Some babies may require special medical or nursing care in the Neonatal Unit. It is located on the second floor of the Maternity Hospital and can be accessed by either the stairs or lifts.
There are three areas in the Neonatal Unit:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): capacity of 10 cots
- High Dependency Unit (HDU): capacity of 10 cots
- Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU): capacity of nine cots
You may know in advance that your baby will be admitted to the Neonatal Unit or it may be a decision taken shortly after your baby’s birth. Staff from the unit and postnatal area will support you and keep you fully informed about your baby.
We are happy for you to phone at any time to ask about your baby (see Contact us below). Please be aware that we can only give information to parents, unless we have permission from a parent to inform other named family members.
Visiting arrangements are available at the bottom of this page.
Being with your baby
As parents, you are the most important people in your baby’s life and vital members of the neonatal team. You are encouraged to visit at any time. You are not ‘visitors’.
We welcome you to spend as much time as possible with your baby in the unit.
We also want you to be as involved as possible in your baby’s care.
What you can do
Protect your baby
Babies in the Neonatal Unit are very vulnerable to infection. You can protect them by ensuring you and any visitors wash your hands thoroughly:
- when entering the unit
- before and after touching your baby
- when leaving the unit
Do not come to the Neonatal Unit if you are unwell.
Express your breast milk / breastfeed
This will protect your baby from infection and provide many other benefits for both you and your baby. See Feeding your baby for further information.
Video: Why colostrum is vital for premature babies’ health.
Talk, read or sing to your baby
Your voice:
- comforts your baby
- helps you bond with one another
- helps your baby’s brain development
Provide essential care
Get involved in:
- changing nappies
- washing your baby
- feeding your baby
Staff will assist you until you become confident doing these things alone.
Kangaroo care (skin to skin contact)
Skin to skin contact has many benefits, including:
- stabilising your baby’s breathing, heart rate and temperature
- improving your baby’s sleep and growth
- improving your breast milk supply
- reducing the stress levels of both you and your baby
Contact us
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit:
- 028 9615 0570
- 028 9615 0571
- 028 9615 0572
High Dependency Unit:
- 028 9615 0560
- 028 9615 0561
Special Care Baby Unit:
- 028 9615 6591
-
Visiting arrangements
Parents are a vital member of the neonatal team and are welcome in the unit at any time.
- Grandparents may visit between 14:00 and 19:00 each day
- Only 2 people will be permitted at the cot side at any time
- Please note that visiting may be limited to only parents under certain circumstances
- We do try to limit the number of people who touch and handle your baby to reduce the risk of infection. To assist with this we ask that only parents touch or handle babies. This has the benefit of also allowing maximum periods of rest to assist with growth and development
- Mobile phones are permitted however these should be kept on silent mode to minimise noise within the unit
- It is extremely important to reduce the risk of infection in the neonatal unit and therefore we would ask you to:
- Wash and gel your hands on arrival and during your visit
- Follow correct handwashing procedures. These are detailed on the posters at each handwashing station
- Remove outdoor coats etc. before entering the clinical areas. Lockers are available to store belongings.