If your newborn needs to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, a group of different medical professionals will be there to help. Here's a rundown of some of the consultants and support staff you can expect to meet in the NICU.
Each person who works in the NICU has a different specialty: Your bedside NICU nurses work most closely with your baby, providing care and observing closely for important changes. A neonatologist specializes in the health problems of newborns. They supervise and coordinate care. A cardiologist is trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels. If a baby has a heart defect, a cardiovascular surgeon will perform the surgery to fix it.
An infectious disease specialist treats babies who have serious infections, including infections of the blood, brain, or spinal cord. A neurologist diagnoses and treats conditions of the brain, nerves, and muscles. You might see a neurologist if your baby has seizures, or is born with a nervous system condition like spina bifida. When the problem needs to be corrected with surgery, a neurosurgeon will perform the operation.
An endocrinologist diagnoses and treats hormone problems, such as diabetes. Gastroenterologists are expert at treating digestive problems of the stomach and intestines. A hematologist-oncologist treats blood disorders and cancer. An infant might see this type of doctor for a problem with blood clotting. A nephrologist focuses on diseases of the kidneys and urinary system. If your baby was born with a kidney problem, you will talk to this doctor about treatments, and possibly the need for surgery. Pulmonologists treat newborn lung problems, such as respiratory distress syndrome. You might see this doctor if your baby was born with a breathing condition. Then you'll work with a respiratory therapist to treat the problem.
If you had a very high-risk pregnancy, you'll work with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. This doctor can help if your baby was born prematurely, or you had twins or other multiples. Babies who are born with eye defects see an ophthalmologist, a doctor who diagnoses and treats eye problems. If your newborn needs x-rays, an x-ray technician will take the test, and a radiologist will read the results.
Sometimes babies are born with or at risk for developmental delays. If that is the case, a developmental pediatrician will test your child, and help you find the right care once you leave the NICU. The pediatrician may recommend that you see an occupational or physical therapist to assess your baby's reflexes, movement, and feeding. While you're in the NICU, you'll also see a neonatal nurse practitioner. This specialist will work closely with your doctor to make sure your baby gets just the right care.
Being in the NICU can feel scary and new at first. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Your NICU medical team is there to care for your baby, and to make sure you're prepared to take over that care once you get home.
Review Date: 10/2/2020
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Cell division
1:42
Cesarean section
3:47
Conception - general
1:46
Conception - pregnancy
3:20
Conception of identical twins
0:33
Early labor
0:52
Egg cell production
3:54
Egg production
4:02
Fetal ear development
1:13
Formation of twins
3:44
Human face formation
1:57
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
0:49
Kids - How big is the baby?
1:15
Kids - How does the baby co...
0:42
Kids - Is it a girl or boy?
1:14
Kids - Umbilical cord
1:19
Kids - Where do babies come...
0:50
Ovulation
0:38
Placenta delivery
0:57
Placenta formation
Preeclampsia
0:18
Pregnancy
1:26
Sperm production
2:28
Sperm release pathway
1:53
The role of amniotic fluid
1:45
Twin-to-twin transfusion sy...
1:11
Ultrasound
2:55
Vaginal delivery
0:53
Vasectomy
0:32
Breast engorgement
2:48
C-section
2:14
Endometriosis
2:38
Hysterectomy
2:24
Infant formulas
2:37
Newborn jaundice
2:16
NICU consultants and suppor...
3:13
Pregnancy care
3:18
Storing breast milk
2:07
24-week fetus
Abnormal discharge from the...
Abnormal menstrual periods
Absence of menstruation (am...
Amniocentesis
Amniotic fluid
Anatomy of a normal placenta
Antibodies
Baby burping position
Bananas and nausea
Before and after vasectomy
Birth control methods
Blood cells
Blood test
Breast infection
Breastfeeding
Bulging fontanelles
Candida - fluorescent stain
Caput succedaneum
Childbirth
Chorionic villus sampling
Congenital hip dislocation
Congenital toxoplasmosis
Crying - excessive (0 to 6 ...
Delivery presentations
Developmental milestones
Early weeks of pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy
Emergency Childbirth
Endocrine glands
Endometritis
Erythroblastosis fetalis - ...
Female breast
Female reproductive anatomy
Female reproductive anatomy...
Female urinary tract
Fetal blood testing
Fetal head molding
Fetus at 10 weeks
Fetus at 12 weeks
Fetus at 16 weeks
Fetus at 26 to 30 weeks
Fetus at 3.5 weeks
Fetus at 30 to 32 weeks
Fetus at 7.5 weeks
Fetus at 8.5 weeks
First trimester of pregnancy
Folic acid
Folic acid benefits
Folic acid source
Follicle development
Fontanelles
Foreskin
Genetic counseling and pren...
Gestational ages
Gestational diabetes
Gonadotropins
Head circumference
Heat rash
Height/weight chart
Hormonal effects in newborns
Hormone-based contraceptives
Humidifiers and health
Infant blood sample
Infant care following delivery
Infant diaphragmatic hernia
Infant heat rash
Infant intestines
Infant jaundice
Infantile reflexes
Influenza vaccines
Intraductal papilloma
Intrauterine device
Intrauterine transfusion
Jaundiced infant
Large fontanelles
Large fontanelles (lateral view)
Macrosomia
Male reproductive anatomy
Male urinary tract
Mammary gland
Meconium
Morning sickness
Moro reflex
Newborn head molding
Newborn test
Normal female breast anatomy
Normal uterine anatomy (cut...
Ovarian cyst
Ovarian hypofunction
Overproductive ovaries
Pelvic adhesions
Pelvic laparoscopy
Placenta
Placenta previa
Polyhydramnios
Pregnancy test
Primary amenorrhea
Primary infertility
Secondary amenorrhea
Secondary infection
Side sectional view of fema...
Single palmar crease
Skull of a newborn
Slit-lamp exam
Sperm
Stein-Leventhal syndrome
Sunken fontanelles (superio...
The cervical cap
The diaphragm
The female condom
The male condom
Tobacco health risks
Transvaginal ultrasound
Tubal ligation
Ultrasound in pregnancy
Ultrasound, color - normal ...
Ultrasound, normal fetus - ...
Ultrasound, normal fetus - face
Ultrasound, normal fetus - foot
Ultrasound, normal placenta...
Ultrasound, normal relaxed ...
Umbilical cord healing
Uterus
Vaginal bleeding during pre...
Vaginal ring
Well baby visits
Yeast infections
CPR - infant - series
Exchange transfusion - series
Rh incompatibility - series