Neonatology

Babies who need critical care receive immediate attention in our award-winning NICUs. Our dedicated team of experts includes Penn Medicine physicians and Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP) neonatologists. Together, they help critically ill babies survive and thrive.

Our specialists have extensive experience in stabilizing and supporting high-risk babies after delivery. We care for premature and full-term infants born with a variety of medical conditions, infections, and congenital anomalies. Our team also coordinates with maternal-fetal medicine specialists for high-risk pregnancies, ensuring seamless care before, during, and after birth.

The NICUs at Pennsylvania Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) are recognized for their standards of care. They were awarded the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). This recognition honors the care and expertise of our neonatology team and state-of-the-art facilities.

State-of-the-art neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)

All Penn Medicine hospitals feature Level III NICUs, meaning we can care for all premature infants, as well as full-term infants needing special care. At Chester County Hospital, our NICU is the only certified Level III nursery in Chester County. In addition, Women & Babies Hospital is home to Lancaster County’s first and most advanced Level IIIB NICU.

Our NICUs are staffed by specially trained physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and nutritionists who focus on infant intensive care. We provide 24/7 monitoring and support using the latest technology to ensure our patients receive the best care possible.

If a baby in our NICU needs surgery, we can quickly transport them to CHOP for advanced surgical care.

Advanced technology and specialized care for premature babies

We successfully care for the tiniest newborns, including those who weigh less than one pound, during and after delivery. Our neonatal staff assesses your baby’s health at birth and provides care around the clock while they stay with us.

Babies born between 23- and 32-weeks’ gestation need help learning to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing. We provide advanced technology and the latest therapies to support these infants.

We assess your baby’s ability to suck and strengthen this skill with supportive therapies. Doing so helps transition babies off feeding tubes, allows parents to begin feedings sooner, and may shorten NICU stays.

Research shows that infants respond better to medical care when their parents are nearby. We encourage and support family involvement while your baby stays in our NICU. You have access to:

• Open-hours visitation: This means you can stay with your baby at any time, day or night. We also offer visitation options for grandparents, siblings over age five, and others you designate. Visitation options vary by location.
• Board-certified lactation consultants: Breastfeeding can be a challenge for both mothers and premature infants. We offer one-on-one support for breastfeeding and pumping.
• Private family rooms: Skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) is vital for fragile babies. We provide private space in most of our hospitals for families to have skin-to-skin contact and bond with their baby.
• Monitoring your baby from home: We help you watch over your baby when you can’t be in the NICU with them. AngelEye video monitoring technology enables you to see your child and receive communication from us while you’re away.

We also have Family Advisory Councils made up of parents who give feedback on their experience in our NICUs. This valuable feedback enables us to continuously improve our care for infants and families.

Our neonatologists serve on the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine faculty. They participate in research on a full range of newborn conditions and their long-term effects on a baby’s development. Clinical research focuses on new ways to help premature infants to grow without developing chronic illnesses.

Our physicians also help educate neonatal fellows, residents, and medical students. They publish and speak about the latest insights on infant care and work with communities to promote care for mothers and babies.