Complications Giving Birth – Levels of NICU
Pregnant women may have heard the term NICU, which stands for neonatal intensive care unit. When there are complications giving birth, a baby may require special care in the NICU. One of the most common complications giving birth is premature delivery,
defined as any time before 37 weeks’ gestation.
Complications vary in premature births:
- Immature lung development is the primary concern that doctors have for premature labor, and there are ways to check the maturity level of the baby’s lungs.
- Infection may be a possibility due to weak immunity, and placing the baby in an incubator is a way to protect from infections. The incubator also helps the baby maintain body heat, another issue of prematurity.
- Jaundice is a yellowish skin color that is treated by a special light in the NICU.
- Premature newborns may need feeding through an intravenous (IV) tube if their gastrointestinal system isn’t able to absorb nutrients yet or if they don’t have the ability to suck or swallow on their own.
- Other conditions may also occur with red blood cell counts, intestines or the heart, or there may be bacteria in the bloodstream.
Many women don’t know there will be complications giving birth until the day arrives. Therefore, it’s helpful to understand about hospitals’ different levels of neonatal care. Here is what to expect from each of the NICU levels:
Level I Perinatal Centers-Basic Care:
Provide care for uncomplicated obstetrical patients (excluding cesarean delivery) and basic and transitional newborn care. Requires the ability to detect, stabilize and initiate management of unanticipated problems until the patient can be transferred
to a facility for the appropriate level of care.
Level II Perinatal Centers- Subspecialty Care:
Provide care for low-risk, uncomplicated and selected high-risk mothers and newborns. Requires the ability to detect, stabilize and initiate management of unanticipated problems until the patient can be transferred to a facility for the appropriate level
of care.
Centers should not electively deliver infants <32weeks’ gestation.
Level IIIa Perinatal Centers-Advanced Care
Provide care for low-risk, uncomplicated and selected high-risk mothers and newborns. Requires the ability to detect, stabilize and initiate management of unanticipated problems until the patient can be transferred to a facility for the appropriate level
of care. Has specially trained doctors and nurses, plus a range of specialists available, in house or nearby, as is the technology need to care for premature babies and those with more serious issues.
Centers should not electively deliver infants <28 weeks’ gestation.
Level IIIb Perinatal Centers-Complex Care
Provide care for low-risk, uncomplicated to more complex maternal and neonatal medical conditions, obstetric and fetal complications. Requires the ability to detect, stabilize and initiate management of unanticipated problems until the patient can be
transferred to appropriate level of care. Has specially trained doctors and nurses, plus a range of specialists available, in house or nearby, as is the technology need to care for premature babies and those with more serious issues.
Centers care for all gestation ages and select subspecialty and intensive care.
Level IV Perinatal Centers-Critical Care
Provide care for low-risk, uncomplicated to more critical maternal and neonatal medical conditions, obstetric and fetal complications. They have all the same capabilities of a Level III a/b NICU while also having additional capabilities, expertise and
experience in caring for those infants needing the most critical, complex and urgent care, including those needing surgical attention.
Centers care for all gestation ages and select subspecialty and intensive care.
Mom and Baby Care
