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| Whilst in hospital: Parent's pages: |
You may find it useful to take note of the information here.
Staying with your baby
We encourage you to come and stay with your baby before discharge. This is a way of gaining confidence in caring for your
baby and establishing feeding routines. We also use this time to show you how to give your baby any medicines required
(usually just vitamins and iron). You can learn how to make up feeds, sterilise equipment, and anything else you may need
to know.
Parent's facilities
You can make use of our parent and baby rooms. Each room has a television and en suite toilet and wash facilities. There is also
a shower room available. There are tea and coffee making facilities in the sitting room. Meals can be provided for you
on the postnatal ward, or if you prefer, you can use the staff canteen.
We do ask you not to bring alcohol, large amounts of clothing, tobacco products, jewellery, large amounts of money,
cheque books, credit cards, pension or allowance books or any items of value. Any item not handed in for safe keeping,
which is lost or damaged, is not the responsibility of the Trust.
PARENTS' SUPPORT GROUP
"Airedale Baby and Co" is the name of the Parents Support Group. Its main objective is to provide parent
to parent support. Where possible we try to match parents who have had babies with similar problems.
The group also has various social functions and is involved in fund-raising events. All new parents are welcome to come
to the meetings. The dates and times of the meetings are displayed on the unit.
Click here to go to the
Parent's Support Group site.
Medical equipment used in our unit
We realise that many eqipment in the neonatal unit may cause anxiety for you and we will try to ease this by explaining what each equipment is
used for. The picture below shows a typical intensive care set up although we must stress that your baby will not necessarily be needing intensive care.
The rest of this page shows several common items and explained their uses.
INCUBATOR
Many babies admitted to the Unit will be nursed in an incubator. This provides controlled heat and humidity. The clear
plastic top of the incubator allows us to observe your baby carefully. Oxygen is sometimes needed to aid breathing. This
can be piped into the incubator.
APNOEA (BREATHING) MONITOR
This is a pad placed under the baby's mattress that is attached to a small recording box. This senses each breath your
baby takes. It helps to monitor the baby's breathing. It is used in babies born before 34 weeks gestation or those who
have had breathing problems.
VENTILATOR (left)
Babies who are born very preterm, or those with severe breathing difficulties may require help with their breathing. This can
be done by passing a small tube through their mouth into the windpipe (trachea) of the lungs.
This tube (an endotracheal tube) is held firmly in place by taping it to the baby's cheeks. The tube is then attached to
the ventilator which breaths for the baby. Oxygen is pushed into the baby's lungs and carbon dioxide is removed.
Most premature babies on the ventilator will be given surfactant treatment. This should help the baby's breathing by making
the lungs less stiff.
Some babies will be treated with CPAP (bottom right). This is a type of ventilation with small tubes inserted up the nose. It is easier on
the baby's lungs than normal ventilation. 
MONITOR
Close observation and monitoring will be needed and there will always be a nurse present.
We may monitor your baby's heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels, using specially designed machines.
These often ring alarms to inform the nurses that your baby may need some attention. The nurses will explain the alarms to
you.
PHOTOTHERAPY UNIT
Many newborn babies develop jaundice. It is more common if they are born early as their liver is still immature. If the
jaundice level becomes high they can become sleepy and poor at feeding.
To treat jaundice, babies are nursed under a special 'blue light' - a phototherapy unit.
Usually the baby will be nursed naked so the body can then be exposed to the light. The baby's eyes will be protected as
the light is quite bright to look at. The light is not ultraviolet so will not damage your baby.
The length of time a baby is nursed under the light depends upon the jaundice level. This is monitored daily by a blood test.
BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS
A blood gas machine measures the level of oxygen, carbon dioxide, hemoglobin and pH of human blood. It is used to evaluate
diseases and conditions of lungs and kidneys of infants, and the effectiveness of giving oxygen. The picture on the right shows a blood gas machine.
INTRAVENOUS INFUSION
Babies who are very sick may need to be given medication intravenously. The picture below shows an infusion machine.
Investigations which may be needed
Whilst your baby is on the Neonatal Unit some of the following investigations may be needed.
BLOOD SAMPLES
These are usually taken by the doctors or nursing staff. Small amounts of blood are collected by pricking the baby's heel
or by putting a fine needle into a vein.
X-RAYS
These are ordered by the doctor and are taken by a radiographer. We use a portable X-ray machine so your baby does not need to be moved.
The picture on the right shows a portable x-ray machine.
TRANSFERS
Occasionally babies have problems that may require more specialist investigations or treatment. Our unit at Airedale
General Hospital may not be able to provide them. A baby with a heart defect or one who needs emergency surgery may be
transferred to the General Infirmary in Leeds. The picture below shows a transport incubator used for the transfer.
If this is likely to happen to your baby you will be fully informed. The reasons for transfer will be explained to you.
If you wish to stay with your baby at the receiving hospital we will try to make the necessary arrangements.
Continue to FEEDING YOUR BABY......