Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

A specialized medical unit providing intensive care for newborns, particularly those born prematurely or with medical complications..

 

Premature Infant:

A baby born before completing 37 weeks of gestation, requiring specialized care in the NICU.

 

Neonatologist:

A medical doctor specializing in the care of newborns, especially those in critical condition in the NICU.

 

Incubator:

A temperature-controlled, enclosed device that helps regulate the environment for premature or ill infants in the NICU.

 

Ventilator:

A machine that provides mechanical ventilation, assisting infants with breathing difficulties in the NICU.

 

Apnea:

Temporary cessation of breathing, a common concern in premature infants necessitating monitoring in the NICU.

 

Surfactant Therapy:

Administration of a substance to improve lung function in premature babies, often required in the NICU.

 

Isolette:

A clear, enclosed crib providing controlled temperature and humidity for newborns in the NICU.

 

Bradycardia:

Abnormally slow heart rate, a condition monitored closely in the NICU.

 

Intravenous (IV) Line:

A tube inserted into a vein to administer fluids, medications, and nutrition to infants in the NICU.

 

Exchange Transfusion:

A medical procedure in which a baby’s blood is partially replaced with donor blood, often used to treat severe jaundice in the NICU.

 

Parenteral Nutrition:

Administration of nutrients through intravenous methods when oral feeding is not possible for NICU infants.