NICU
The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides critical care to newborns who are ill or premature. Many factors may lead to a newborn being admitted to the NICU, including low birth weight or complications during delivery. The NICU staff works closely with parents to develop a treatment plan for their newborn.
Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Florida
There's nothing more beautiful than the first moment you get to hold your newborn child in your arms.
However, for some, that moment may not be able to happen right after birth. Although it’s something we know no parent ever wants to experience, we also know it's important to be prepared should your little one need extra care.
When is a newborn admitted to a NICU?
A NICU (sometimes referred to as an "intensive care nursery") is a specialized area of a hospital, usually connected to the labor and delivery unit. The NICUs at HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals are staffed by neonatal doctors and clinicians and equipped with specialized medical equipment, such as incubators. Your baby may need to be admitted to a NICU if they:
- Are born prematurely
- Experience complications from gestational diabetes
- Are born with certain birth defects or medical conditions
- Have had to undergo fetal or neonatal surgery
NICU levels and treatments
NICUs can range from Level I to Level IV (the highest level of care). NICU rankings are determined by several factors, from the age of babies treated to the type of training and outreach provided. We have Level II and Level III NICUs to ensure your infant receives the advanced care they need.