The NICU is part of the Vermont-Oxford Network, a group of hospitals from around the world that are recognized as leaders in providing care to premature and critically ill infants. The NICU offers a full range of services for families of premature infants, including bonding rooms in which parents can learn to care for their infants before they are discharged. A surgical unit is available in the NICU so that critically ill infants do not have to be transported out of the unit to receive lifesaving surgery. Woman's Hospital has provided care to women and infants in the Baton Rouge area for over 30 years. The NICU is designed and equipped for sick or premature infants who require constant medical and nursing care.
Specialized equipment is used to check the baby's condition at all times.
When babies improve and no longer require intensive care, they are moved to the Intermediate Care Nursery. The Intermediate Care Nursery is a unit for NICU graduate babies who need to be closely observed while they gain weight before going home. Some babies may be admitted directly to the ITR from the delivery room. These are babies who are not sick enough to be in the NICU but still need special procedures or medication or to be closely observed. While all parents react differently to having a sick baby, they share many similar feelings, many of the feelings you may be having.