Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)

NICU stands for neonatal intensive care unit. It's a specialized hospital department designed to care for premature, medically fragile or critically ill newborns. To us, it's a place of hope and healing. Our neonatal intensive care units provide around-the-clock care from teams using advanced, life-saving technology in a deeply compassionate, family-centered environment.

A NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) specializes in the care of premature and critically ill newborns, usually from birth up to 28 days of life. A PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) provides intensive care for older infants, children and adolescents. If your newborn needs critical care right after birth, they will be cared for in the NICU.

You'll see many faces in the NICU, all working together for your baby. Your team is led by neonatologists (pediatricians with advanced training in newborn intensive care) and pediatric subspecialists. NICU nurses and neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) provide specialized, around-the-clock medical care. But they also do much more. Through our Compassionate Beginnings program, our nurses help you form a loving bond with your baby, teaching you how to read their cues and use the language of touch. You'll also be supported by respiratory therapists managing breathing equipment, and child life specialists and social workers dedicated to your family's emotional needs.

Babies are admitted to the NICU for a variety of newborn health challenges, most commonly for prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), jaundice, infections, neurological conditions or congenital heart defects. Healing and growth go hand-in-hand. Depending on your baby's needs, their neonatal care team includes physical, occupational, speech and music therapists who work with your infant right in the NICU. To ensure your baby gets the exact nutrition they need to thrive, we also have registered dieticians, lactation consultants and dedicated milk technicians on staff.

Navigating the details of a NICU stay can be stressful, which is why our dedicated social workers and financial counselors are here to help you understand your insurance coverage and manage logistics. Additionally, our NICU Family Advisory Council — made up of former NICU parents and staff — works to create a comforting environment and provide resources to help families facing hardships.

We want you to feel supported and at home. Depending on the location, our NICUs offer single-patient or private rooms equipped with sleeper sofas, hospital-grade breast pumps and breastmilk storage. You’ll also find family lounges with kitchens, showers and patio access.

For out-of-town families, we can connect you with nearby lodging, including discounted hotel rates, the Ronald McDonald House and the Bill and Elizabeth Shea House at Sutter Santa Rosa. We also offer parent support groups — like our weekly Tea Time — and parent mentors to connect you with others who have walked this path.

Every baby is unique, so the length of a NICU stay depends entirely on your baby's specific health needs. But our commitment to your baby's health extends well beyond the hospital. If your baby meets certain high-risk criteria, we'll enroll you in our High-Risk Infant Follow-Up program. We schedule checkups during your child's first three years of life, allowing our multidisciplinary team to monitor their progress and connect you with early intervention services to encourage optimal growth and development. Before your baby is discharged from the NICU, your care team will talk to you about the program.