Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

The Birth Center at Aurora BayCare Medical Center features a state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). An expert team provides around-the-clock-care for critically ill or premature infants who need special attention and careful monitoring.

Level III NICU: Why choose Aurora BayCare Medical Center?

At our Level III NICU, your baby is in expert hands. You’ll find:

• Expert team: Your baby receives care from board-certified and fellowship-trained neonatologists. These specialists have extensive experience caring for newborns with complex health needs. An expert team of neonatal nurse practitioners and newborn care nurses support our doctors.
• Family-centered support: While we care for your baby, our team also offers support for the entire family. We offer unlimited visiting hours, an on-site hotel and the guidance of a social worker to connect you with additional resources.
• Specialty care: As part of Aurora BayCare, our NICU connects your baby with the highest level of care. Pediatric experts in cardiology, pulmonology, surgery and other specialty areas are available under one roof for consultations and urgent treatment.

Our NICU services

Our wide range of NICU services means that we’re equipped to help even the tiniest babies grow and thrive. We offer:

• Advanced diagnostics: We offer neonatal imaging tests, including CT scans, MRIs, echocardiograms and electrocardiograms (EKG). These exams help us detect and monitor congenital heart conditions, breathing problems and other serious medical conditions.
• Breastfeeding support: Premature or sick babies may have difficulty feeding. Board-certified lactation consultants give you techniques for breastfeeding based on your infant’s unique medical needs.
• Developmental therapy: Licensed occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists help babies with feeding or swallowing problems. Our developmental therapy program also assists parents with bonding, swaddling and nurturing skills.
• Follow-up care: After your baby goes home, our neonatal care team continues to monitor your child’s growth and development. We work closely with you and your child’s pediatrician to make sure your baby is meeting developmental goals and milestones.
• Respiratory therapy: Infants born with underdeveloped lungs, bronchopulmonary dysplasia or other breathing difficulties need special care. Our certified respiratory therapists have extensive training in the unique needs of critically ill newborns.

Conditions we treat

We treat a wide range of health conditions in newborns, including:

• Bradycardia (slow heart rate) caused by apnea (temporary pause in breathing)
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (chronic lung disease)
• Heart valve defects
• Necrotizing enterocolitis and other gastrointestinal diseases
• Patent ductus arteriosus (abnormal function of a blood vessel in the heart)
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Retinopathy of prematurity (underdeveloped retina)