Anemia – A condition that occurs when your baby doesn’t have enough robust red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body.
Antenatal steroids – Two steroid injections are given to mom if a premature birth is about to occur. The steroids induce a stress response in the fetus that forces quick lung development.
Arrhythmia – A problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat.
Arterial blood gas – Blood drawn from an artery and tested for O2 and CO2 levels among other indicators. Used primarily to guide treatment of the ventilator and to assess breathing performance, efficiency and functionality.
Biophysical profile – A prenatal ultrasound to determine the health of a fetus. Fetal breathing, tone and movement are observed in addition to amniotic fluid level.
Blood transfusion – The process of your baby receiving blood products intravenously from a donor. The blood product doesn’t have to be whole blood, but can be just red blood cells, plasma or other parts.
Bradycardia – Slowing of your baby’s heart rate to usually less than 80 beats per minute. They are referred to as bradys or bs and are caused by anything from something serious to your baby moving.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia – Lung deterioration caused by long term, 28 days or more, exposure to the pressure from a ventilator. Babies can recover from this affliction, but it may take a long time.
Caudal block – Anesthesia used to provide anesthesia below the belly button. It is mainly used in pediatrics due to the more open anatomy of children.
Cell culture – The process where cells are grown in a laboratory controlled condition to identify the organism. In the hospital, it is more than likely a microbiological culture, which sees if bacteria grows and if so, what type.
Continuous positive airway pressure – Known as CPAP, provides positive air pressure continuously, which allows the airways to stay open for breathing.
Desat – Baby’s O2 blood perfusion is measured in the NICU using a pulse oximeter. Depending on the health and activity level of your baby, the number should be above 95. If it falls below this threshold, the baby has a desat(uration).
Dextrose – Carbohydrates delivered through simple sugars providing extra calories for your baby.
Electrocardiogram – A non-invasive test used to check your baby’s heart’s electrical activity. Irregular activity could be indicative of an issue.
Extubation – Removal of the hollow tube providing mechanical ventilation.
Failure to thrive – A term used when premature babies weight or rate of weight gain is significantly below that of other children of similar age and gender.
Fetal bradycardia – When a baby’s heart rate in utero dips below an accepted healthy average, the baby experiences fetal bradycardia. There are many causes, but could simply be due to the fact the baby has moved away from the external monitor. Continuous dips of the heart rate typically demonstrates fetal stress.
Gavage feeding – A way to provide breast milk, formula or feeding supplements through a nasal tube to your baby’s stomach. Gavage feeding is for preemies that cannot bottle feed.
Heart murmur – Abnormal heart sounds made as blood passes across the heart valves.
Hematocrit – The measurement of volume percentage of red blood cells in blood.
Heparin Lock – In order to keep an unused IV line open for future use, a heparin lock is used. Heparin is a drug that reduces blood’s ability to clot.
HIPA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that means you will be subject to byzantine rules concerning privacy.
Hypertension – A chronic medical condition manifested in high arterial blood pressure.
Hypoglycemia – Blood sugar lower than normal levels.
IV line – Allows in the vein administration of medicine. It is the fastest way to deliver most medications.
JET Ventilator – A special ventilator providing more “breaths” per second to continuously fill the lungs.
Kangaroo CareTM – In the NICU, you will have the chance to kangaroo, based on Kangaroo CareTM. Your baby will in a diaper and skin to skin contact is made with your breasts (mother) or chest (father). Many studies have shown it aids in preemie development.
Leukocytosis – A white blood cell count above the normal range. There are five different causes of elevated white blood cell counts. Normally, it is due to inflammation or bacterial infection.
Lipids – A fat supplement given to premature babies to help with nourishment and to provide additional calories.
Meconium – The first solid voiding of an infant on their own. It is thick and tar like in appearance.
Mean arterial pressure – Measures the average arterial pressure during a single cardiac cycle. It is a measurement used to ensure organs are supplied with enough oxygen.
Nasogastric tube – Commonly referred to as an NG tube. The plastic tube is inserted through your baby’s nose, down the throat and into the stomach. It is used to deliver breast milk, formula and/or feeding supplements.
Neonatologist – A pediatrician specifically trained to handle newborn intensive care. They are certified through an additional board to practice.
