NICU
Tiny patients' ward
NICU is an acronym for neonatal intensive care unit—the hospital ward for newborns requiring critical medical attention.
Babies born premature, underweight, or with serious health complications typically spend their first days or weeks in the NICU: The twins were in the NICU for three weeks after birth.
Pronounced as initials (N-I-C-U) or as "nick-you."
Controlled warming enclosure
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- isoletteEnclosed neonatal warming unit
- phototherapyHealing through light exposure
- feeding tubeDevice delivering nutrition internally
intubation · surfactant · CPAP · nasal cannula · blood gas · central line · cardiac monitor
State of being underdeveloped
- jaundiceYellowing from bile pigment
- apneaTemporary cessation of respiration
- bradycardiaAbnormally slow heart rate
- respiratory distressImpaired breathing function
hypoglycemia · sepsis · retinopathy · failure to thrive · hypothermia · anemia · desaturation · reflux
Baby born early
- neonateInfant under 28 days
- gestational ageTime since conception began
- birth weightNeonate's measured mass
- Apgar scoreNewborn vitality measure
gestation · twin · triplet · growth curve · fontanelle · umbilical stump · vernix · lanugo
Skin-to-skin infant bonding technique
- skin-to-skinUnclothed bodily touching
- neonatologistDoctor for newborns
- neonatal nurseHealthcare provider for newborns
- respiratory therapistClinician treating breathing disorders
lactation consultant · feeding schedule · pumping · breast milk · fortifier · swaddling · positioning · thermoregulation
Forming close connections
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- vigilPurposeful nighttime wakefulness
- milestonesNotable points of progress
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
palliative care · bereavement · support group · Ronald McDonald House · social worker · chaplain · palliative care · hope
incubator
Controlled warming enclosure
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- isoletteEnclosed neonatal warming unit
- phototherapyHealing through light exposure
feeding tube · intubation · surfactant · CPAP · nasal cannula · blood gas · central line · cardiac monitor
prematurity
State of being underdeveloped
- jaundiceYellowing from bile pigment
- apneaTemporary cessation of respiration
- bradycardiaAbnormally slow heart rate
respiratory distress · hypoglycemia · sepsis · retinopathy · failure to thrive · hypothermia · anemia · desaturation · reflux · low birth weight
preemie
Baby born early
- neonateInfant under 28 days
- gestational ageTime since conception began
- birth weightNeonate's measured mass
Apgar score · gestation · twin · triplet · growth curve · fontanelle · umbilical stump · vernix · lanugo · reflexes
kangaroo care
Skin-to-skin infant bonding technique
- skin-to-skinUnclothed bodily touching
- neonatologistDoctor for newborns
- neonatal nurseHealthcare provider for newborns
respiratory therapist · lactation consultant · feeding schedule · pumping · breast milk · fortifier · swaddling · positioning · thermoregulation · growth chart
bonding
Forming close connections
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- vigilPurposeful nighttime wakefulness
- milestonesNotable points of progress
homecoming · palliative care · bereavement · support group · Ronald McDonald House · social worker · chaplain · palliative care · hope · resilience
- emergency medicalemergency room, ambulance, EMS, ER, EMT
- Emergency MedicineEMT, emergency medicine, EMS, paramedic, paramedics
- hospitalshospital, ER, emergency room, operating room, operating rooms
- infant carepediatrician, checkups, immunizations, vaccinations, breastfeeding
- Maternity Wardmaternity ward, labor and delivery, delivery room, labor room, midwife
- pediatricspediatrician, pediatricians, pediatrics, pediatric care, well-child visit
NICUMICU
Critical care ward
PICU · hospice · palliative care · nursing home · end-of-life care
- NICU nurseIntensive care infant caregiver
- NICU babyCritically ill newborn patient