Neonatal Intensive Care
Exceptional, compassionate treatment for your infant
Novant Health provides exceptional neonatal intensive care for your child. Our highly skilled medical experts and advanced technology allow us to handle critical conditions, including premature birth, birth defects and serious health conditions.
What is the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?
When you give birth at one of Novant Health’s maternity centers, your newborn will have access to around-the-clock care by our expert neonatologists, if you need it. Our neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) provide advanced medical care for babies born prematurely, with birth defects or other severe complications. With sophisticated monitoring equipment and respiratory labs, our team of board-certified neonatologists, nurse practitioners and registered nurses keep a vigilant eye on your newborn to give you peace of mind.
Who provides treatment?
Your newborn receives highly specialized care from experts trained to work in the NICU environment. Our NICUs deliver continuous care from board-certified neonatologists, pediatricians, respiratory therapists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nutritionists, early intervention coordinators, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, pharmacists, audiologists, discharge planning nurses, speech therapists and child life specialist.
Why is neonatal intensive care needed?
Welcoming a new child into the world is a joyous occasion, but premature babies or those born with complications may require a stay in our NICU. We’re here with compassionate critical care should your newborn require assistance with breathing, infection treatment or an organ condition.
Receive family support
If your baby is placed in our neonatal intensive care unit, you will still have the opportunity to visit and bond with your child. In fact, we strongly encourage it. Skin-to-skin contact, also called kangaroo care in the NICU, is especially important for a newborn’s health and development. Holding your baby close helps them stay warm and keeps their heart rate, breathing and temperature more stable.
We provide a safe environment for you to interact with your baby, with someone from the NICU staff available anytime to answer your questions. We also offer family support programs, including one-on-one peer support for parents.
NICU care at Novant Health
Novant Health has multiple certified NICU locations where your newborn can immediately be taken care of in an emergency.
Wherever you choose to deliver within the Novant Health hospital system, rest assured you will have access to one of our NICUs, either onsite or nearby. Most Novant Health maternity centers have certified NICUs or can quickly transport you and your newborn to a nearby unit for the level of care you need.
Depending upon the location, NICUs provide care ranging from level I to level IV, based on ratings by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The higher the level, the more specialized and complex the available treatments and technologies. Level IV NICUs offer the highest level of care available and most advanced technologies. All of our level I facilities have neonatal nurse practitioner coverage 24/7 to stabilize and assist the transfer of babies that need a higher level of care.
NICUs Where You Need Them
Located in Hemby Children's Hospital, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center's level IV NICU has the highest certification attainable in North Carolina for treating premature and critically ill newborns. Your baby will receive continuous care delivered by board-certified neonatologists, pediatricians, registered nurses and nurse practitioners
Our nearby regional hospitals, Huntersville Medical Center (level III) and Matthews Medical Center (level III) provide on-site treatment with around-the-clock care by neonatologist, specially trained registered nurses, respiratory therapists and other dedicated specialists.
For years, residents in the coastal market have been turning to Novant Health Betty H. Cameron Women’s & Children Hospital to deliver their babies knowing all their needs will be met. A warm, welcoming environment for new parents, we provide a level III NICU and special care nursery designed to care for premature babies and those born with critical conditions.
Our nationally recognized neonatologists and highly trained staff provide expert care to your newborn while also offering compassion, comfort and support to parents.
From the minute your newborn enters the NICU at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, your baby will receive advanced care with compassion. In addition to the high-quality medical care and conveniences you’ll receive, all of our team members work to make you feel included and supported throughout your baby’s stay.
Our Level IIIB NICU provides one of the highest levels of newborn (neonatal) care available. Our staff includes respiratory, speech and physical therapists as well as social workers and breastfeeding (lactation) consultants. With private and semi-private rooms, you and your family can have alone time with your baby while they are in our hospital.
