babies with cords to measure heart rate, breathing and the amount of oxygen in their blood

The NICU is usually a calm place, with nurses and doctors quietly looking after the babies and other specialists coming in and out. Monitors will sound to alert the staff if a baby’s breathing or heart rate is out of the normal range.

Your family and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Hospitals try to make the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family friendly. Different hospitals will do things a bit differently, but your hospital will have a policy to make sure that your family is looked after while your baby is in the NICU. You can ask for a copy of the hospital’s policy.

Family-centered care in the NICU is becoming the ‘gold standard’ of care. It’s about treating you and your family with respect and working as a team with you to make decisions about your baby’s care and treatment in the NICU.