Neonatology – A subspecialty of pediatrics consisting of newborn infants requiring advanced, specialized care.
Neutrophils – A type of white blood cell that is one of the first dispatched to the site of an infection.
NICU – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is an intensive care unit designed to treat premature or seriously ill newborn babies.
Nitrous Oxide – Known commonly as laughing gas, it is used primarily as anesthesia. For preemies, it has demonstrated remarkable properties for helping lungs heal and develop.
Nosocomial – Originating in a hospital. In terms of infection, it’s infections that result from hospitalization and not maternal factors.
NPO – A Latin phrase, Nil per os, meaning nothing through the mouth. Your baby may need to be NPO to undergo certain tests or therapies.
Oxygen saturation – A measurement of oxygen saturated hemoglobin to total hemoglobin. The range for preemies can vary between 90-100%.
Oxygen therapy – Administration of oxygen is sometimes needed to ensure your preemie is as healthy as can be. Most times, oxygen is given to help with blood oxygen saturation; ensuring enough oxygen is available in the blood.
Parenteral nutrition associated liver disease – If your baby is on TPN for a long time, there is a chance of parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD). PNALD can lead to liver failure. The NICU medical team will test your baby’s liver functions to ensure there aren’t any issues.
Patent ductus arteriosus – The blood vessel, ductus arteriosus, connects the aorta and pulmonary artery in babies. After birth, the blood vessel should close, but in preemies it is stuck open (patent).
Peak inspiratory pressure – Is the highest level of pressure applied by the ventilator to the lungs during inhalation.
Perinatologist – A doctor who specializes in high risk pregnancy care for the mother and fetus. High risk could be due to mother’s health or issues with the fetus.
Peripherally inserted central catheter – Known as a PICC line, it is an IV line for use over an extended period of time. For preemies, it is primarily used for medication, feeding and blood draws. Unlike an IV line that is inserted with a needle, the PICC line is surgically inserted.
PO – per os, which is Latin for by mouth. When a medication order indicates PO it is by mouth.
Preeclampsia – Affecting 5-8% of all pregnancies, preeclampsia is a condition that is dangerous for positive pregnancy outcomes. Symptoms include protein in the urine, high blood pressure, weight gain and headaches, though some pregnant women may never suffer noticeable symptoms. It is one of the leading causes of mother and baby illness and death during pregnancy.
Protienuria – Protein in the urine. People will have a small amount of protein in their urine from time to time, but for pregnant women it can be a symptom of preeclampsia.
Pulse oximeter – A non-invasive device for measuring your baby’s O2 saturation. They are typically led lights held against the skin by wrapped gauze and secured with a velcro band.
RDS – Respiratory distress syndrome primarily affects babies born 6 weeks or more before their due date and is caused by lack of lung development.
Retinopathy of prematurity – Eye condition affecting only premature babies and is the leading cause of child vision loss. It is caused when blood vessels grow improperly and spread throughout the retina.
Respiratory therapist – A health care worker who passes a national board examination focusing on cardiology and pulmonology. Many focus on airway management, so this is who you will interact with in the NICU. They are responsible for maintaining and using various devices such as the ventilator.
Strabismus – When the muscles that control the eye don’t work together, it causes the eyes to point in different directions. It is not lazy eye.
Total parenteral nutrition – A way of feeding that bypasses the normal way of eating and digesting. For preemies, it includes glucose, protein, lipids (fat), vitamins and other nutrients.
Ultrasound – A common name for obstetric ultrasonography, which uses sound waves to let medical personnel to check on your baby’s progress through pregnancy. If you are a high risk pregnancy, you’ll have ultrasounds weekly toward the end of pregnancy. After birth, the ultrasound is used to ensure your baby’s organs are developing properly and there aren’t any issues.
Umbilical artery doppler assessment – Using an ultrasound machine, the doctor or technician can focus on the blood flow between the mother and baby. They look at volume, resistance and direction of the blood flow.
Ventilator – A machine that functions to provide breathable air to your baby by moving air in and out of the lungs. There are a wide variety of ventilators for use. Preemies need ventilators to help with breathing due to functional lung issues or offsetting caloric requirements.