Information for Families

Our NICU team members work together to provide quality intensive care services. We are dedicated to providing a safe and caring environment for your baby, while respecting your needs as a family.

Parenting in the NICU

Parents are not considered visitors in our NICU, and are encouraged to visit their baby often. We encourage frequent visitation with parents to aid in the bonding process and offer a private family room in the nursery.

Family Time

Parents are welcome to be with their infant at all times. Parents will be asked to determine a list of visitors that are approved to visit their baby.  For your baby’s privacy and safety, we ask that only two visitors at a time come into the NICU to visit.

After 10:00 p.m., parents and visitors must enter the medical center through the Emergency Department.

For added security, the doors providing access to the nursery are locked at all times. Should parents need access, they must ring the bell for an employee.

Other Visitors

Siblings - Siblings over four years of age may visit the NICU during most times when accompanied by parents. However, based on cold and flu season (and other respiratory illenesses), visits may be restricted. Please check with the nursing staff. Children must not be left alone and must be supervised at all times by an adult family member.

Non-sibling children - In general, non-sibling children under the age of 12 may not visit the NICU.

Family Safety

For the safety and well being of your baby, visitors may be required to show identification at any time. Valid identification includes parent/baby bracelets and/or any picture identification.

Family Privacy

To provide privacy to all babies and families in the unit, we ask that you and your visitors remain at your own baby’s bedside. You may only take photos or video of your own baby.

Obtaining Information About Your Baby

Do not hesitate to ask your baby's doctor, nurse practitioner or nurse any questions you may have about your baby's condition. To avoid delays, it is best not to call around change of shift (7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.) 

The NICU staff is instructed to give specific information to parents. Please inform other friends and relatives that they will not be given information over the phone about your baby's condition.

Screening for Infection

Family and visitors must be free of illness (colds, cough, rash, diarrhea, sore throat, vomiting). Before a sibling visits, the responsible adult will be questioned about the child's exposure to contagious diseases such as cold, flu, viruses, chickenpox and strep throat. 

Hand Hygiene in the NICU

Because babies in the NICU are more susceptible to hospital-acquired infection, it is important to clean (disinfect) your hands prior to touching your baby. If you touch equipment in the NICU or change the baby’s diaper, you should disinfect your hands again before touching the baby.  The staff will provide instruction on the most effective hand sanitation techniques.

Support Services

We realize that having your baby admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is an unexpected and stressful event. A full-time social worker is available to provide support and counseling. The social worker can also assist you with discharge planning and help you obtain appropriate community services.

Kangaroo Care is a special program to initiate parent/child bonding. In this program, parents are encouraged to hold their babies skin to skin. Studies have shown that holding babies skin to skin helps stabilize temperatures, improves oxygen flow to the body, helps mom's breast milk production and promotes parent/child bonding.

"Rooming In" is a program designed to give parents confidence in their ability to care for their baby before taking the infant home. Parents can spend a night with their baby in a hospital room while the staff is available to answer any questions or address any concerns.

Lactation consultants will work closely with our NICU mothers as necessary.

Overnight Accommodations

The Maury Regional Health Care Foundation provides a hospitality home, The Retreat, for family members of neonatal and critical care patients and for for cancer patients undergoing cancer treatments. Maury Regional has also worked with several local hotels to provide discounted rates to patient family members. More information may be obtained from the NICU staff.

For more information, contact our NICU at 931.540.4261.