A Brave Beginning in the NICU

The NICU — Neonatal Intensive Care Unit — is a specialized area in the hospital where newborns receive 24/7 expert care. Babies who are born early, experience complications at birth, or have health concerns may need close monitoring and support in the NICU.

The length of stay in the NICU varies greatly depending on each baby’s condition.

Some babies may only need a few hours of care, while others may spend weeks or even months there.

Incubators are small beds enclosed in clear, hard plastic, designed to create a controlled environment for newborns who need extra support. The temperature inside the incubator is carefully regulated to help keep your baby’s body temperature stable.

Doctors, nurses, and other caregivers provide care through special openings(called “portholes”) on the sides of the incubator, allowing them to monitor and treat the baby while maintaining a safe, warm environment.

Infant warmers are small, open beds with built-in overhead heaters that help keep babies warm while they’re being closely monitored. Unlike incubators, infant warmers are open to the air, which allows easy access for doctors and nurses to provide immediate care and perform necessary procedures.

Monitors in the NICU allow nurses and doctors to closely track your baby’s vital signs — such as temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure — from anywhere in the unit.

These monitors are connected to your baby through a variety of sensors, including:

• Chest leads – small stickers with wires that track heart rate and breathing

• Pulse oximeter – a soft sensor, usually placed on the foot or hand, that measures oxygen levels in the blood

• Temperature probe – a small sensor that continuously monitors body temperature

• Blood pressure cuff – a tiny cuff that gently inflates to measure blood pressure

These tools help the care team respond quickly and effectively to your baby’s needs.