Our NICU rooms are built to be a peaceful healing place to promote family bonding. Parents have a private area within the baby's room to sleep or watch TV. Each room is decorated and furnished to enhance the coziness.

Our NICU team talks to families every day that their baby is in our care. Our team of board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory, occupational and speech therapists, and registered dietitians, meet daily to plan for the care of your baby. By the time your baby is ready to go home, the team will have established a plan for you to arrange any necessary follow up with the outpatient team, including your pediatrician. This will make the transition to home better for the baby and easier for you.

Our team will help you get oriented to the NICU and introduce you to the roles of the health care team, explain basic NICU terminology and identify your expectations while your baby is here. We’ll cover the importance of handwashing and discuss the NICU routine. During your stay with us, you’ll have the support of our team, including social workers and child life specialists. After discharge, we’ll check on you, and we encourage you to participate in one of our lactation or mom support groups.

We have special initiatives in place to improve the rate of breastfeeding for even the smallest infants. Our lactation consultants are available seven days a week and can provide support after you go home.

If mom can’t provide her own milk, BayCare has a breast milk donor program that provides nutritious human breast milk to babies in the NICU.

We have a respiratory team that specializes in infants and newborns. They’re trained to handle the care of respiratory-compromised premature babies.

Premature babies are at higher risk for impairments and long-term neurodevelopmental concerns. All babies receive a hearing screening. Before they go home, premature infants receive ongoing developmental assessments by our specialized developmental therapists to determine the need for additional services such as rehabilitation. Should developmental or medical follow up be required, your baby’s care team will make a plan before discharge.

Premature babies often experience feeding challenges. Our multidisciplinary team excels at developing plans and partnering with you to optimize your baby’s nutrition and make sure that you’re prepared to feed your baby at home.

We have trained nurses and therapists who provide infant massage. They’re available to help you learn how massage may work to improve your baby’s breathing, strengthen their immune system, relieve constipation and much more. You’ll discover the benefits of touch and massage for you and your baby.

If your baby needs an even higher level of care, we can transport them to our level IV NICU at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital.