Antepartum: Getting Ready for the NICU
Antepartum: Getting Ready for the NICUNarratorMany Moms are often surprised to learn that their baby is a candidate to be delivered early or has a medicalissue that will place them for a time in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU as it is sometime called.Before you deliver, your OB/GYN will often do a series of tests to determine the health of your baby and whatthe likely outcome might be.Tamara Takoudes, MD, PerinatologistSo today we did a non-stress test on our patient and that is a fetal heart rate monitoring strip that takes 20minutes if the baby’s awake.KristineI’m a Type 1 diabetic and I have a family history of preeclampsia and a personal history of preeclampsia, andso we could end up delivering, you know, a month early and ending up in the NICU.Tamara Takoudes, MD, PerinatologistSo we do fetal monitoring on any mom who has a high-risk condition. Sometimes it can be as easy as a momwho has hypertension, who’s older, especially over the age of 40, a patient with twins, a patient with diabetesor a patient who has a baby with birth defects or a problem.KristineSo, the non-stress test is a actually really lovely time to hear your baby’s heartbeat. It’s really kind of funbecause you can, you can sit there and, and bond with your baby in a way that you can’t do just by feeling.NarratorDuring your pregnancy there may be urgent medical episodes where you will need to be checked at thehospital.Sue Hall, MD, NeonatologistA mother might come into the anti-partum area of the hospital with a complaint such as bleeding or pain, orheadaches, or a rupture of the membranes. And that doctor on the team, together, will evaluate the motherwith blood test, ultrasound and whatever else is needed. If it's determined that she might deliver prematurelythen the team will usually ask for a consult from the neonatologist so that the mother can get acquainted withwhat might happen if her baby does deliver early.Tamara Takoudes, MD, PerinatologistSo, we see conditions come up in even low-risk patients during pregnancy. It’s always important for a patient toreport to their physician if they’re having any pain or contractions or especially bleeding or leaking fluid.NarratorIf this happens you will need to be monitored carefully and may be asked to stay on bed rest.There are also some things your OB/GYN or Perinatologist will do in certain circumstances.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.NICU00001A EN AntepartumGettingReadyForTheNICU.docx© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 2Antepartum: Getting Ready for the NICUTamara Takoudes, MD, PerinatologistSo any baby that we anticipate that’s going to be born less than 34 weeks, we always offer betamethasonebecause it’s a steroid shot that’s given to the mother for the benefit of the fetus. It helps the lungs get moremature and it can decrease some of the other complications of prematurity.If we know that the baby is going to come premature and it’s because the mom is having contractions, we try tostop early labor by giving an IV infusion, the benefit of giving IV magnesium to a very premature infant,especially less than 32 weeks, may be that it can actually help the developing brain.And antibiotics are usually used if we know that mom has an infection.NarratorOnce it is determined that your baby will likely enter the NICU, it is recommended that you take a tour of theNICU if your condition permits, and to educate yourself as much as possible about what might happen.Remember: You are your baby’s best medical advocate.Tamara Takoudes, MD, PerinatologistI think one of the most important things for patients is that information is very helpful. So, depending on howmany weeks pregnant somebody is, it’s very important to review with them how babies do at different times inthe pregnancy it’s good to know what, how the baby will do if it’s born at 28 weeks, 30 weeks, 32 weeks. Andactually, going over the statistics of how a baby will do is usually very different than what the mom actuallyanticipates or thinks in their head.KristineI think that as a parent anything I can do to make sure that my baby is as healthy as possible, I wanna do. AndDr. Takoudes and her team help me do that.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.NICU00001A EN AntepartumGettingReadyForTheNICU.docx© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
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