Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The birth of a baby is a wonderful and very complex process. Many physical and emotional changes occur for both the birth parent and the baby.

A baby must make many physical adjustments to life outside the birth parent's body. Leaving the uterus means that a baby can no longer depend on the birth parent's blood supply and placenta for important body functions.

Before birth, the baby depends on functions from the birth parent. These include breathing, eating, elimination of waste, and immune protection. When a baby leaves the uterus, its body systems must change. For instance:

• The lungs must breathe air.
• The cardiac and pulmonary circulation changes.
• The digestive system must begin to process food and excrete waste.
• The kidneys must begin working to balance fluids and chemicals in the body and excrete waste.
• The liver and immune systems must begin working on their own.

Your baby's body systems must work together in a new way. In some cases, a baby has trouble making the transition outside the uterus. Preterm birth, a difficult birth, or birth defects can make these changes more challenging. But a lot of special care is available to help newborn babies.

What is the newborn intensive care unit (NICU)?

Newborn babies who need intensive medical care are often put in a special area of the hospital called the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU has advanced technology and trained health care professionals to give special care for the tiniest patients. NICUs may also care for babies who are not as sick but do need specialized nursing care.