When a baby is born prematurely, suffers a medical illness, or has a birth defect, the expert and extra care is required. NICU of apple caters from smallest of newborns to most sick babies.
At the Apple Institute of Child Care, our 21 – bed NICU is equipped and staffed to deliver a full-range of medical care services. From at-risk infants to critically ill neonates throughout the state, the NICU at our clinic has been the preferred choice in intensive care for families and referring physicians.
are some of the carefully chosen >> of our armamentarium.
Dr Parag Dagli had acquired special experience of working at Wadia Children Hospital, Mumbai for training critically ill neonates & pediatric patients.
Dr. Abhishek Bansal has done Advance Training in Neonatology from Sydney, Australia. His vast experience in Neonatology gives apple an edge in treating new-borns. The entire team of Neonatologists is highly qualified and work in tandem to provide most precise treatment to newborns and infants.
Normal babies take birth after 40 completed weeks and weigh more than 2.5 Kg. The babies born early and having lesser weight forms a special group and are at high risk. Apples’ NICU specialises in care of smallest of and sickest of new born.
We have catered babies of as low as 600 gm weight and 26 weeks of pregnancy. The nurses in NICU deliver tender, loving and motherly care and doctors offer evidence based scientific treatment to have “intact survival” of these babies
Premature babies have immature and weak lungs. They often need some form of respiratory support for breathing difficulty. It is very important not to damage the premature lungs while supporting them. At Apple NICU, we take utmost care while giving gentle respiratory support to these tiny babies. Surfactant Administration using gentle and less invasive methods, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Mechanical Ventilation and High Frequency Ventilation are the available techniques and procedures which help these small ones to breath easily.
This condition is known as Perinatal Asphyxia or simply Birth Asphyxia. This is due to lack of oxygen and blood supply to the different organs of body, and this is a serious and high risk situation which warrants specialized care in form of “Hypothermia” and other supportive measures. Apple NICU is undertaking Neonatal Hypothermia in Birth Asphyxia since 2009, probably 1st in Ahmedabad. Our team of Neonatalogist and nurses are proficient and competent in treating such babies.
Small Newborns are particularly vulnerable to various infections because of their weak resistance and body defense. Infact in India Neonatal infection is greatest killer of newborns. We address Neonatal infections in protocolized manner which delivers best result in least time, and also avoids indiscriminate use of medicines.
Almost every new born develop yellow discoloration of eyes and skin (Jaundice) in first two weeks of life but only a few new born need treatment for it. Whether a baby requires treatment for Jaundice or not is decided by physical examination & levels of Jaundice based on day of life, weight and maturity. Such babies are often treated in an isolated room with mother by the side of baby, providing ongoing breastfeeding while being treated with very effective light therapy. For risky very high level of bilirubin, very uncommonly now a days, whole blood of the baby is being exchanged with fresh one.
Breast Feeding is birth right of every new born. Ideally all of the new born should start taking their mother’s milk soon after birth but currently many babies and mothers face problems in establishing breast feeding. We have a dedicated department for breast feeding headed by Dr Parag Dagli who is a lactation consultant. He along with his specially trained team of nurses have been helping many mother-child duos in establishing & enjoying breast feeding.
Kangaroo Mother Care is direct skin to skin contact between baby and mother. Scores of studies have shown immense benefit of KMC for mother and baby in form of improved bonding between the two, better success rate of Breast Feeding, Less infection, improved survival, decreased hospital stay and many more. We religiously and rigorously practice KMC for all newborns admitted in NICU, Wards and Rooms. We actually promote KMC not only with mother but with father, grandfather, grandmother and any relatives of baby. We have special “Le Corbusier Chair” for KMC in our NICU, wherein babies even on respiratory support and central lines receive KMC with their relatives.
Every baby at birth has an inherent small but substantial risk of having untoward events at birth (like delayed cry, breathing or heart beat irregularity, so on), some have definitely higher chances. Apple’s birth call team provides on-site services after prior communications with back up of ambulance whenever needed.
An NICU graduate in itself is a high risk infant. To have “intact survival” these babies need close observation and regular followup post discharge from NICU. Our high risk assessment starts right in NICU during the course of hospitalization in form of Sonography of Brain, Eye Examination, Hearing Screening and early developmental assessment. All these checkups continue after discharge in scheduled and protocolized manner so no newborn is missed.
