Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
We know that even the most normal of pregnancies can become complicated in a matter of minutes. The Woman's Hospital of Texas offers care for our littlest patients in the 98-bed Level II and III neonatal intensive care unit.
It is estimated that for every 100 babies born in the US, approximately six will be premature. If your baby is born premature, he/she will need special medical attention and a high level of care. That is why we ensure that a board-certified neonatologist is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Neonatologists diagnose and treat medical conditions in newborns, coordinate the medical care and management of premature and critically ill infants, and provide care to newborns during a complicated delivery. They have the training and knowledge required to treat even the smallest infant.
Our NICU is conveniently located close to the mothers' rooms, so moms and dads can visit their newborns without even having to take off their slippers! Our patients take comfort in knowing their babies are just down the hall.
The Woman's Hospital of Texas also provides care for babies born prematurely in hospitals that may not have a neonatal intensive care unit. Our Neonatal Transport Team is committed to providing expedient and skilled response to referring physicians and hospitals in and around Harris County.
All expectant parents hope that their babies will be healthy. Yet sometimes problems arise that require a newborn to be hospitalized. When this happens, the baby may be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (also called the NICU) for treatment.
It's almost always stressful when a baby is unexpectedly admitted to the NICU. But the doctors, nurses, and other caregivers in the unit will do their best to provide emotional support for you while caring for your infant's medical needs.
What Is the NICU?
With equipment designed for infants and a hospital staff who have special training in newborn care, the NICU is an intensive care unit created for sick newborns who need specialized treatment because they're still developing rapidly. Sometimes the NICU is also called:
- a special care nursery
- an intensive care nursery
- newborn intensive care
Babies may be sent to the NICU if:
- they're born prematurely
- difficulties occur during their deliveries
- they show signs of a problem in the first few days of life
Only very young babies (or babies with a condition linked to being born prematurely) are treated in the NICU - they're usually infants who haven't gone home from the hospital yet after being born. How long these infants remain in the unit depends on the severity of their illness.
For more information, please call The Woman's Hospital of Texas at 713-790-1234.
For physician referral, call 281-GET-HELP.
