Sometimes, babies need extra care right after birth. The neonatal intensive care units, also known as NICU (pronounced "nick-you") units, across UPMC Magee-Womens help give your baby the best possible start in life.
Our team of providers supports you and your baby by providing special care for critically ill babies and babies born early.
UPMC Magee-Womens has one of the largest NICUs in Pennsylvania - caring for more than 1,500 severely or critically ill babies a year.
The NICU is a special unit in a hospital where experts provide round-the-clock care for babies who are born early, critically ill, or born with a congenital difference.
The NICU has:
This combination of technology and expertise makes the NICU the best place for your sick newborn to get the care they need.
While in the NICU, your baby is monitored at all times, and parents are welcome there 24/7.
There are different levels of NICUs (levels I through IV) to meet the baby's needs. Each level is focused on care, and the baby can be transferred within UPMC to receive the next level of care if needed.
UPMC's NICUs are located in hospitals in:
NICU stands for neonatal intensive care unit. "Neonatal" means newborns. NICUs typically care for infants after they are born and until they are ready for discharge.
PICU stands for pediatric intensive care unit. This unit provides special care for critically ill children. Babies, toddlers, big kids, and teens up to 18 years old go to the PICU.
Sometimes, babies move between the two units.
At UPMC, we understand that you are a parent, not just a visitor. You are one of the most important members of our care team and the most consistent care provider for your baby.
You can fully participate in caring for your baby while they're in the NICU. We want you to bond with and become familiar with your baby's routines and care.
But also know that it is also okay to take a break. While you are still recovering from delivery, caring for yourself is important. If you have other children, you'll need time to care for them, too.
We have special volunteers who come to the NICU to hold babies when parents need to leave.
Because these infants are fragile, there are special considerations and guidelines for visitors to the NICU. Please check with the hospital's NICU for their visitation policies.
NICUs care for babies in the first days and weeks after birth.
A baby might need the round-the-clock care of the NICU if they have:
You may not have much time to prepare for a NICU stay. If you know ahead of time that you may need one, you can contact the ward and schedule a tour. They can give you a welcome packet and any additional information you need.
If you know your child might need to stay in the NICU, consider things like:
What you can expect with your baby in the NICU depends a lot on their condition. You can participate in their care and bond with your baby in the NICU in many ways.
These include:
Our NICU staff includes specialists who are trained to care for newborns. Examples include:
With UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and our regional UPMC Children's locations, our NICUs have access to many pediatric subspecialists. Specialists can include cardiologists, surgeons, neurologists, and gastroenterologists.
NICUs offer all the care your baby may need after birth until they are ready for discharge. Our services and treatments include:
Some of the technologies and treatments we use in the NICU include:
Our team will provide you with the resources, support, and information you need to confidently bring your baby home prior to discharge.
After your baby comes home, they may need follow-up care to ensure they're growing and developing as they should. Our Neonatal Developmental Follow-Up Clinic can help.
At this clinic, you can see these specialists all in one place:
We'll work with you to create a specific care plan for your baby and help them meet their developmental needs.
The NICU Parent Education Support Group is an inpatient hospital support group for families with babies in the NICU. We offer it in each of the four hospitals where we have a NICU.
Families can meet each other and learn from each other. There are also guest speakers to educate families on various NICU-related topics. There are fliers in the NICU unit with more information.
UPMC is a world-class research institution. We bring that same level of passion to researching neonatal treatments and techniques.
Our research has helped:
We encourage families to nominate a special nurse who helped care for their baby for the DAISY Award. This award recognizes nurses who've made a difference with their skillful, compassionate care.
UPMC is focused on what families need today and tomorrow. We care about you and your baby's health every step of the way.
We offer:
Last reviewed by Carey Welsh, MD on 2024-09-05.
