Neonatal intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Wellington Regional Hospital has a Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that provides intensive and specialist care for babies across the central region (from Blenheim and Nelson to Hastings, Wanganui, Palmerston North and Masterton).

Babies in NICU range from those born after 23 weeks through to sick term infants, and any babies requiring surgery.

We also care for babies with birth abnormalities, some of whom need surgery and care from other specialties including genetics and metabolic services

We understand that having a baby in NICU is a difficult time for you and your family.  There is open visiting for parents only. Other visiting times are as per the brochure provided.

You will be updated regularly on the progress of your baby by nursing and medical staff. You are welcome to be present for daily ward rounds but please respect the privacy of others in your room and leave the room or wear ear muffs [provided] when other babies are being discussed.

Please stay at your baby’s bedside and do not view other babies.

While you are in hospital, you will be referred to a Social Worker. If you are from outside Wellington they can help you find accommodation at Ronald McDonald house (opposite the hospital). Read more about staying at Ronald McDonald House 

If you normally live outside the Wellington region, the High Risk Midwifery Team will provide your midwifery care. One of the midwives from the High Risk Midwifery Team should be in contact with you the day after discharge.

Our team work closely together to give your baby the best care. During the time your baby is in NICU you may meet:

• Neonatal nurses- give the day to day care to your baby.
• Clinical nurse specialists – give advice and support for long term and complex babies.
• Lactation consultants – support for breast feeding .
• Neonatal consultants – your baby is admitted under a Consultant. Each week the duty Consultant will change but your admitting Consultant is responsible for your baby.
• Neonatal nurse practitioners – Part of the Medical Team providing day to day care for your baby.
• Community Discharge Team – Work with you in hospital and support complex babies following discharge.
• Paediatric surgeons – There are several Paediatric Surgeons who are consulted if needed.
• The NICU transport team – who bring babies to Wellington Hospital from other hospitals in the central region and manage transferring babies to other hospitals in New Zealand
• The Allied Health Team are part of the NICU Team. The Team includes Speech Language Therapist, Neuro Developmental Therapist, Physiotherapist and Dietician.

You will be given the direct phone number to your baby’s room. 

Non-Nutritive Sucking for Babies on NICU  Expressing for Premature Babies Disinfection of Expressing Equipment  Domperidone use for increasing milk supply - Patient Information   Supplementary feeding for breastfeeding mothers  Car Seat Safety for NICU Babies CPAP Information for Parents/Caregivers Optiflow Information for Parents/Caregivers  Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) Hand Hygiene in NICU  Ultrasound in NICU  Hirschsprung's Disease  Information for managing supplementary home oxygen  Hypoglycaemia and Thermoregulation in NICU  Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Inguinal Hernia Kangaroo Care Kangaroo Care - sitting and standing transfer

Longlines in NICU Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan  Mothers with Babies in NICU staying in NICU or Ronald McDonald House Welcome to the Children's Hospital - Wards 1 and 2 Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) Neonatal Bowel Obstruction  Neonatal Jaundice & Phototherapy  NICU Babies Returning to Base Hospital - Parent Information Parenting your preterm baby 23 - 26 weeks gestation  Parenting your preterm baby 26-29 weeks  Parenting your preterm baby 29-32 weeks

Parenting your preterm baby 32-36 weeks Parenting your preterm baby 36-40 weeks Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Pneumothorax - NICU Parent Information Probiotics  Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) and Transient Tachypnoea of the Newborn (TTN) Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) - Parent /Caregiver Information  Spina Bifida - NICU parent information Sucrose for Neonatal Pain Management Transferring your baby to Wellington Hospital NICU  X-rays in NICU Meconium Aspiration