Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
When babies are born seriously ill or prematurely, it is a very scary time. We understand. The NICU at Mercy Medical Center Redding is equipped with the latest technology along with specially-trained doctors and nurses to help get your baby healthy, and home.
A Level III NICU
Mercy Redding’s NICU has long been a leader in caring for the smallest of newborns in the North State area, from Medford to Sacramento, from the coast to Reno. In fact, our team of neonatologists (doctors specializing in premature and high-risk babies), registered nurses, respiratory therapists, developmental specialists, lactation consultants, dietitians and pharmacists cares for nearly 400 babies each year.
As a Level III NICU, we are equipped to provide specialized care including invasive monitoring, conventional ventilation, transport service, inhaled nitric oxide and high frequency oscillator ventilation.
Helping Your Baby
Our neonatal intensive care team includes you. As part of our philosophy of family centered care, we encourage you to touch, hold, bathe, change and feed your baby as often as is appropriate for their condition. This will help make your baby’s transition to health and home easier.
However, due to your baby’s fragile condition, you may not always be able to hold or touch them. There are other things you can do such as providing a clean cloth with your scent, a gentle non-moving hand, or assisting with a diaper change or weight check.
Because the well-being of your baby is our primary concern, every time you or a visitor enters the NICU, you must sanitize your hands. Sanitizing is also necessary after touching your cell phone, camera and changing a diaper. Infection prevention and control are very important in the NICU, and we ask that you use the sanitizing gel before touching your baby each time.
Your Baby’s Care
Your baby may be connected to a variety of equipment:
- Monitors are used to track your baby’s heart and respiratory rates, oxygen saturation level and blood pressure. An alarm will sound if anything is out of normal range.
- A medication pump containing fluids and prescribed medications will be delivered through an IV in your baby’s arm.
- Most babies in the neonatal intensive care unit will need help to breathe properly. There are several types of oxygen delivery systems and your baby may be on a number of them based on his or her condition at different times during their stay.
We also offer a developmental care program, as well as the Mercy Donor Milk Program where we work with Prolacta Bioscience. Prolacta produces specialty nutritional formulas made exclusively from human milk for critically ill premature infants.
We know that this is a frightening time, and that it can become overwhelming. We encourage you to ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Our doctors and nurses will explain what’s happening with your baby.
Meet One Of Our NICU Nurses
Joann Thorpe has been a NICU nurse for over 18 years. Her commitment to your baby remains as strong today as the day she entered nursing. Read her story.
Learn More About NICU Services At Mercy Medical Center Redding
For more information about the family birth center, please call (530) 225-6000. For a physician referral, call (888) 628-1948 or use our search tool to Find a Doctor.