Neonatal
We look after vulnerable babies who need a higher level of medical care soon after birth.
If your baby is born too early or is experiencing problems, they may be transferred to the NNU for additional support and if more specialist care is required your baby may need to be transferred to the regional neonatal centre in Oxford.
We may admit your baby to our Neonatal Unit if your baby:
- is born before 37 weeks gestation (a premature birth)
- needs help with their breathing
- weighs less than 1.8kg
- has jaundice that needs intensive treatment
- needs additional support that can’t be managed on the postnatal ward
Supporting your baby’s care
We encourage you to participate in your baby’s care as much as possible. If you wish to breastfeed but your baby is too poorly, we can provide facilities and support for you to express your breast milk. We’ll securely store your milk until your baby is well enough to feed.
Take a 3D tour
Take a 3D tour of the ward it provides an opportunity to virtually ‘walk the ward’. You can self-navigate or click on the play button for an easy 3D tour experience. Information tags have been added to explain the different areas of the neonatal unit and the equipment, this enables families to familiarise themselves with the clinical area and gain valuable information about their stay.
Information videos about neonatal care
You can also watch a series of 3 videos providing information about maternity and neonatal care for premature babies: Journey of a pre-term baby
Support for parents and relatives
We have a specialist group that is available to support parents of babies needing care on the Neonatal Unit. The Baby Unit Relatives and Parent Support group (BURPS) is run by parents and relatives who have had a baby on the unit. They understand the situation that parents find themselves in and provide additional support and practical help.
Email Burps.members@gmail.com or find the group’s Facebook page (BURPS Neonatal Department at Stoke Mandeville Hospital).