About - Special Care Baby Unit
Special Care Baby Unit |
The Unit has been purpose built and provides care for up to 15 babies. Three of the cots are dedicated for intensive care; the remainder are used for high dependency and the special care needs of the babies in their care.
The care is provided by a Consultant-directed team of expert medical and nursing specialists trained in this field of medicine. Other supporting members of the team included physiotherapists, technicians from the x-ray, hearing and eye departments, pharmacists, volunteers the hospital chaplain and the Special Care Support Group members.
The care is provided by a Consultant-directed team of expert medical and nursing specialists trained in this field of medicine. Other supporting members of the team included physiotherapists, technicians from the x-ray, hearing and eye departments, pharmacists, volunteers the hospital chaplain and the Special Care Support Group members.
Unit philosophy
The philosophy is to maintain a safe environment, and one which encourages the highest of skilled and compassionate care for your baby.
An environment which encourages the relationship between parents and their baby and the promotion of the family unit.
An environment which encourages the relationship between parents and their baby and the promotion of the family unit.
Reason for admission
The majority of babies admitted to SCBU are premature (born early).
There are other reasons which may also require your baby to be admitted, for example:
There are other reasons which may also require your baby to be admitted, for example:
- Babies whose birth weight is less than 2.4kg (5lbs 4oz)
- Babies who have breathing problems or appear unwell at birth and who may require oxygen therapy and/or assistance with breathing from a ventilator or flow driver
- Babies where there is a risk of infection, most commonly when the membranes have ruptured (“waters have broken”) more than 24 hours before delivery
- Babies whose jaundice requires further investigation and/or specific treatment
- Babies with feeding problems, including a low blood sugar result
- Any baby on the delivery or post-natal wards whose condition is a cause for concern and who may require further investigation and treatment
The early days
Whilst your baby is on SCBU you are encouraged to be involved in your baby’s care as early as possible. Early attachment to all the family is important, and so talking to and touching your baby is essential. It is amazing how tiny babies react to their parents, and your nervousness in handling them will soon disappear.
Parents are often taken aback by the appearance of their baby. Premature babies are often tiny, thin and frail-looking. The large head and tummy may look out of proportion with the skinny chest, arms and legs. Their skin may also look wrinkled because the baby has not yet developed baby fat, and may be covered in fine hair.
As your baby grows he/she will lose their body hair, and become round and chubby. Your baby may be quite sleepy and quiet initially, but this is common.
Parents are often quite anxious about their baby’s weight; it is normal for newborn babies to lose weight in the first week to ten days. Babies are routinely weighed on the Unit twice a week, and you will be kept informed of their progress.
The majority of the babies are initially nursed in incubators. As they grow, mature and become more stable, they will be transferred into a cot.
The medical staff may need to perform necessary tests on your baby from time to time. These tests could include blood tests, hearing and eye tests, x-rays, and other specialised tests. These tests will be discussed with you, prior to them being carried out.
The Unit provides a large range of baby clothes for you to choose from, or you can provide your own. Premature baby clothes can be expensive, it is amazing how quickly your baby will grow. Please feel free to use cameras and video cameras.
Parents are often taken aback by the appearance of their baby. Premature babies are often tiny, thin and frail-looking. The large head and tummy may look out of proportion with the skinny chest, arms and legs. Their skin may also look wrinkled because the baby has not yet developed baby fat, and may be covered in fine hair.
As your baby grows he/she will lose their body hair, and become round and chubby. Your baby may be quite sleepy and quiet initially, but this is common.
Parents are often quite anxious about their baby’s weight; it is normal for newborn babies to lose weight in the first week to ten days. Babies are routinely weighed on the Unit twice a week, and you will be kept informed of their progress.
The majority of the babies are initially nursed in incubators. As they grow, mature and become more stable, they will be transferred into a cot.
The medical staff may need to perform necessary tests on your baby from time to time. These tests could include blood tests, hearing and eye tests, x-rays, and other specialised tests. These tests will be discussed with you, prior to them being carried out.
The Unit provides a large range of baby clothes for you to choose from, or you can provide your own. Premature baby clothes can be expensive, it is amazing how quickly your baby will grow. Please feel free to use cameras and video cameras.
