Nursery Care

Occasionally, a baby will require extra care after birth and stay in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This unit is located next to the Maternity Unit so parents can be near their babies.

Baby's First Day
In the nursery, the baby is examined. Once the baby's temperature is stable he or she will be given a bath. Nurses will be available to assist and answer any questions a patient might have. Most babies will be allowed to stay with the mother in the hospital room. Nurses will visit every few hours to check the baby's vital signs.

Day Two
The second day is even busier for the baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that all newborns should receive a hearing screening when they are 24-hours old. Significant hearing deficits are present in one to three in every 1,000 newborns. Earmuffs are placed on the baby while a nurse measures the baby's brain responses to the sounds. The test only takes a few minutes and the results will be ready by the time you leave the hospital. If the baby is unable to pass the test, parents will receive instructions for follow up steps. It is important, however, to have the child's hearing checked as they grow to prevent any delay in their speech and language.

A blood sample will also be taken from the baby before discharge. Obtained by pricking the baby's heel, the blood will be tested for conditions that can cause illness. Laws require some of these blood tests and some 30 other tests can be performed from that sample to supplement the health screening. While some of these conditions are rare, they are usually serious and need to be treated immediately. The first of three Hepatitis B shots will also be given.

See Our Newborns
Our website features an online nursery. We take a photo of our newborns and post it on our website for friends and relatives to view online.