Spolight on Health - Neonatal Intensive Care

For expectant mothers, the prospect of having a baby brings excitement and anticipation. While most pregnancies proceed smoothly, occasionally, concerns arise - either for the health of the mother or the development of the baby. Luckily for women in our region, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Sacred Heart Children's Hospital offer moms-to-be and their newborns a wide spectrum of highly-specialized diagnostic and theraputic procedures, along with the Inland Northwests' most modern and state-of-the-art maternity center and neonatal intensive care unit; everything on one site, and in one location.

Part 3 of 'Spotlight on Health' takes a look at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital Spokane's NICU - neonatal intensive care unit - which treats the hospital's smallest, tiniest patients. Dr. Mike Barsotti explains the wide range of coverage provided to babies born pre-term, or who have respitory or cardiology problems. But, as Mike explains, it's not just about the babies in the NICU; parents go though an emotional roller coaster as their newborn struggles to grow and get strong. He also shows how Sacred Heart developed its new NICU with the family in mind; letting parents spend time with their baby in a private, quiet setting.

You'll get to know Audrey, a mom with twin babies in the NICU with an amazing outlook and spirit, who shares what it's like to go through a high-risk pregnancy and follow-up neonatal intensive care. Rachel, a high-risk pregnant mom, waiting to deliver her baby in Sacred Heart's Antepartum Unit, describes how visiting the NICU put her mind at ease, knowing her baby's room will be private, and quiet. And Ruth and William, who's baby recently 'graduated' from Sacred Heart's NICU and got to come home after just 3 1/2 weeks.

Doctors and staff at Providence provide a team approach, providing expert care and comfort from conception, to delivery and beyond.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• pregnancy
• delivery
• baby
• spokane
• preterm labor
• children's hospital
• seattle
• high risk pregnancy
• maternal fetal medicine
• ob hospitalist
• kristie gorenson
• preemie
• maternity
• birth
• birth place
• NICU
• neonatal intensive care
• fetal echocardiography
• fetus
• pediatric urologist
• pediatric neurosurgeon
• pediatric surgery
• family centered care
• antepartum