Registering your baby
When your baby is born the hospital staff send a Birth Notification to the Registrar. You will then need to make an appointment with the office to register your baby’s birth. There is a six week time scale to register your baby. A leaflet explaining the process is available on the Unit.
Equipment
One of the most frightening aspects of the Special Care Baby Unit is the amount of equipment that can surround your baby. The staff are happy to explain its purpose and the reasons why it is being used. Please do not hesitate to ask questions – your fears can be greatly reduced with an understanding of what the “dials and bleeps” mean
Care of your Baby
Your baby has been protected in a dark, warm womb and is suddenly exposed to bright lights, noise and possibly painful procedures, and may no longer feel protected and secure.
We try to keep the lighting in the nurseries subdued; just using the dimmer switches and lamps. You may also notice that your baby’s incubator is covered with a cover to create some shade.
The Unit can be a noisy place but we do try and keep noise to a minimum, especially during rest periods. Talk gently and quietly to your baby. Try and close incubator doors and bin lids quietly. Don’t worry though if you have a lively toddler with you – your baby will have to get used to having them around!
Babies like to feel cozy and secure and we find that by providing boundaries or nesting for the babies in their incubators or cots with blankets or sheets they are more settled and rested. The nurses will show you how to do this.
There are a few things that you can do to help both calm and stimulate your baby.
These include
Finally remember – YOU are the constant factor in your baby’s life, and you do contribute so much to your baby’s well being. The Unit could not manage without you.
We try to keep the lighting in the nurseries subdued; just using the dimmer switches and lamps. You may also notice that your baby’s incubator is covered with a cover to create some shade.
The Unit can be a noisy place but we do try and keep noise to a minimum, especially during rest periods. Talk gently and quietly to your baby. Try and close incubator doors and bin lids quietly. Don’t worry though if you have a lively toddler with you – your baby will have to get used to having them around!
Babies like to feel cozy and secure and we find that by providing boundaries or nesting for the babies in their incubators or cots with blankets or sheets they are more settled and rested. The nurses will show you how to do this.
There are a few things that you can do to help both calm and stimulate your baby.
These include
- talking, singing, saying nursery rhymes, telling stories
- playing cd’s of gentle music, nursery rhymes or lullabies
- cuddling stroking, rocking and holding
- kangaroo care, skin to skin and baby massage
- you could put something that smells of you or your home in the incubator or cot e.g. scarf or special blanket
- photographs of you, or the baby’s brother or sister can be placed inside or beside the incubator or cot
- pictures, drawing or small toys can be placed near their bedside
Finally remember – YOU are the constant factor in your baby’s life, and you do contribute so much to your baby’s well being. The Unit could not manage without you.
Feeding your Special Care Baby
The nutritional needs of the premature baby are different from those of a full term infant. During the last weeks of pregnancy the growth rate of the unborn baby is almost twice that of the full term infant in the first few weeks of life. Sucking and swallowing reflexes are absent or poorly coordinated in babies of 33 weeks gestation, so specialised feeding may be required.
Mothers are given support and guidance with whatever method they choose to feed their baby by.
Some babies are strong enough to suck from the breast or bottle from birth. If this is not possible then your baby may need feeding by a tube, which is passed through the baby’s nose and goes into the stomach. This is called naso-gastric feeding. Mother’s breast milk or formula milk may be given this way. The nursing staff perform naso-gastric feed, but you may be taught how to do this if your baby is on the Unit for a length of time.
Very small or sick babies may not be able to tolerate naso-gastric feeds. Nourishment is therefore given continuously through an artery or a vein. It is know as intravenous feeding. If this method of feeding is necessary then breast milk can be frozen and saved until your baby is strong enough to tolerate milk. Humilactors (electric breast pumps) can be borrowed from SCBU whilst your baby is still on the Unit.
Babies often need Vitamin supplements whilst on the Unit and after discharge, to help promote growth. This will be discussed with you.
Vitamin K is given to every baby at birth, (with your permission).
A heel prick blood test is routinely performed on all babies as part of the National Metabolic Screening Programme when they reach 5 days of age. This is to exclude some rare conditions such as phenylketonuria. A leaflet will be given to you prior to the test.
