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NICU Baby Care

NICU stands for newborn intensive care unit. This is a nursery in a hospital that provides around-the-clock care to sick or premature babies. It has healthcare providers who have special training and equipment to give your baby the best possible care.
Let us understand the types of NICUs and the reasons why babies require them.
NICU has three levels
- Intensive care NICU
- Moderate level NICU
- Basic treatment NICU
In India, 15% of babies are born premature, which means that before 40 weeks, these babies are kept in level 3 NICU for extra care.
Reasons Why Your Baby Might Require NICU
Low Birth Weight
Along with this, babies who weigh less than 2.5 kg or especially 1.8 kg are also kept in level 3 NICU.
For every 100 babies born in India, 10 %of the babies require NICU, for which we should be mentally prepared. The smaller the baby, the more days it takes.
Premature babies, which weigh around 1.5kg, 1200grms or 1kg, require 1 or 1.5 months in NICU. The less the weight, the more time the baby requires to be in the NICU. Nowadays, in India, a child of 500 grams can be survived. However, the survival rate of babies weighing 500-700 grams is 40-80%. Baby weighing 700 grams- to 1kg is around 70-80%.
A baby weighing more than 1kg has a chance of survival of 75-85% if taken care of in the NICU, which has all the facilities. Babies weighing 1.5 and above have survival chances of 95% and above for premature babies.
Respiratory Distress
The second common problem is difficulty breathing in newborn babies, who require NICU assistance. In India, out of 100 newborn babies, ten do not cry at the time of birth, which means there is a low supply of oxygen in the body, which indirectly means less supply of oxygen in the brain, lungs and heart. When there is a low supply of oxygen, the baby’s organs get affected and these babies are classified as Hypoxic Ischemic Babies. These babies required to be in NICU.
Infections
The third problem is babies suffering from an infection. Out of 100 babies in NICU 25% of babies are suffering from the infection.
Jaundice
The fourth reason why babies require NICU is because of the Jaundice. Also, babies who suffer from respiratory problems are required to be in the NICU for 10-15 days. Babies suffering from jaundice take around 10- 3 weeks of NICU treatment.
When a baby is admitted in NICU. they require some duration to recover and with advanced medical technology and knowledge, the survival rate has increased.
Therefore, it’s important to choose the right NICU in order to receive the required treatment.
FAQs
- What is the NICU?
The NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) is a specialised area for newborns needing intensive medical care. - Which babies are admitted to the NICU?
Premature babies, those with low birth weight, or those with health complications are typically admitted. - What types of care are provided in the NICU?
Care includes respiratory support, temperature regulation, and monitoring for infections or organ function. - How long do babies stay in the NICU?
The length of stay depends on the baby’s condition and progress, ranging from days to months. - How can parents support their baby in the NICU?
Visiting often, providing breast milk, and maintaining communication with the medical team are vital.
Have queries or concern ?
About Author
Dr. Pradeep Suryawanshi
Neonatologist
Contact: +91 88888 22222
Email – ask@sahyadrihospitals.com
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