Sometimes tiny newborns need extra attention at birth. Kootenai Health’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and staff provide the attention these babies require.
Kootenai Health has 12 private and spacious rooms in our NICU. These rooms have been specifically designed to accommodate at least one parent who wishes to stay with baby. Benefits of having private rooms include more time spent with family, earlier acquisition of feeding skills, healthier weights, fewer procedures, and reduced risk for infection or sepsis, less stress and pain, and improvement in overall development.
Neonatal care at Kootenai Health is designed for babies who need special monitoring and medical attention. Our NICU can care for babies born as early as 26 weeks gestation, and those as small as about 2 pounds.
Our experienced, board-certified neonatologists care for these fragile newborns around the clock. All medical care is supported by a team of highly qualified professionals.
Milk Room
As part of Kootenai Health’s recent 100,000-square-foot addition, the hospital expanded its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to include a milk room. Specially trained staff use the designated room to manage, store and prepare breast milk that new mothers express for their babies in the NICU. Nurses or the parents feed mom’s milk to the baby with a specialized bottle, or even through a tube if medically necessary.
Respiratory Therapy
Sometimes newborns that are very tiny will have trouble breathing. The nursery’s respiratory therapists have been trained in the unique needs of newborns, providing oxygen or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as needed.
Feeding
Nursery staff guides new parents through feeding and bonding options for special care babies, including the kangaroo care bonding technique. If needed, additional nutrition can be provided until baby is ready for oral feedings, including the option for donor human milk. Registered dietitians specializing in neonatal care help ensure babies receive the nutrition they need to thrive. Parents can rest assured that their newborns are receiving the best care possible.
Kootenai is one of only about 300 Baby-Friendly hospitals in the nation. This designation marks the highest standard of care for mothers and babies and a commitment to improving infant health through breastfeeding and other practices that promote bonding. An active team of lactation consultants helps ensure that mother and baby have every opportunity to begin breastfeeding successfully.
Baby’s Development
From baby’s first hours, physical, occupational and speech therapists are assessing baby’s needs. With special training in infant development, they help ensure a safe, comforting and developmentally appropriate environment. Follow-up rehabilitation is also available at Kootenai’s Rehabilitation Services.
NicView Camera System
We are pleased to be able to offer all families with an infant in our unit the option of being able to view their infants on any mobile device. The Nicview camera system is a state-of-the-art system that provides secure live streams video of your baby when you are not able to be there in person. By offering an access code that is specific to your infant, you may personally choose to allow siblings, relatives, and friends to view your new arrival from anywhere in the United States and around the world.