All babies will have a hearing test (audiology) in their first few weeks of life as part of the NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
Some babies may also need their eyes checking for Retinopathy Of The Newborn, again this will be discussed with you by the nursing staff.
Mothers are given support and guidance with whatever method they choose to feed their baby by.
Some babies are strong enough to suck from the breast or bottle from birth. If this is not possible then your baby may need feeding by a tube, which is passed through the baby’s nose and goes into the stomach. This is called naso-gastric feeding. Mother’s breast milk or formula milk may be given this way. The nursing staff perform naso-gastric feed, but you may be taught how to do this if your baby is on the Unit for a length of time.
Very small or sick babies may not be able to tolerate naso-gastric feeds. Nourishment is therefore given continuously through an artery or a vein. It is know as intravenous feeding. If this method of feeding is necessary then breast milk can be frozen and saved until your baby is strong enough to tolerate milk. Humilactors (electric breast pumps) can be borrowed from SCBU whilst your baby is still on the Unit.
Babies often need Vitamin supplements whilst on the Unit and after discharge, to help promote growth. This will be discussed with you.
Vitamin K is given to every baby at birth, (with your permission).
A heel prick blood test is routinely performed on all babies as part of the National Metabolic Screening Programme when they reach 5 days of age. This is to exclude some rare conditions such as phenylketonuria. A leaflet will be given to you prior to the test.
All babies will have a hearing test (audiology) in their first few weeks of life as part of the NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
Some babies may also need their eyes checking for Retinopathy Of The Newborn, again this will be discussed with you by the nursing staff.
Visiting
The following visiting policy has been implemented on this unit in order to reduce cross contamination and the risk of infection to your baby and others during your stay here with us on SCBU
- Parents and siblings can visit any time, but you may be asked to leave during nursing handover times (07.30-08.00 and 19.30-20.00)
- All other visitors may visit between the hours of 15.00-16.00 and 18.00-19.00, and MUST be accompanied by a parent
- Only parents, siblings and grandparents may visit while your baby is in Intensive care. Aunties/uncles and other relatives may visit once your baby is in HDU or the nursery
- No children under 16 (except siblings) are allowed in. Siblings MUST be supervised by parents at all times
- Only three visitors per cot (must include one parent)
- No visitors in parents accommodation at any time
- In the event you are unwell, please ring the staff for advice before visiting the unit. This is to minimise the risk of cross infection to your baby and others on the unit
- In order to protect the confidentiality of all the baby’s on the unit, we kindly ask you to stay with your own baby at all times and to refrain from asking staff information regarding other babies
- All visitors to the unit must adhere to the ward hand washing policy, and leave outside coats/jackets on allocated pegs in main corridor
- Parents seating area/accommodation is available to parents only during your stay on SCBU. Please ensure that you clean up after yourselves if you make use of the facilities provided.
Secruity
During the past few years, York Hospitals NHS Trust has increased security throughout the hospital. In the area of the Maternity Unit and SCBU, closed circuit TV is in operation 24 hours a day.
All babies have a security tag on and access to the Special Care Baby Unit is restricted and monitored.
The entrance to the Unit is via an intercom/camera system.
All babies have a security tag on and access to the Special Care Baby Unit is restricted and monitored.
The entrance to the Unit is via an intercom/camera system.
Accommodation Rules
Parents please note:
Thank you for your Co-operation
- We have 3 accommodation rooms available here on SCBU, funded by our parent’s charity Cherish
- The purpose of these rooms is to provide the opportunity to stay and care for your baby whilst they are on the unit
- Whilst here on the unit you will be expected to take part in all aspects of looking after your baby, for example, feeding, bathing both day and night
- During your stay with us could you please keep your room, kitchen area and seating area clean and tidy
- Accommodation is offered for up to 4 nights. This is reviewed on a daily basis by the nurse in charge. If we require the room in an emergency, you may be asked to vacate the room before the 4 nights is up
- No visitors are allowed in accommodation, at any time. The purpose of parents accommodation is to provide a peaceful place for parents to rest or spend quality time with their baby
Thank you for your Co-operation
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