NICU room or neonatal intensive care unit is an intensive care room in the hospital that is provided specifically for newborns who experience health problems. Generally babies are put into the NICU room in the first 24 hours after birth.
The length of stay in the NICU room varies depending on the condition of each baby. The more serious the health problem is experienced, the longer he will be in the NICU room. There are many reasons why babies need to be cared for in the NICU room, but basically aims to get your child under intensive supervision and care.
Reasons Why Babies Must Enter the NICU Room
After birth, babies can no longer only depend on the mother as when she was in the womb. Babies must quickly adapt to the environment and begin to use organs in their bodies independently. Unfortunately, not all babies can adapt quickly and be born in a healthy condition, so they need medical help. Here are some reasons why newborns must enter the NICU room, including:- The baby is born prematurely, that is before entering the 37th week.
- Babies experience problems during labor.
- Babies show signs of health problems at birth.
- Babies are born with low body weight, which is less than 2500 grams or above 4000 grams.
Mother factor
Mothers often use illegal drugs or consume alcohol, have a history of suffering from diabetes, hypertension, or sexually transmitted diseases, are less than 16 years of age or above 40 years, have excess or lack of amniotic fluid, amniotic fluid ruptures more quickly, experiences bleeding , or twins born.
Baby factor
Babies have birth defects, respiratory problems, seizures, hypoglycemia, need oxygen supply, infusion, drugs, or blood transfusions, babies have infections such as herpes, B streptococcus, and chlamydia.
Labor factors
Babies are born with breech, fetal distress (lack of oxygen), disruption of meconium discharges (the baby throws its first stool in the amniotic fluid), or the baby's neck is wrapped around the umbilical cord.
Conditions in the NICU Room
The NICU room is a sterile area that cannot be entered by just anyone. Each hospital has a different policy regarding the number and hours of parents visiting the NICU room. However, all hospitals must provide soap or hand sanitizers to ensure that visiting guests are sterile. In general, NICU room conditions are very quiet because the babies in it are very sensitive to sound and light. The babies in the NICU room are usually in the incubator to keep their body temperature stable. The NICU room is equipped with several medical devices to make babies feel comfortable, including:Baby Warmers
This tool serves to maintain the baby's body temperature to remain stable. This tool is usually attached to the bed.
NICU incubator
This incubator resembles a small bed covered by hard plastic. This tool is equipped with a heater to maintain the baby's body temperature.
Food Hose
This tool is inserted into the baby's stomach through the mouth or nose to distribute food, breast milk, and other nutrients needed by babies.
Phototherapy
This tool is used to reduce bilirubin levels that are too high, as a cause of yellow babies. Usually this condition occurs in babies born prematurely.
Ventilator
This tool serves to help the baby's breathing. This tool is connected to the baby by using a thin tube that is inserted into the nose or mouth.
Monitor
All babies in the NICU room are connected to the monitor to monitor their condition. Medical signs will appear through this monitor.
Doctors and Medical Staff in the NICU Room
A number of medical devices in the NICU room are only used according to the needs of each baby. The medical device is operated by the officers in charge of the NICU room. The officers include:- Neonatologist pediatricians who have expertise in handling newborns.
- Special nurses on duty to accompany and monitor the condition of the baby.
- Additional staff, for example radiographers to operate echocardiograms or X-rays, laboratory personnel, or physiotherapists.
- Doctors with related specialties to help care for the needs of babies at the NICU.
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