Neonatal unit

An introduction to the neonatal unit

This video will introduce you to life on a neonatal unit. It's designed to show you some of the things you might come across on the unit, how you can get involved with your baby's care and what support is available for families both on the unit and at home.

The following animation is a useful resource for expectant and new parents about what to expect if their baby is admitted to a neonatal unit. It follows four families through a 24-hour period on the neonatal unit and has been fully co-produced with parents and staff.

• Prematurity or low birth weight
• Babies born and struggling with how they were made, generally known as a congenital anomaly.
• Babies born with an infection or requiring support at birth
• Genetic conditions requiring support
• Other conditions requiring support

Immune boost benefits

Every drop counts, and our team will support you to give your baby the best possible start, whatever your feeding journey looks like.

Breast milk provides a powerful immune boost for premature and unwell babies, supporting their growth, development and protection against infection. It is easier for a baby’s immature digestive system to tolerate and contains essential nutrients, antibodies and protective factors that help reduce the risk of complications associated with prematurity.

Colostrum and breast milk are especially important in the early weeks, acting almost like a medicine - every drop makes a difference. As well as supporting your baby’s health, expressing and providing breast milk can help strengthen bonding during what can be an uncertain time. Our teams are here to support you throughout your expressing journey, helping you to establish and maintain your milk supply with guidance, encouragement and practical support.

More information

Find more information on feeding premature babies on this useful resource developed by our neonatal infant feeding specialist, Zoe.

Kangaroo Care

It is highly evidenced on the importance of Skin to skin or Kangaroo care for premature babies.

As part of UNICEF accreditation it is recommended that all babies receive skin to skin at birth.

Here we highlight the additional benefits for babies in the neonatal unit of having kangaroo care.

• Improves oxygen saturation
• Reduces cortisol (stress) levels particularly following painful procedures
• Encourages pre-feeding behaviour
• Assists with growth
• May reduce hospital stay
• If the mother expresses following a period of skin-to-skin contact, her milk volume will improve and the milk expressed will contain the most up-to-date antibodies

Watch: Best beginnings video of Kangaroo care.

• A parents guide to expecting before 20+0 weeks gestation
• Very early babies
• Transferring to another hospital during pregnancy 
• Bliss for supporting families with premature babies
• SANDS – Supporting families through loss.
• Lullaby trust for safer sleep advice 
• Babies cry you can cope ICON 
• Breastfeeding network 
• Twins 
• Breastfeeding Friend on Amazon Alexa and Google
• Baby Buddy App – Endorsed by the NHS
• UNICEF
• Start for life Breastfeeding Leaflet 
• Going Home
• Look at me, I'm talking to you
• Skin to skin wth your premature baby
• Best beginnings website

What our patients say about our Transitional Care Unit

All the staff were lovely and took very good care of my son and I, including understanding the emotional side of having a premature baby and having other children at home.

All staff gave very good care during day and night. Always answered for all my worried question and showed how to work after my babies.

What our patients say about our Neonatal Unit

Amazing staff so caring felt safe leaving my baby, fast acting, good communication.

From the moment of been admitted onto the ward everyone was welcoming, reassuring in such a scary time for us nothing was ever too much to ask, there no silly questions. All the staff were encountered were all amazing.

Everyone is lovely, for any questions I had and if they weren’t sure they found the information out for me. They also took into consideration about my situation and put me into the flat so I was able to stay close to my baby boy.

Bliss Baby Charter

Bliss Baby Charter gives the Neonatal Unit clear focus that is based on and supports national standards and puts families at the centre of care. There are 7 principles and these are:

• Social, development and emotional needs
• Decision making
• Specialist services and staff
• Benchmarking
• Unit information and Support for families
• Feeding
• Discharge

Integrated family care

On the Neonatal Unit, babies are physically separated from their parents and this often has an impact on the physical, psychological, emotional health of both the parents and their babies. Family Centred Care is an approach to planning and delivery of health care that encourages greater parent involvement in their babies care.