Most newborn babies do not need additional specialised support after birth but some do need further care from the neonatal service.
Bradford Teaching Hospital’s Neonatal Unit delivers care alongside mothers when possible on the maternity wards or via transitional care, but approximately one baby in 10 requires admission to the Neonatal Unit.
Some babies are born very early and in Bradford we specialise in the care of babies of all gestations.
We are a referral unit for babies from across Yorkshire and can offer all intensive care treatments available to babies as early as 23-weeks gestation.
Only around one baby in 100 needs intensive care, when babies can be very poorly and may need to stay in the Neonatal Unit for a considerable period of time.
Parents are important members of the Neonatal Unit team and we will always keep them informed and involved throughout their stay. For more information about babies who need extra care, please see the BLISS information page.
As babies improve they move from intensive care areas to the lower dependency parts of the Neonatal Unit. As baby starts to take oral feeds and move closer to going home, we will move them from an incubator into a cot and closer to normal care.
Some babies require only special care support from birth and will be admitted directly into the high dependency/special care nursery. They will receive nursing and medical care appropriate to their individual needs and will progress towards normal care as described above.
Babies born early may need extra screening tests which will be carried out on the unit.
Of particular importance are eye checks which are needed for all babies born before 32 weeks. These specialised eye checks are carried out by consultant opthalmologists (specialist eye doctors) Rachel Pilling or John Bradbury. Staff will explain if your baby needs these tests, which are performed when babies are a few weeks old.
Located on ward M4, which is located on the top floor of the Women’s and Newborn Unit
The Transitional Care unit allows us to provide special care many for babies and mothers together. This might be appropriate for babies who require tube feeds, intravenous antibiotics or other extra care which is not available on postnatal wards.
Mothers might come back in to spend time with their babies before going home from the Neonatal Intensive care Unit.
Fathers are welcome on the unit at any time but, to help maintain a peaceful environment for mums and babies, other visitors are asked to come between 2-4.30pm and 6-7.30pm.
Parents are our partners in caring for their babies, there are no restrictions on visiting and you are encouraged to be with your baby at any time. To avoid overcrowding and infection risk to vulnerable babies, we aim to have only two visitors at each cot side.
If parents are unable to visit, we have developed an innovative videoconferencing facility (BabyView) through which parents/ families can see babies and speak to staff members. Speak to the nurse looking after your baby if you would like to use this service.
