Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provides specialist care to premature new-born babies or for term babies who require medical attention. Our services include:
- Neonatal Intensive Care
- High Dependency
- Special Care
- Laser Eye Surgery
- Neonatal Feeding Team, Lactation Consultants
- Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy
- Neonatal Community Outreach
- Parent-Infant Counselling.
- Research
- Parent Support Groups
- Parent Advocate
- Translation services if English is not your first language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please find below some Frequently Asked Questions on admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
If you have any further questions about how we can support you and your baby, please speak to the Nurse-in-Charge on the ward.
Your baby could be admitted to neonatal care for several reasons, including when they:
- Are born early (premature)
- are very small and have a low birthweight
- have an infection
- have jaundice
- had a very difficult birth
- are waiting for, or recovering from, complex surgery
We usually say to aim for your due date. Babies born nearer their full term may be home earlier. Some very premature babies may still need to be looked after in NICU beyond their due date.
As soon as your baby is born, our team will make sure they are stable. This means providing any extra support they need including:
- Keeping your baby warm
- Helping your baby breathe
- Monitoring your baby's heart rate
Your baby will then be moved to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (commonly known as NICU) to carry on getting special care.
Maternity staff will also check that you are recovering well. This can include taking your temperature, blood pressure, giving you pain relief and checking for any tears if you have given birth vaginally. If you have had a c-section, you can find more information about recovery and support on the NHS website.
You can read more about what happens after you give birth on the Bliss charity website.
You are likely to spend a lot of time on NICU and the team will help you get used to how the unit works and what all the equipment does.
The unit may seem strange and confusing at first, especially if your baby is in an incubator or on a breathing machine. There may also be tubes and wires attached to their face and body.
You can ask the nurse to explain what everything is for and show you how you can be involved in your baby's care. You may be able to change your baby's nappy, wash them and change their clothing.
Absolutely. Sometimes this may not be straight away, but we will support you to be close to your baby as soon as it is safe to do so. The Neonatal Intensive Care unit may seem strange and confusing at first, especially if your baby is in an incubator or on a breathing machine. There may also be tubes and wires attached to their face and body for monitoring.
Ask the nurse to explain what everything is for. You as parents will be involved in day-to-day care for your baby as well making decisions about your care.
Once your baby's stable, you'll be able to hold them. The nurses will be able to help you take your baby out of the incubator and show you how to have skin-to-skin cuddles.
Your baby will benefit greatly from physical contact with you. You can talk to your baby as well – this can help both of you to bond. This will also help your baby’s development.
NICU are dedicated to supporting Family Integrated Care.
NICU also have a counselling service and access to psychological support for you.
To begin with, your baby may be too small or too sick to feed themselves and we will support you to express some of your breast milk, which can be given to your baby through a tube.
A fine tube is passed through their nose or mouth into the stomach. This will not hurt them.
The hospital has breast pumps you can use.
Your milk has benefits, especially if your baby is sick or premature, as it's enriched with proteins (such as antibodies), fats and minerals.
If your baby is not able to have your milk to begin with, the milk can be frozen and given to them when they're ready.
Your Neonatal Feeding Team and all unit staff will support your breastfeeding journey. As a unit we are committed to UNICEFs Baby Friendly Initiative and will support you to feed. For help, please email Nicufeeding.
Yes. As your baby's parents you are not classed as a visitor and can come and go from the unit at any time.
Yes, please speak to Nurse in Charge for discounted parking rate.
- Cool, comfortable clothing for you – the baby unit will generally feel very warm. Talk to the staff about the best clothing to facilitate kangaroo care or skin to skin.
- Comfortable shoes or slippers.
- Moisturiser and lip balm.
- Maternity pads and breast pads.
- Nappies for premature babies.
- Ear plugs for sleeping and resting.
- An eye mask for sleeping in bright light.
- Headphones and music to help you relax and for maintaining confidentiality.
- Some form of entertainment, such as a magazine, book, mobile phone or tablet.
- A notebook or diary, to make notes or write down anything the doctor says.
- A bottle to fill with water so you always have a drink to hand.
Family support is available and within the NICU unit there is a rest area for parents.
On site at Queen Alexandra Hospital we also have a range of facilities including a Costa Coffee, M&S Food and on-site restaurant. Find out more here.
You can find out more information via these useful links: