Neonatal Care

Neonatal Care

Neonatology unit provides specialized medical care for premature babies and babies born with some medical conditions. Preterm babies often have birth-related conditions like infections, haemorrhage, infections, etc. The neonatology department has experienced and trained medical professionals that provide your baby with specialized care. Trained nurses monitor the different parameters and administer medications to the babies. They also place breathing support and other life-saving equipment on the baby. No matter what the required medical attention and emergency, they are trained to take the best care of your baby.

• Clinical Expertise
  Babies in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are kept under the care of a Consultant Neonatologist and qualified trained Resident Paediatric doctors manage the babies round the clock. Qualified trained nurses and other professional staff care for the babies at all times. We encourage mothers to continue the process of bonding with the babies even if in NICU and continue to breast feed babies if possible. The caregiving process continues even after the mother and baby are discharged from the hospital, as the team is willing and available to address the questions and concerns of the new parents. An isolation NICU is also in place to handle potentially infected cases and transfer cases.
• Infrastructure
  The hospital is well-equipped to cater to the medical emergency of preterm babies. With state-of-the-art facilities that can attend to extremely low birth babies.
• Allied Specialties
  The Neonatology department coordinates with other subspecialties to provide well-rounded and comprehensive emergency medical care to premature babies. Through the support and expertise from other subspecialties like Paediatric neurology, Paediatric surgery, etc. we ensure that your baby is taken care of. Given the complexities of premature birth, the need for this multi-disciplinary approach increases.

Visiting Your Baby

Visiting your baby for the first time in Neonatal Care can be stressful. The Neonatal department is here to help you understand all issues concerning your baby’s health and all the precautions you need to take while visiting your baby.

The department tries to give you sufficient time to bond with your baby. From time to time, certain restrictions will be imposed to ensure that your baby has the best chance at recovery. Premature babies have low immunity, so if you are carrying an infectious disease like allergies, common cold, etc., it is best to stay away and avoid passing on any external infections that can affect the baby’s recovery.

Doctors provide you with all the information concerning your baby’s health, the possible date of recovery and the course of treatment. You can check with the support staff for timely counseling and regular updates. This will help the family cope with strain and stress.

• Medical Conditions and Procedures
  Almost all premature babies have issues with low birth weight and immunity. There are several calculations requiring accurate diagnosis, delicate handling and expert medical care. A premature baby can also be susceptible to some common medical conditions that will be discussed later.
• Multiple births
  Multiple births are a factor for increased risk of complications during delivery and even premature births. In several cases, one of the babies will be normal and healthy while the other will be critical and unwell. In such cases, specialized care and support is offered to the parents who are dealing with the emergency.
• Feeding
  The best nutrition for a baby is mother’s milk. In case of premature babies admitted in the NICU, it might be stressful and cumbersome for the mothers to feed their little ones. The pre-birth learning might not be applicable to premature babies and you will have to adapt. The growth rate for a premature baby is different and a mother has to respond to the baby’s needs and provide proper feeding.
  • Total Prenatal Nutrition
    In this method, all the nutrients like protein, fat solutions, and glucose are fed directly to the bloodstream of the baby. The nutrients are injected through a vein. In a premature baby, the digestive system is immature and needs time for development. This gives the digestive system time to take shape.
  • Tube Feeding
    In this method, mother’s milk or formulated milk is fed to the baby through a tube. The tube will be inserted through either the oral or nasal cavity of the child. This is the most common method for feeding the premature babies as they can’t feed themselves. This method helps all the nutrition reach the baby without putting stress on their metabolic systems.
  • Breastfeeding
    A premature baby can also be fed breast milk either directly or through a pump. It is a great option as this gives the baby the best nutrition. However, there can be some challenges of digesting the milk. Sometimes, mothers might not be able to produce sufficient milk.
  • Weaning
    After a certain period of time, the baby will have to start taking solid food. This is a slow process that can take a longer time for the premature babies.

Going Home

If you have had a premature baby, taking them home will be even more profound, having survived the storm of possible complications. Your child will be leaving a safe and sterile environment, so it is important to stay cautious. Since your baby will be exposed to several unforeseen conditions, you need to understand these factors before you take them home.
Our doctors will be in constant touch with you, and will let you know the best time to take your baby home. Your time at the hospital will be stressful but remember that it is okay to be nervous and anxious. The right date for taking your baby home will be determined by the doctor once they are sure that the baby’s health is stable.

• Multiple Babies
  If you have had multiple births, it is possible for one of them to make a quicker recovery. Depending on their health conditions, it is possible to either send one of them home or keep them both in the hospital.
• Length of Hospital Stay
  The length of the hospital duration will be determined by the progress your baby is making. Only after there is evidence of a regular health pattern, normal vital signs and no pertinent or immediate threat to baby’s health, will they be allowed to leave the hospital.
• Growth of the Baby at Home
  A child, irrespective of whether he/she is normal or premature born, will have a normal timescale of growth. Slight variances are normal and you don’t have to worry about that. With proper care, adequate nutrition and attention, your baby will grow as normal as other children.