Babies are admitted to the NICU when they are born early, have health problems or had a difficult birth. At the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), these babies receive around-the-clock care from a team of expert healthcare professionals.
Usually, babies are shifted to the NICU within twenty-four hours of their birth, and the length of their stay depends on their health condition. Some babies have to stay for a few hours or days, while others may stay for weeks or months. NICU is also known as a special care nursery, an intensive care nursery and a new-born intensive care nursery.