Neonatology is a specialty that deals with all clinical care of infants. Infants differ from adults in respect to the body’s physiology in many respects of having smaller, growing bodies. Genetic variance, congenital disabilities, and other issues are of great concern to neonatologists than adult family physicians. Neonatologists deal with issues such as infectious diseases and immunizations concerning newborns.
Neonatology focuses on the health of newborns and the factors that affect their growth and survival. Neonatologists attend to patients during delivery and labor to look after high-risk deliveries. They consult and coordinate with obstetricians, pediatricians, and other medical specialists while addressing the health concerns of newborns. Besides treating babies born at a low birth weight or born prematurely, they care for infants with infectious diseases, breathing problems, and congenital malformations.
The role of neonatologists is to provide the following care:
Neonatologists work in the newborn intensive care units or special care nurseries of hospitals. Once a newborn is discharged, neonatologists are also responsible for short-term and follow-up care. For this, your neonatologist will coordinate with your baby’s pediatrician.
Although your baby’s pediatrician solves the majority of the health problems of babies, a neonatologist is specifically trained to handle high-risk and complex situations.
Suppose your newborn is born prematurely or has a birth defect, serious illness, or injury. In that case, a neonatologist will assist during delivery and in the future care of your newborn. If a problem is identified before birth, a neonatologist may coordinate with your obstetrician in your baby’s care from pregnancy.
Newborns who require intensive or critical medical care are put in a specific hospital area known as the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU is equipped with advanced technology and has trained staff to provide special care for the babies. NICUs are also used in babies who need specialized nursing care. Babies who need critical care show better outcomes if born in a hospital with a NICU.
Sick or premature babies require special care in NICU. This can be unexpected or overwhelming for any parent. Hence, it’s best for you to understand why your baby needs to be in the NICU and what procedures may be needed for your baby.
Neonatal care is the type of care received by a baby born prematurely or with illnesses.
Special units (NICU) provide care for babies born prematurely, at low birth weight, or with conditions that need immediate medical intervention.
You may feel anxious about why your baby is sick or born prematurely or about the treatment they receive. Neonatologists will give you the right information about your baby’s needs and the condition they have.
Sometimes, the cause of the medical condition or premature birth may not be known by you.
For this, you can discuss with your neonatologists and ask why this might have happened at postnatal check-ups.
Babies are closely monitored in the NICU. Here are some facilities offered in the NICU:
Monitors
Monitors show and record vital signs such as breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels in the blood. As your baby breathes, small monitoring pads detect chest movement and pick up the impulses of a heartbeat.
Open Warmer or Incubator
An open warmer allows easy access to the baby in this heat generated from a lamp heater placed near the baby’s mattress. And an incubator comes with an internal heat source and appears like an enclosed box-like, clear plastic bed.
Respiratory support equipment at NICU:
Intravenous (IV) therapy equipment
IV therapy involves inserting a flexible, small tube (called a catheter) into your baby’s blood vessels to deliver nutrients, medicines, fluids, or blood. IV pumps, umbilical catheters, and central and peripheral lines are used.
Photo-therapy at NICU
Phototherapy lights are used to treat jaundice. Excess accumulation of yellow color pigment called bilirubin occurs that gives a yellow color to your baby’s skin and eyes. These lights decrease the bilirubin levels by increasing the excretion through motion and urine.
Here are some common conditions treated at NICU:
The neonatology team at ONP hospital ensures to treat all these severe conditions and potential defects with complete dedication to bringing good health to the newborns.
We are the leaders in treating extremely low-birth-weight or critically ill babies. Our team is focused on raising the standards of critical care for newborns. We aim to provide state-of-the-art care with higher standards to save newborns’ lives around the globe.
Our team provides advanced care using innovative treatments to solve health problems in newborns. We believe in developing new standards of care for treating all possible congenital disabilities and conditions in newborns.
