Is NICU in every hospital and what is it?

Question

is NICU in every hospital or just certain ones?

and also, is it just for premies and multiples?

Answer 1

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

It is not present in all hospitals that offer Maternity care unfortunately.

It is for babies born with any difficulties. Primarily, the babies are premature or multiples. However, like I said, it is a special unit devoted to the care of babies who need extra attention, medical evaluation, or have medical needs that must be monitored.

Answer 2

NICU is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Babies born preterm or those born needing extra care are put in there.  Preemies are most common as are multiples but even full-term babies are put in there if they have a medical concern since it is an intensive care unit for babies.  It isn't in every hospital though unfortunately. The local hospital here doesn't have one and the nearest one is 2 hrs away so all babies born here that have medical conditions or if born too early are life-flighted to the nearest NICU for care.  

Answer 3

Every hospital I have ever been to has a nicu and they are for any babies who need it but most of the time preemies and multiples are the ones in there. my son was preemie and was in there for a week

Answer 4

neonatal intesive care unit, it'snot in every hospital, and it's for any baby having any problem, my daughter was born fine at normal gestation but she had low resting heart rate so they left her in the nicu for a week to test her, but it was normal for her, so it's for any baby.

Answer 5

Most hopsitals of any size will have a NICU, though the facilities will vary somewhat.  

The NICU is for any newborn requiring special care -- whether the baby is low birthweight, or sick, or just needing some extra monitoring. (My daughter had a fever at birth, so spent a few days in the NICU while they ruled out infection.)

Answer 6

ITs a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit...Most hospitals have one.  Its for multiples, or any baby born with a problem.  IF the hospital that you deliver in doesn't have one, they will move your baby to one that does.

Answer 7

MOST to ALL hospitals have a NICU. and no its not just only for premies or multiples. its for any baby that is either premature, or ill

NICU or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a unit in a hospital that specialized in the care of ill or premature infants. These units have special equipment, specially trained staff and more resources then a typical nursery ward.

A neonatal intensive care unit, usually shortened NICU (pronounced "Nickyou") and also called a newborn intensive care unit, intensive care nursery (ICN), and special care baby unit (SCBU [pronounced "Skiboo"], especially in Great Britain), is a unit of a hospital specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants. The NICU is distinct from the special care nursery (SCN) in providing a high level of intensive care to premature infants while the SCN provides specialized care for infants with less severe medical problems.

NICUs were developed in the 1950s and 1960s by pediatricians to provide better temperature support, isolation from infection risk, specialized feeding, and access to specialized equipment and resources. Infants are cared for in incubators or "open warmers." Some low birth weight infants need respiratory support ranging from extra oxygen (by head hood or nasal cannula) to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or mechanical ventilation. Public access is limited, and staff and visitors are required to take precautions to reduce transmission of infection. Nearly all children's hospitals have NICUs, but they can be found in large general hospitals as well.

A NICU is typically directed by one or more neonatologists and staffed by nurses, nurse practitioners, Nursery Nurses, physician assistants, resident physicians, and respiratory therapists. Many other ancillary services are necessary for a top-level NICU. Other physicians, especially those with "organ-defined" specialties often assist in the care of these infants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonatal_In...

Answer 8

Not all hospitals have NICU units and not all NICU units are equal. There are different levels of units, some provide basic care such as IV,s and basic respiratory support, others have surgical support and advanced respiratory support such as high frequency and nitric. And no it is not just for premies and mutiples there are all kinds of problems these babies can have such as cardiac or kidney problems.

Answer 9

NICU is and should be in every hospital that has labor and delivery patients. but i know there are exceptions. Also its mainly for premies but if you have a full term baby with major complication and/of needs surgery they will go there too.

Hope that helps.

Answer 10

NICU is in every hospital

and it's for babies with special needs

why do i get the feeling that you watched jon and kate last night?  lol

If a baby is born with health problems, they are sent to the NICU, where there are doctors and tools there that they dont have in the nursery to help take care of sick babies.

NICU stands for

Neonatal

Intensive

Care

Unit

Answer 11

neonatal intensive care unit, and it is NOT in every hospital.  my baby was born in a smaller hospital without one and if they need one they have to be transported to one.  if you dont live close to one with a unit and are scared about a premee, or complications i would look into hospitals that are close that have nicu's.  i chose to have mine in one that wasnt bc they didnt see any compications, and i went full term, also we were blessed to have hospitals near by to transfer to if need be with the nicu.

Answer 12

not all birthing hospitals are equipped with NICUs.  If you give birth in a hospital and your baby requires these services, then your baby will be transferred to the nearest NICU.  They are for any high risk newborn who requires constant nursing, continuous cardiopulmonary and other support for severely ill infants, and specialty services and technology not just preemies and multiples...

Answer 13

NICU is NOT in every hospital.  If you're concerned about any issues, check with the hospital where you plan to deliver.  It's a special area of the hospital committed to helping with newborn baby issues (not just multiples and premies).