What is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?
MeritCare Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is designed specifically for newborns who require constant care, complicated surgical procedures, continuous respiratory support or other intensive interventions. The NICU combines state-of-the-art equipment with specialists who have extensive training, experience and professional certification in caring for babies born with life-threatening conditions. Most babies admitted to the NICU are premature (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy), have low birthweight (less than 5.5 pounds) or have a medical condition that requires special care. Twins, triplets and other multiples are often admitted to the NICU because they tend to be born earlier and smaller than single birth babies. Babies with medical conditions such as heart problems, infections or birth defects are also cared for in the NICU.
