What does NICU stand for?

NICU stands for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It’s a place within some hospitals where sick or premature babies receive special care.

What is neonatal care?

Neonatal is another way of saying newborn. Neonatal care means caring for your baby immediately after they are born – or caring for babies up to 28 days old¹. Over 90,000 babies² need neonatal care in the UK each year, roughly one in every seven, while in Ireland there around 4,500 babies born prematurely each year¹¹.

Why do babies go to the NICU?

Babies go to the NICU for specialised care or treatment. This could be for a number of different reasons, including if they are born preterm, have low birth weight, or have a health condition that needs close attention³.

Types of neonatal care

There are different levels of neonatal care⁴, depending on what help babies need. Sometimes a baby will move through the different levels of care as their condition changes.

What is NICU?

The NICU looks after babies that are the most premature. Many of the babies will be in closed incubators and have ventilators or nasogastric tubes administered to help them breathe and feed.

What is HDU?

HDU stands for High Dependency Unit. It focuses on babies that are not as unwell, but still need to be closely monitored. Some babies may be in incubators but others are in cots. Babies may move from the NICU to the HDU after they improve.

What is SCBU?

SCBU stands for Special Care Baby Unit and is where the least unwell premature babies are looked after. Most will have reached a healthy enough stage where they can be in a cot. This is usually the final step your baby reaches before being discharged to go home.

What happens in the NICU?

The neonatal unit might feel overwhelming at first, especially when you’re worried about your baby. It can help to know a bit more about the staff and their roles, as well as some of the equipment you can expect to see.

NICU staff

You’ll probably meet many different staff members during the time that your baby is in the NICU. Here is a list of the staff you’re likely to meet and their specific roles:

• Nurses – the NICU nurses will become your go-to people in the unit and will support you and arrange meetings with your baby’s doctors.

• Doctors – a neonatologist or paediatrician will be able to answer any questions about your baby’s treatment or care.

• Therapists – therapists may be on hand to help with your baby’s needs.

• Nursery nurses – will help the nurses, care for low-dependency babies, and help with transitional care.

• Dietitians – will help provide your baby with special bespoke nutrition.

• Counsellors – will support you through your baby’s journey through the NICU.

What equipment to expect in the NICU

In the NICU, there will be a range of equipment designed to provide the best specialised care to premature babies. This equipment includes:

• Incubators

• Ventilators

• Monitors

• Intravenous drips

• Phototherapy lamps

Checklist before going into the NICU

Everyone’s checklist⁵ as a NICU parent is different. And it’s worth confirming what you’re allowed to take in first. Here are a few things that may give you comfort at an emotional time:

• Cosy blanket

• A hoodie to keep warm

• Comfy shoes or slippers

• Breast pump

• Robe or button-down shirt

• Water bottle

• Snacks

• Books or magazines

• Tablet or iPad

• Journal

• Favourite pictures to personalise the space

Tips for NICU parents

Having a baby in the NICU can feel stressful⁶. But it’s only natural to experience this at different points. Here are a few things to remember during this time:

• Be aware of your and the rest of your family’s needs – try to do something for yourself semi-regularly. You could go for a walk, take a bath or read a book.

• Turn to other NICU parents for support – every other parent in the NICU understands what you’re going through. Talking through your experiences may help you find comfort.

• Seek out hospital staff for advice – if you need support, you can speak to the hospital chaplain or counsellors.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions – the hospital staff will understand that you’ll have questions. Understanding more about your baby’s condition could help you feel more in control of the situation.

• Accept offers of help – if your family and friends reach out to help, say yes. A helping hand can go a long way in challenging times – no matter how insignificant the gesture may feel.

When can premature babies go home?

There is no hard and fast rule for when a premature baby can go home⁷. Your baby’s doctor will have a conversation with you and inform you of the best time for your little one. Your baby may be strong enough to go home if they are:

• feeding well

• controlling their temperature

• gaining weight

• breathing on their own

• learning to control their muscles

• sleeping well

Your baby may be well enough to go home around the date they were originally due to be born, but the process can’t be rushed. It ultimately depends on each baby’s individual progress and unique situation.

Post-NICU Tip Sheet

The first few weeks after returning home from the NICU can be overwhelming for parents. Our tip sheet provides important guidance for parents on what to expect and how to look after themselves through self-care activities and relying on support networks.

Affirmation cards

Sometimes parents just need to hear a few comforting words. Our affirmation cards provide words of reassurance and inspiration to support parents of premature babies as they navigate the emotional ups and downs of post-NICU life.

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Pledge cards

A little help goes a long way. Our pledge cards encourage friends and family to provide care and support to parents through simple, but meaningful gestures.

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FAQs

What is the cost of NICU for parents?

Having a NICU baby in NHS care shouldn’t carry a direct cost. However, parents might face indirect costs when visiting their baby, such as travel and parking. For example, a survey by Bliss found that NICU families spend on average £405 a week while their baby is admitted. In Ireland on average NICU families spend

What is the average NICU stay?

There is no set number of days that a premature baby may need to stay⁹ in the NICU for. It’s completely dependent on the baby’s unique circumstances. Some only need NICU care for a few hours, whereas others might need to stay for weeks or months.

How should you talk to NICU parents?

It’s important to be sensitive when speaking to NICU parents¹⁰. Try to understand their situation and avoid questions that could put them in a difficult spot. Our pledge cards can help to break the ice if you’re keen to offer some support.

References:

1. https://www.bliss.org.uk/parents/in-hospital/about-neonatal-care/what-is-neonatal-care

2. https://www.bliss.org.uk/research-campaigns/neonatal-care-statistics/statistics-about-neonatal-care

3. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (stanfordchildrens.org)

4. What are the different levels of neonatal care, ie: intensive care, high dependency care, special care? | London Neonatal Network

5. The Ultimate Checklist: What to Pack in Your NICU Bag – Every Tiny Thing

6. When Your Baby's in the NICU (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth

7. Bliss-GoingHome-TheNextBigStep-2012-1.pdf (mft.nhs.uk)

8. Discharge Against Medical Advice (health.wa.gov.au)

9. When Your Baby's in the NICU (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth

10. 5 Things Never To Say To Parents Of Preemies (And What To Say Instead) | HuffPost UK Parenting (huffingtonpost.co.uk)

11. https://www.efcni.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/EFCNIirelandlight.pdf_copyright.pdf

^{How we wrote this guide}

^{The information in this guide is based on a variety of medical and parenting sources such as Bliss, Stanford Children’s Hospital, and KidsHealth.}