The neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU is a special and intensive care nursery for newborn babies. There can be a wide range of birth problems among the babies who needs the NICU and depending upon it, the duration of stay can be of few days, weeks, or even months. 

The gynecologist in charge of the delivery or neonatologists can recommend your baby to a suitable NICU facility in Siliguri after evaluating the newborn’s health condition. The medical equipment present in the NICU such as ventilators, feeding tubes, monitors, IVs, infant warmers, and incubators helps in providing the required care to the babies. 

Here are some of the health conditions among babies who may need neonatal intensive care. 

1. Respiratory Distress Syndrome or RDS

RDS is the most common health condition that mostly happens in premature babies due to the lack of surfactant present in the lungs. The risk factors for RDS include multiple births, cesarean delivery, hypothermia, or certain infections among the babies. 

Chest retractions, fast breathing, widening of nostrils, and color changes in fingers or lips are some of the symptoms of RDS. These babies are treated in NICU with the help of IV treatments, medicines, and ventilators. 

2. Heart Defects 

Babies born with heart defects also need special care in NICU because of the improper functioning of the heart. This physical condition develops in the early phase of pregnancy during heart formation. 

Bradycardia, abnormalities in the heart valve, aorta coarctation, Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and Septal defects are some of the prominent heart defects. Babies with these defects may need breathing support, medications, or surgery for treatment. The babies are admitted to Levels 1, 2, and 3 in NICU based on the seriousness of the heart defects. 

3. Infections 

Neonatal Infections are another health condition that needs the support of the NICU. Some of the infections may include group B streptococcus, E. Coli, Sepsis, Meningitis, Listeriosis, and Congenital Infections. 

Breathing difficulties, feeding problems, skin rash, decreased temperature, persistent crying, and irritability are the signs that indicate infections in the newborn. For diagnosing these infections, the doctor may recommend proper monitoring in the NICU and intake of antibiotics. 

4. Less Birth Weight 

Another health condition in newborn babies needing NICU services is less birth weight, which is common in premature delivery. If the baby is weighing less than 1,500 grams during birth then the special care in NICU will be given until the baby has gained the appropriate weight. 

These babies are kept in NICU for avoiding certain long-term complications such as developmental delay, blindness, cerebral palsy, and blindness. Feeding tubes and temperature-controlled beds are used for taking care of them. 

If you had certain prenatal complications or problems during delivery then also the babies can be transferred to the NICU facility in Siliguri. In the NICU, the babies will be getting proper care and monitoring from the team of neonatal experts. 

Based on the condition of the baby, you can hold or breastfeed the baby. If the conditions are sensitive, then the doctors may also recommend formula in a bottle or pumped breast milk for the babies with limited physical touch.