Intensive Care for Newborns

Level III NICUs at Three Area Hospitals

Three Ascension Southeast Wisconsin Hospitals have high-level neonatal intensive care for very sick babies.

SE Wisconsin Neonatal Intensive Care

As part of our total Perinatal Care approach, Ascension newborn medicine teams in our Level III neonatal intensive care units (NICU) care for very sick babies with compassion and personalized care. Our highly experienced Ascension Medical Group neonatal-perinatal medicine doctors and highly experienced NICU nurses gives your baby and family the best care possible.

Depending on the needs of your baby at birth, our other three Ascension SE Wisconsin hospitals have special care nurseries with varying levels of care.

Not all sick babies need to be in the NICU, but when they do, we have that care close to home. The specialized training of our OB and MFM doctors manage the obstetrical, medical and surgical complications of pregnancy for both the mother and baby. They plan for potential labor and delivery complications, such as preterm labor, premature rupture of the membranes, or maternal and fetal infections. The NICU team is right there to move your baby into the intensive neonatal care unit, as needed.

Premature babies and Sick Newborns Face Many of the Same Conditions

Neonatologists and the NICU team work quickly to stabilize and manage your baby’s vital signs and symptoms. Conditions may include:

  • Bowel and urinary problems
  • Breathing problems
  • Congenital abnormalities (birth defects)
  • Feeding issues
  • Inability to maintain normal body heat
  • Infection
  • Jaundice (yellow skin)
  • Low birth weight

They coordinate consultations with pediatric specialists for complex newborn health condition that may need lifesaving surgical procedures, medications or therapies.

Specializing in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

At Columbia-St. Mary’s, All Saints Hospital, and St. Joseph Hospital, the neonatal intensive care team specializes in treating babies exposed to opioid drugs while in the womb. We have a care team to manage the health of these infants and the drug withdrawal process that starts happening after birth. To learn more, read about NAS.

These infants often require intensive care in a NICU. Our Level III NICUs are equipped with innovative treatments, crib-side technology, and a multi-specialty care team representing many different medical specialties.

The best way to take care of your baby is to take care of yourself, before and during pregnancy and after the birth. Ascension Wisconsin offers many types of women’s health services. Talk to your doctor about healthcare services that fit the needs of you and your growing family.

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