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Newborns who require special intensive care will usually be placed in the NICU room.
In this room, there are various tools and trained health workers to provide special care.
What is the NICU room and what conditions make babies have to be treated in the room? Check out the full explanation first.
What is the NICU room?
The NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) is a hospital room that provides intensive care for newborn babies.
Generally, the NICU room is needed for premature babies or babies born with certain life-threatening health conditions.
Usually, babies need to be admitted to the NICU within 24 hours of birth to ensure that they receive intensive care and develop properly.
The length of care for babies in the NICU also varies, depending on their development and health conditions. Babies can be in the NICU room from a matter of hours, days, weeks, even months.
Conditions that make babies admitted to the NICU room
After birth, babies need to adapt to the environment outside the womb as their body systems change. However, in some cases babies need to receive specialized care.
Pregnancy, Birth, & Baby explains some of the conditions that need to be treated in the NICU room, namely:
- Babies born prematurely, born before 37 weeks of gestation.
- The baby is born with defects or has health problems.
- There are complications during labor.
- Low birth weight (LBW), less than 2.5 kg.
- In addition, there are several other factors that make babies enter the NICU room, including:
Maternal Factors
The following factors increase the risk of a baby needing to be admitted to the NICU room, due to the mother's health condition, such as:
- The mother gave birth at the age of 16 years or more than 40 years.
- History of diabetes.
- History of hypertension.
- Bleeding.
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Twin pregnancy.
- Premature rupture of membranes (KPD).
- Too little or too much amniotic fluid.
Infant Factors
The baby's health condition can also increase the risk of being admitted to the NICU, such as:
- The baby has respiratory problems.
- Baby has a herpes, chlamydia or streptococcus B infection.
- The baby has a seizure.
- The baby has low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).
- The baby needs special procedures or treatments such as oxygen, intravenous therapy, and blood transfusions.
Labor Factors
There are also some labor factors that cause babies to need to be admitted to the NICU room, such as:
- The baby lacks oxygen
- The baby is born breech
- Baby is wrapped around the umbilical cord
- The baby passes the first feces (meconium) into the amniotic fluid
Getting to know the NICU room
There is a reason babies need to be placed in the NICU room. The NICU room is equipped with various supporting tools that can help optimize the baby's health outside the mother's stomach.
In addition, the NICU room is also a sterile room. This prevents newborns from being exposed to infections as they are more vulnerable.
Some special equipment in the NICU room to support baby care, such as:
1. Baby warmer
A device located above the baby's small bed (incubator) in the NICU room. The purpose is to keep the baby's body warm.
2. Incubator
A small crib covered with clear, hard plastic.
The temperature inside the incubator is controlled to maintain the baby's body temperature. There is a small hole on the side of the incubator, to make it easier for doctors, nurses, and parents to care for the baby.
3. Feeding tube
Generally, premature or sick babies cannot suckle directly or use a milk bottle. In the NICU room, there is a special feeding tube or hose so that the baby can drink milk.
Later, the tube will be inserted through the mouth or nose to reach the baby's stomach. Nurses will also check regularly to avoid injury or irritation.
4. Phototherapy
A few days after birth, the baby's skin generally becomes yellow due to increased bilirubin levels.
Phototherapy is a tool to help treat yellow babies.
5. Monitor
Monitors are tools to monitor the baby's vital signs, such as heart rate, breathing, temperature, oxygen, blood pressure, and carbon dioxide monitors.
6. Ventilator
A ventilator is a breathing device for babies who need extra breathing.
The baby will be connected to the ventilator via an endotracheal tube or a plastic tube inserted into the mouth or nose.
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