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Sometimes babies need care in the neonatal unit when they are born. The most common reason is prematurity, when your baby is born before 37 weeks. However, babies born after this may also need to be admitted to the unit or may be suitable for transitional care.
Transitional care is when you are still with your baby and caring for them while they receive some extra observations or treatments. This will take place either on the postnatal ward or in a parent bay in the neonatal unit. This allows us to give them the extra care they need whilst you remain together.
If your baby requires more care than this, they will be admitted to the Neonatal Unit. You will have the opportunity to visit your baby at all times but won’t be able to have your bed beside them.
Babies can be born early for a number of reasons. Labour may start early; there may be concerns over your health or the health of your baby; or you may be expecting more than one baby. If an early birth is planned, it’s because it’s considered the safest option.
Sometimes your caregivers will consider moving you and your baby to a unit that can provide more intensive neonatal care.
Other reasons your baby may need to be admitted to a neonatal unit
Your baby may need treatment for infection or early-onset jaundice.
What to expect to see on the Neonatal Unit
If your baby is having intensive or high dependency care, you will see incubators. Seeing your baby in one of these can be daunting, especially when there are feeding tubes and monitors in use, but they will keep your baby warm and monitor them closely to keep them safe. You will still be able to interact with your baby and they will feel reassured by the sound of your voice and touch.
Breastfeeding / Chestfeeding your baby in Neonatal care
Hand expressing
In the early days, it’s often easier toexpress your milk by hand. Yourmidwife or a Infant feeding supporter can show you how.
You’ll probably only express a fewdrops to begin with but, if you handexpress often, this will increase. Even if you are only expressing a small amount it will still help your baby.
Collecting your milk
In the early days you can collect your milk in a small, sterile cup and store it in a syringe.
The staff, your midwife or a infant feeding supporter can give you advice about how to increase your milk supply.
Using a breast pump
Once you are producing more milk, you could try using a breast pump. If your baby is in a neonatal unit, the hospital will usually be able to lend you an electric breast pump for expressing your milk. If they cannot lend you one, you can hire one.
Tube feeding your baby
Babies do not normally learn to co-ordinate the sucking, swallowing and breathing needed for feeding until about 34 to 36 weeks of pregnancy.
If your baby is born before this time, they may need to have breast milk through a feeding tube to begin with. This goes through their nose or mouth into their stomach. The staff in the neonatal unit can show you how to feed your baby this way.
Intravenous line
Babies who are very premature or sick may need to be fed through anintravenous (IV) line to begin with. A fluid containing nutrients is fed straight into your baby’s vein.
Further Support
breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
bliss.org.uk
laleche.org.uk
nct.org.uk
lcgb.org
twinstrust.org
ukamb.org
The National Breastfeeding Helpline – 0300 100 0212
Explanation point
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Neonatal unit | A special area of the hospital that provides intensive medical care for newborn babies. |
| Jaundice | Jaundice in newborn babies is common and usually harmless. It causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. The medical term for jaundice in babies is neonatal jaundice. |
| Diabetes | A condition where your blood glucose level is too high. It can happen when your body doesn't produce enough insulin, if the insulin it produces isn't effective or when your body can't produce any insulin at all. |