A NICU stay costs between $6,500.00 to $8,300.00 per day.
In 7 days of a NICU stay it can cost as much as $58,100.00 to $60,000.00 to have your baby in the NICU.
Most parents visit the NICU and there baby in the NICU at least 6 times a week although some may visit the NICU and there baby more often and some less if they live far away from the hospital.
And some parents only visit the NICU a few times a week.
You cannot spend the night in the NICU although you can spend the night in the waiting room of the hospital or sleep in your vehicle or some hospitals may also have a room for the parents to sleep in during the baby's stay in the NICU.
Parents cannot stay in the NICU overnight or long term with the baby although some hospitals have rooms for parents to sleep in so they can be as close to the baby as possible.
In some hospitals you may need to stay in a hotel or motel or go home and come back and visit the baby in the NICU.
Things you should not say to parents in the NICU are thank God that is over, babies need to be exposed to germs, or he or she is so teeny, congratulations or I'm here whenever you want to talk.
Other things not to say to parents in NICU are.
He or she looks like a little alien baby.
I would have given up (broken down) by now.
Get him or her baptized; just in case.
What did you do wrong?
Why didn't you try harder to carry your baby longer?
The hospital is the best place for your child.
Some things you can say when someone has a baby in the NICU are you're holding up so very well, I'm always here for you, it's OK to be overwhelmed, I'm praying for you and your baby or we're sending you our good vibes.
The psychological effects of NICU on a baby are possible health problems such as ADHD and separation anxiety and other phobias.
Some NICU and premature babies have long term problems such as developmental and intellectual disabilities and visual and hearing impairments and poor health and growth.
Also babies that are born only a few weeks early often have long term difficulties such as social and behavioral problems.
Between 80 percent to 90 percent of babies make it out of the NICU alive and most go onto live normal and healthy lives although some may have health issues later in life.
All babies born early do not have to go to the NICU unless they are born very prematurely and have breathing problems or other health issues.
Larger preterm babies that are born early that do not have breathing problems will be cared for in special care nurseries in the hospital.
A baby would have to stay in the NICU if they are born premature and or they have health issues that mean the baby cannot survive on it's own or keep warm without medical support.
Even a full term baby may need to be in the NICU if they are born with health issues such as heart issues.
NICU babies start to gain weight within a couple of days of being in the NICU and most NICU babies gain around 20 grams to 30 grams of weight per day.
After the NICU the babies will go down to what is called a step down unit which can be within the NICU itself or near the NICU and then they go home.
NICU babies tend to survive very often and around 2/3rds of NICU babies that are born at 24 weeks gestation will survive to go home and become healthy.
A baby born at 1 pound can survive in rare cases as there have been some babies surviving at 1 lb and even less.
The lowest weight a baby can survive is 2 lbs although there was a baby that was born and weighed just over 9.7 ounces named Tom who survived.
A newborn should weigh at least 5 lbs and 8 ounces or at least over 5 lbs when full term.
Most newborn babies born at 37 weeks and 40 weeks weigh between 5 lbs and 8 ounces and 8 pounds and 13 ounces.
Newborns that are slightly lighter in weight or heavier than average are most often fine.
NICU babies typically weigh less than 5 lbs or less than 5 lbs and 8 ounces.
A premature babies is a baby that usually weighs less than5 lbs and 8 ounces and they usually have thin, shiny, pink or red skin and you can usually see the veins through their skin.
The percentage of babies that spend time in the NICU is between 7 percent to 15 percent of babies.
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.