Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Levels III and IV
Featuring 50 beds, our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is led by a team of experts who focus on prematurity, birth defects, failure to thrive and other illnesses. When coming to the NICU, please stop at the front desk and sign in. We ask that you:
- Have identification ready in the form of ID bracelet, driver’s license or other picture ID.
- Complete a brief health screening.
- Sign in under your child’s folder with room number. You need to sign in only once a day, but please check in at the front desk when re-entering the unit.
- Remove all jewelry below the elbows, except plain wedding bands, and wash your hands up to your elbows with soap for one full minute before entering the unit.
- Encourage siblings who are younger than 12 to visit during the hours of 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Child life specialists are available to help siblings adjust to this new family situation.
- Try to limit the number of family or friends at the bedside to two people.
Your baby’s nurse will talk with you about your baby’s daily routine and plan of care. Some babies can tolerate more stimulation than others. We will teach you about your baby’s cues and body language and how to use the signs to guide your interaction with him or her. Smaller and sicker babies may only be able to stand a light touch and soft voices while other babies may enjoy being held for long periods of time.
When it is time for your baby to go home, we want to ensure that you are prepared. The baby’s mother must be present at discharge unless other arrangements have been made. Anyone picking up the baby must show an ID. You may park and pick-up at the Maynard Children’s Hospital entrance. For the trip home, remember to bring baby clothes and receiving blankets. You will also need a car seat. Use the same car seat that was used to do your baby’s car seat evaluation. Car seat evaluations can be done at the Greenville Fire/Rescue Headquarters located at 500 S. Greene Street. Please be sure you know how to properly place your baby in the car seat before coming to the hospital.