Christiana Hospital is the only delivering hospital in Delaware offering Level-III, neonatal intensive care. Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is fully equipped with the technology and personnel to provide the highest standards of acute and non-acute care for the newest members of the families we serve.

Our highly trained staff is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for newborns. Everything from the sound absorbing materials in the carpeting and the walls to the controlled lighting and the personalized space around each baby's bed reflects our commitment to family-centered, developmentally appropriate neonatal care.

Our climate-controlled nursery alcoves can accommodate up to three infants in separate beds and are fully equipped for all procedures performed for baby in the nursery. Babies receive continuous, personalized care while also being monitored by computer and real-time, closed-circuit TV. A separate admitting/observation room helps maintain calm, quieter surroundings for infants in the alcoves. An on-site pharmacy make both dispensing medications and parent education about baby's medicines more efficient. The self-contained unit has two isolation rooms for specialized procedures and emergency surgery.

Family-Centered Care

In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we recognize and respect the special relationship between families and their babies. We believe mothers and fathers are important members of our interdisciplinary neonatal-care team. Parents are encouraged to spend as much "hands on" time with their baby as possible. Siblings, grandparents and other visitors are welcome, two at a time. Three quiet rooms are available in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. These rooms may be used for mothers to breast feed their babies, to view educational tapes or to spend some restful time away from baby's bedside. Closed circuit TV monitors allow parents to stay in visual contact with their infants from these rooms. A comfort room for visitors complete with a children's play area and kitchenette is supplied with snacks in collaboration with the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware. Baby-sitting is available in this room for visiting children.

Visit our Family Room

When baby is ready to go home, many parents welcome the opportunity to spend the night before discharge in our family "overnight" room. Here they can care for their infants themselves, confident in the knowledge that our nursery staff are nearby to offer advice and support. Christiana Care home health care nurses and members of our family care committee stay in touch after baby leaves the hospital to help ease the transition home.

Medical Team

Your baby's medical team includes neonatologists, neonatal fellows residents/interns, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses and patient care technicians. Several other healthcare professionals, including respiratory and occupational therapists, nutritionists and social workers, are available to assist you and your baby. Members of the team are here for you and your baby 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Neonatal Transport Team

Our specially trained neonatal transport team is on-call to bring babies born throughout the state and surrounding areas to Christiana Hospital, day or night, for intensive medical care. A fleet of ambulances with life-sustaining equipment for our tiniest patients is supported by LifeNet, our helicoptor ambulance service, for quick and safe travel to and from the hospital.