The length of time babies stay in the NICU depends on their condition and their weight.
Some babies need to stay in the NICU for a few weeks and some babies need to stay in the NICU for a few months or until they can eat by mouth, keep warm and breathe on their own.
The baby will need to remain in the NICU until they have their organs developed enough to keep alive without any medical or life support.
A NICU baby has to be at least 4 lbs to go home.
Once the baby is at least 4 lbs then they can keep warm on their own and are usually healthy enough to go home and can keep warm without use of an incubator.
The most critical NICU level is Level IV NICU which is Level 4.
The NICU unit in a hospital is equipped to care for the most complex of neonatal conditions and also the sickest and smallest newborns no matter the gestational age at birth.
Neonatal ICU is the same as NICU.
NICU stands for neonatal intensive care unit which is a specialized area of the hospital that provides intensive care to premature newborns that may also require additional life support to live.
NICU also cares for newborn that are ill and full term but need extra care.
The difference between ICU and the Neonatal ICU is the ICU caters to and cares for adults and people of ages above newborn age and the neonatal ICU only cares for newborn babies that need intensive care such as when they are born premature.
Some NICU's are a private room although some NICU's are in open wards.
However a lot of hospitals are using private NICU rooms now as a standard for improved outcomes of the NICU babies.
The reason NICU babies look swollen is because of the fluids that are administered in the NICU which causes edema in the baby.
Edema is very common in premature babies because the premature baby's circulatory systems and urinary system are not developed fully.
As a result premature babies have a higher water content than full term babies do which leads to the swelling.
A newborn's face may look quite puffy or even distorted due to fluid buildup and their trip through the birth canal.
This often changes a lot during the first few days as the baby gets rid of the extra fluid, while that folded ear, flattened nose, or crooked jaw usually comes back into place over time.
The earlier your baby is born, the smaller they'll be with sharper features, and their head will appear larger in comparison to their bodies.
Preemies also have very little body fat which will make their skin seem thinner and more transparent.
This is normal. You might also notice that your little one is a bit furry.
Children who were admitted to NICUs as babies are twice as likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems, including ADHD, phobias, and separation anxiety.
Nearly all low birthweight babies need specialized care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) until they gain weight and are well enough to go home.
Fortunately, there is a 95 percent chance of survival for babies weighing between 3 pounds, 5 ounces, and 5 pounds, 8 ounces.
Babies weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces (1,500 grams) at birth are considered very low birth weight.
Low birth weight is most often caused by premature birth.
Nearly all low-birth-weight babies need special care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until they gain weight and are well enough to go home.
Common conditions that are treated in premature babies in the NICU include.
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)
Jaundice.
Keeping warm.
Macrosomia.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
Sepsis.
If your baby is very small or sick, you might not be able to hold them yet – but you can still touch them.
Just like any baby, your baby in the NICU needs the comfort of human touch.
But you do need to be very careful and gentle when you touch sick or premature babies.