Common Reasons Your Baby Might Need NICU Care

The birthing process is a complicated one that involves numerous physical and psychological changes for both the mother and the child. The baby will become comfortable with life inside the womb. However, the baby needs to adapt to life outside the uterus. The baby's bodily functions such as breathing, eating, waste removal, and immunological defense depend on the mother while they are still in the womb.

The baby's bodily system entirely alters after delivery.  Their lungs, cardiac and pulmonary systems, digestive systems, kidneys, liver, and immune systems have to work in a new way. Babies can have difficulty adjusting to life outside the womb. Congenital impairments, difficult births, and premature births are the main causes of developmental difficulties. These problems require a lot of specialized care for babies. The newborns that require extra care are placed in the NICU.

What Is a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a dedicated section of hospitals where newborns in need of critical care are typically placed. The NICU is equipped with cutting-edge medical equipment and skilled medical personnel to provide specialized treatment for the smallest patients. Babies that are not as unwell but still require specialized nursing care may also be cared for in NICUs. 

Babies must be sent to another hospital since certain hospitals lack the personnel necessary to operate a NICU. If a newborn is delivered to a hospital with a NICU, their chances of survival are higher than if they are transferred after birth.  A NICU will be necessary for the care of some newborns. For any parent, having a sick or premature baby can be an unexpected experience. The newborn intensive care unit can be overwhelming and it offers the best neonatal care.

The neonatologist plays an essential role in managing the challenges faced by preterm infants. They closely monitor their breathing, heart rate, and temperature, making sure that these delicate babies receive the necessary interventions and therapies to thrive.

What Are The Common Reasons Your Baby Might Need NICU Care?

The following are the common reasons for sending your baby to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU):

• Prematurity: Premature births (less than 37 full weeks of gestation) are the most frequent cause of NICU admissions. Premature newborns cannot adjust to the outside world as well as full-term kids since they are not yet fully matured physically and developmentally. Their inability to regulate body temperature, frequent excessive weight loss, and irregular vital signs all have an impact on the long-term neurological consequences. These newborns must be kept in a regulated, closed space called an incubator, sometimes called an isolette, that replicates the uterine environment and delivers heat to maintain a steady body temperature. These babies are fed higher-calorie foods in addition to IV hydration and other research-proven treatments.
• Sepsis or infection: Neonatal deaths and poor outcomes are most commonly caused by sepsis or infection. Premature babies are more likely than full-term babies to get infections. An infection is more likely to affect a newborn earlier in life than the immune system is unable to combat it. A specific duration of antibiotic use may be determined by laboratory results and infection indicators.
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS): Due to undeveloped lungs, RDS is the most prevalent respiratory issue in babies. In mild cases, the baby can be treated using a machine that pushes oxygen through a mask. In severe cases, the baby is put on a ventilator and given a breathing tube.
• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar: It can occur in premature babies, babies delivered to mothers with gestational diabetes, or babies suffering from infections.
• Perinatal depression: A traumatic birth or issues during delivery may result in less oxygen and blood getting to the baby. Physicians use full body chilling, a novel technique to lessen brain damage to newborns with prenatal depression because of the reduced blood flow.
• Low birthweight and High birth weight: Babies with Birth weight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2.5 kg) or over 8 pounds, 13 ounces (4.0 kg) are placed in NICU.
• Maternal chorioamnionitis: One reason a baby might be sent to the NICU actually includes the health status of the mother.  Maternal chorioamnionitis is an infection and inflammation of the placenta, and/or the umbilical cord, before or during labor, and this puts the baby at a very high risk for an infection. The mother generally has a fever, with an increase in heart rate and uterine tenderness. After delivery, the baby is immediately admitted to the NICU  and started on antibiotics for at least 48 hours before being discharged to home.
• Babies with breathing difficulties, heart problems, and other congenital disabilities 
• Twins, triplets, and more multiples

Exploring The Best Neonatal Care & Best NICU in Mumbai

Surya Hospital is one of the best neonatal care hospitals with the best NICU in Mumbai. It is recognised as a leader in women's and children's healthcare, as well as a pioneer in innovation and caring. 

The committed staff of Surya Hospital makes sure your child always receives the best care. The following medical professionals make up the neonatologists' team:

• Dr. Nandkishor Kabra, Director, Neonatal ICU
• Dr. Hari Balasubramanian, Consultant Neonatologist
• Dr. Sachin Sakharkar, Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatrician
• Dr. Deepika Tiwari, Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatrician

Conclusion

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) plays a crucial role in providing specialized care to newborns who require critical attention due to various medical conditions. Premature birth, infections, respiratory distress syndrome, hypoglycemia, perinatal depression, abnormal birth weight, maternal chorioamnionitis, congenital disabilities, and multiple births are among the common reasons babies might need NICU care. The NICU provides a controlled environment with cutting-edge medical equipment and skilled healthcare professionals, including neonatologists, to ensure the best possible outcomes for these fragile infants. As a parent, facing the unexpected need for NICU care can be overwhelming, but knowing that your baby is receiving the highest standard of neonatal care can provide reassurance during a challenging time.

To get the best neonatal care for your baby, visit Surya Hospital, Mumbai.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the most common reason babies go to the NICU?
A: The most common cause of NICU admissions for babies is premature delivery. If a baby is born before the 37th week of pregnancy, it is referred to as a "preemie." Premature babies do not always require a prolonged stay in the NICU.

Q: Which is the best neonatal care hospital with NICU facilities in Mumbai?
A: Surya Hospital is one of the best neonatal care hospitals with the best NICU in Mumbai. It is recognised as a leader in women's and children's healthcare, as well as a pioneer in innovation and caring. 

Q: Do babies gain weight in the NICU?
A: Babies are weighed daily in the NICU. Babies generally lose weight in their first few days of life. This decrease is mostly due to water weight. Within a few days of delivery, the majority of premature babies should begin to gain weight.