Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, commonly called a NICU, is a specialized hospital unit for newborns who need more medical care than a standard newborn nursery can provide.

Babies may be admitted to the NICU because they are born prematurely, have a low birth weight, experience breathing difficulties, need help feeding, or require close monitoring for a medical condition.

At Cook County Health, our NICU team works to identify each baby’s needs and develop an individualized care plan. Our goal is to support your newborn’s growth, stability, and development while keeping families informed and involved in care decisions.

Every baby has unique needs. Our NICU provides specialized care based on each newborn’s condition, gestational age, and medical requirements.

Services may include:

• Care for premature babies and newborn medical conditions: Specialized monitoring and support for babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy or with medical conditions requiring specialized neonatal expertise. Conditions may include intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), anemia, jaundice, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or congenital heart defects.
• Breathing and respiratory support: Care for newborns who need assistance with breathing or oxygen levels. Conditions include bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), chronic lung disease (CLD), pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), or persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN).
• Feeding and nutritional support: Guidance and medical support to help babies receive the nutrition they need to grow.
• Monitoring and stabilization: Close observation of vital signs, temperature, and other important health indicators.
• Developmental support: Individualized approaches that promote comfort, appropriate sensory experiences, and healthy development.

Our NICU Team

Caring for a newborn in intensive care takes a coordinated team of healthcare professionals. Depending on your baby’s needs, the care team may include:

• Neonatologists and other physicians specializing in newborn care
• Neonatal nurses with specialized training
• Pediatricians
• Respiratory therapists
• Occupational and physical therapists
• Registered dietitians and lactation consultants
• Social workers and other family support professionals

Our team collaborates with parents and caregivers to explain treatment options, discuss progress, and answer questions. We recognize that having a baby in the NICU can feel overwhelming, and we strive to make every interaction informative, respectful, and supportive.

Parents and caregivers are important members of their baby’s care team. We encourage family involvement in ways that are appropriate for each baby’s medical needs and consistent with unit policies.

Our team can help families learn about their newborn’s care, understand medical updates, and prepare for the transition home.
Depending on your baby’s condition and hospital guidelines, family involvement may include:

• Learning how to hold, comfort, and bond with your baby
• Receiving guidance on breast milk expression, breastfeeding, or other feeding methods
• Participating in appropriate aspects of daily care
• Asking questions and discussing progress with the healthcare team
• Preparing for discharge and learning how to care for your baby at home

We are here to help you navigate this experience with clear communication, compassion, and practical guidance.

After discharge from the NICU, we continue to support families and their children at the High-Risk Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic (HRC). This clinic provides ongoing multidisciplinary care and neuro-developmental assessments for infants through the age of five. Services are specifically designed for those who have developmental disabilities or are at risk for developmental delays.

• Cardiology
• Early Intervention Services
• Genetics
• Nutrition
• Neurology
• Ophthalmology
• Social Work
• Surgery
• Radiology
• Urology