The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital

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Guide to Baby Care
Our Guide For Preemie Parents
Resources for Parents and Families

Jennifer Gandel Kachura Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The Jennifer Gandel Kachura Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) treats premature and critically ill newborns. Our Level III, 21-bed unit is equipped and staffed to treat a full range of medical conditions. Capabilities include pediatric anesthesia, general surgical services, laboratory medicine, radiology (ultrasound, CT and MRI), echocardiography and cardiovascular surgery for babies with patent ductus arteriosus.

Sinai Hospital also offers its own statewide Neonatal Transport Program. With faculty physicians and surgeons representing most pediatric subspecialties right on campus, we are one of just three nurseries in the state to provide the highest level of care for the babies who need it most. And our staff also provides comfort, support and education for families. Our nurses will answer any questions you may have.

Nurse with a baby in the Sinai NICU Care team members may include:

Neonatologist
Pediatrician
Neonatal nurse practitioner
Registered nurse
Lactation consultant
Occupational/Physical/Respiratory therapists

Donor Milk Program

Did you know that Sinai’s NICU is the first in Maryland to offer its smallest patients a diet of 100% human milk? Mothers of premature infants weighing less than 1,250 grams — about 2.75 pounds — have the option to feed their babies donor breast milk if they are unable to provide their own.

For these babies, breast milk is treated with a fortifier called Prolacta made completely from human milk to give them sufficient calories, phosphorus and calcium. This human milk diet protects the most premature infants from the dangerous condition of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Why Premature Infants Need Access to an Exclusive Human Milk Diet (PDF)
Prolacta - Parent Brochure (PDF)
Prolacta - Donor Milk Education (PDF)
Prolacta - Process Flow Chart (PDF)

Family Rooms

Through the generosity of several donors, the NICU offers two private rooms, which provide a resting space for two primary caregivers actively involved in the care of their newborn. Families can speak to their baby’s nurse to sign them up for the Pink or Blue room.

Family Room Guidelines: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)

Nurseries

Preterm and critically ill infants are admitted into the NICU. As the baby grows and develops, he or she may be moved to the Special Care Nursery. This room is right next to the NICU and staffed by the same medical team as the NICU. In the Special Care Nursery families are prepared for discharge with individualized teaching based on their baby’s needs.