Neonatology
At Motherhood, the Division of Neonatal Care aims to provide optimum state-of-the-art care for critically ill and recovering neonates and infants. The Neonatal Care Unit (NICU) at Motherhood is a level III unit. The total number of beds is 70 across all the units in Bangalore which makes us one of the largest neonatal care providers as a group in the state. The highly qualified team of neonatologists with neonatal trained nurses who specialises in the care of the newborn at Motherhood Hospitals offers high-intensity neonatal care 24/7. There is a step-down Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) to take care of preterm babies, who are feeding and growing rapidly but need monitoring until they are fit for discharge.
At motherhood, the Department of Neonatology has neonatologists, paediatricians, paediatric surgeons and nurses trained in new-born care. We also have respiratory therapists who manage respiratory equipment in the NICU, providing breathing treatments, drawing and analysing blood gasses, and participating in transport and codes. We also offer advanced neonatal screening programmes such as genetic disorders screening, a retinal screening, OAE & BERA hearing screening, hip screening, and heart screening.
We recommend parents to participate during medical rounds and engage in skin-to-skin contact, which has been shown to have a positive impact on an infant’s neurologic and physical health.
With state-of-the-art Neonatal Transport facility (NICU Ambulance or ICU on the wheels), Motherhood Hospitals can carry out acute neonatal transfers on the road. The ambulance is equipped with a transport incubator which helps babies maintain temperature and the ventilator gives breathing support at the same time as being transferred.
Neonatal Treatments and Procedures
- Provide neonatal resuscitation at every delivery.
- Care of babies born to high-risk mothers.
- Care of low birth weight babies.
- Care of sick newborn.
- Post-operative care.
- Newborn screening for hearing defects and inborn errors of metabolism.
- Antenatal counselling.
- Neonatal surgery including urological and thoracic problems.
- Total body cooling.
Latest Technology in the NICU:
High-end Ventilation support –
Motherhood Hospitals is equipped with invasive and non-invasive ventilation services. We also offer advanced ventilation program in the form of High-Frequency Oscillation Ventilation (HFOV).
iND (Inhaled Nitric Oxide) –
Our hospital is dedicated to providing advanced therapy to babies with severe pulmonary hypertension.
Total Body Cooling –
Some newborn babies experience asphyxia (it is an abnormal neurological state result from reduced levels of oxygen). The NICU has a servo-controlled machine with a water-filled cooling blanket where we keep the baby for monitoring. The body temperature of the baby is reduced to 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33.5 degrees Celsius) and maintained for three days.
