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The following is a list of the most common terms you will hear while your baby is in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Please ask if there is anything you do not understand. |
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| Aminophylline Caffeine |
A medication used to treat “apnea of prematurity” that helps the baby breathe more regularly. |
| Antibiotics | Drugs used to treat a bacterial infection or when one is strongly suspected. Most common are ampicillin, gentamicin, and vancomycin. |
| Apnea | A term used to describe a pause in breathing. It’s common inpreemies, whose brains are not fully developed, usually called “apnea of prematurity”. |
| Bag and Mask | Equipment used to give extra oxygen and manual breaths to a baby. Giving manual breaths is “bagging”. |
| Bililights | “Phototherapy” a special set of lights used to help decrease bilirubin levels. |
| Bilirubin | Caused by the breakdown of red blood cells. An elevated level can cause neonatal jaundice, a yellow skin color. |
| Blood Gas | A sample of blood obtained by an arterial stick or heel stick. Measures the level of oxygen, carbon dioxide and acid (pH) in the blood. |
| BPD | Bronchopulmonary dysplasia – a chronic lung condition that may occur a few weeks after an infant has had respiratory distress and received
oxygen or ventilator support. |
| Bradycardia | A decrease in a baby’s regular heart rate, frequently seen with apnea. When both occur, they are referred to as “A’s and B’s” or spells. |
| CPAP | Continuous positive pressure – a treatment used to prevent air sacs in the lungs from collapsing by providing pressure and oxygen through prongs placed in the baby’s nose. |
| CC | Metric measure of liquids |
| “Do ups” | Refers to the time when your baby’s nurse performs scheduled interventions including vital signs, diaper changes, and feedings. We suggest you coordinate your visits with these times. Please do not throw away diapers, we measure the urine in them and check the stools. |
| ET Tube | Endotracheal tube – soft plastic tube down a baby’s nose or mouth and down the windpipe (trachea) to give oxygen and to help your baby breathe. Placing the tube is called “intubation”; removing the tube is called “extubation”. |
| Gavage Feedings | Tube feeding – inserting a soft plastic tube down a baby’s nose or mouth into the stomach to provide food for a baby too young and sick to suck or swallow. |
| Gram | Metric measures of weight |
| Hematocrit | “Crit” – the percentage of red cells in the blood. |
| Intralipids | A white, high calorie fat solution given IV with TPN |
| IV | Intravenous – a small catheter placed in a baby’s vein to provide fluid or medicine. An IV may be placed in a baby’s hand, foot or head. |
| Jaundice | The yellow color of a baby’s skin caused by too much bilirubin in the blood. |
| Monitor | A machine connected to the baby with three sticky leads to give a reading of the heart rate. Used on all babies in the NICU. |
| Murmur | A sound from the heart and its vessels made by blood flow. May be abnormal. |
| Nasal Cannula | A flexible tube with prongs that goes into the babies nose and delivers oxygen. |
| NPO | This is when a baby is not feeding and receiving fluid via an IV. |
| Oximeter | A machine used to measure the saturation of oxygen in the blood. The probe uses a red light and is wrapped around the baby’s foot or hand. It does not hurt the baby. |
| Oxygen | “Room air” contains 21% oxygen, a necessary gas of life. Up to 100% oxygen can be given. |
| Oxyhood | A clear plastic hood placed over a baby’s head to provide oxygen. |
| PDA | Patent ductus arterious – a fetal blood vessel near the heart that usually closes at birth. It can reopen causing a murmur and be treated with a drug called indomethacin. |
| PICC Line | A small plastic tube that is placed in the baby’s large vein, which can be placed centrally (close to the heart). Highly concentrated fluids and medications are able to be administered to the baby through this tube. These can be in place for a long period of time. |
| Pneumothorax | A collection of air in the chest but outside the lung. It is treated by inserting an angiocath/butterfly/chest tube through the chest wall to withdraw air. |
| RDS | Respiratory Distress Syndrome – a condition that occurs in premature infants, which causes the lung sacs to collapse due to a lack of a substance in the lungs called surfactant. This condition may require oxygen by oxyhood or assistance with breathing from a ventilator. |
| Septic Work-up | Test done to check for an infection (sepsis). These tests may include blood cultures, CBC (complete blood count), bladder tap and LP (lumbar puncture). |
| TPN | Total Paranatal Nutrition – yellow liquid given through an IV that provides sugar, protein, vitamins, minerals and calories. |
| UAC/UVC | A clear soft catheter placed into a vessel (artery or vein) in the baby’s umbilicus (belly button). Used to give IV fluids, draw blood and monitor blood pressure. |
| Ventilator | Respirator – a machine used to help a baby breathe. The machine is connected to the baby by an ET tube or nasal prongs. |
| Vital Signs | Measurement of the heart rate, body temperature and breathing rate. |
| Warmer | An open bed used for babies who need close observation. A temperature probe is placed on the skin to monitor the baby’s temperature and the overhead heater keeps the baby warm. |