Newborn intensive care in Western Sydney

Find helpful information and learn more about newborn babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Western Sydney Local Health District.

Rachel Maxwell lies on a hospital bed with her infant son on her chest. A nurse smiles and watches them in the background.

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About our newborn intensive care services

For most parents having their baby admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is an unexpected event. We understand that parents will have many questions. 

We have provided general and medical information to help guide you through our NICU, answer questions and help you cope with this unfamiliar and sometimes stressful situation. 

Remember that nothing replaces the conversations you have with the doctors, nurses and support staff when learning about your baby's individual needs. Do not hesitate to ask questions. 

Newborn intensive care at Westmead Hospital

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Westmead Hospital (Westmead NICU) cares for babies born prematurely (earlier than expected) as well as babies needing specialist care.

Westmead NICU consists of an intensive care unit and a special care nursery. It is the largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in NSW with over 1,500 babies being admitted to our unit each year from Western Sydney Local Health District as well as country areas of NSW.

We work with the Children’s Hospital at Westmead (WCH) by providing initial (first) care for babies before they undergo surgery and are transferred to WCH.

Our team of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals support and prepare you for what to expect of your baby. Please ask the doctor or nurse caring for your baby for help or information.

You will have many questions about the care your baby needs during their stay here. Use the information from the links and factsheets provided in this section to learn about the unfamiliar words and processes you will hear during your baby's stay in NICU. 

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Virtual tour | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Westmead Hospital

Take a look inside Westmead Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where we specialise in the care of ill or premature newborn babies. It's the largest unit in the greater Sydney area! The service handles up to 1,500 admissions a year.

Read transcript
Video transcript

Virtual tour | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Westmead Hospital

[Music] [NSW Health and Western Sydney LHD logos appear]

[A young female nurse standing in front of NICU entrance faces the camera and speaks]

Hi, welcome to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. We handle up to 1500 admissions per year from throughout New South Wales and the South Pacific. We're one of the largest newborn intensive care units in the greater Sydney area this virtual tour is designed to familiarize and explain our facilities and some of our practices if your babies admitted to our NICU. As a parent you can visit with your baby anytime, day or night. Having your baby admitted to our unit is a stressful time for any family

Female nurse:

We're here to support you and help you care for baby at this difficult time. As soon as your baby's well enough we'll transfer them to a nursery closer to home so you can get ready to take your baby home. Right let's get started you can find us on the third floor of G block at Westmead Hospital.

[The young nurse sanitises her hands, turns and rings buzzer to the NICU entrance and waits for doors to open]

Female voiceover:

On arrival at the unit, you will need to apply the pink antiseptic hand rub to your hands before you enter after your hands have dried you need to press the buzzer for entry you may experience a short wait for someone to answer and open the doors for you.

[Camera now shows a walkthrough video through the doors to the reception, where attending staff point to a room down a hallway]

Female voiceover:

You will need to go to the reception desk and say who you are and who your baby is. Our staff will then let you know which room your baby is staying in.

[Two nurses face away from the camera and attend to a premature baby in the NICU]

Female voiceover:

Some of our very tiny or very sick babies will need extra support when being transferred to our unit from the birth unit or over to West mead's Children's Hospital.

[Two nurses move NICU equipment together with other staff into a hospital elevator]

Female voiceover:

We have specialized equipment to move your baby safely from one area to another. The equipment you are looking at now is used to transport some of our sickest newborns. It is a mobile Intensive Care Unit that provides a controlled environment and support for baby's breathing. This helps us keep your baby safe while they are moved from one bedside to another.

[Camera walks through to a NICU treatment room where a baby is lying inside an intensive care unit]

Female voiceover:

Now let's go and see one of the rooms and some of the equipment in our newborn intensive care section. When you go into your baby's room we ask you not to make any loud noises as this can frighten your baby.

[Screen shows an ear symbol backlit with green lights]

Female voiceover:

We monitor the noise levels in the room with a sound ear to help us keep your baby's room restful. Green means a conversation is at an acceptable level. [Screen shows a ear symbol backlit with green and amber lights]

Amber is when the noise is increasing, [Screen shows a ear symbol backlit with green, amber and red lights]

And red means a level of noise needs to be reduced as it is too loud for your baby sensitive ears.

[Camera shows a baby lying inside an intensive care unit]

Tiny babies get very tired and need their rest to grow and develop. They need 20 hours or more a day of sleep, no one likes to sleep where people are shouting.

[Screen shows a person washing their hands at a hospital sink with soap]

Female voiceover:

Before you touch your baby, you need to wash your hands again at the sink in the room. You can operate the mixer tap by waving your hand in front of the sensor.

[Camera shows the NICU room]

Female voiceover:

Here is one of our intensive care beds used for very sick and very tiny babies. This bed provides a warm safe environment for those precious babies [screen shows a NICU nurse caring for baby inside the intensive care unit]

Female voiceover continues:

That allows us to see and attend to their needs with minimal interruption to their rest. [Screen shows a monitor with vital sign measurements] The baby's vital signs are constantly monitored, and the bed adjusts the environment according to the baby's needs. Baby needs to feel your touch and hear your voice. This is an important part of bonding between parents and baby but before opening the port holes to touch and stroke your baby please check with the staff that is okay to do so.

[Screen shows a ventilator and its monitor in the NICU]

Female voiceover continues:

This is a ventilator used for babies who need help with breathing. It monitors and controls baby's breathing in much the same way that an adult ventilator works. [Screen shows a waiting room for parents with chairs, a sink area, notice board and table]

While your baby is in the NICU we have a parents-only room where you can enjoy some refreshments make a tea or coffee or talk to other parents between visits with your baby.

[Screen shows a breast milk expressing room with chairs and equipment] Female voiceover continues: 

We also have a breast milk expressing room this is a mother's only area where precious breast milk can be expressed for your tiny baby. Your milk is labelled and stored safely in large fridges till your baby needs it.

We encourage you to breastfeed as this is vital for your baby's development and long-term well-being. There are lactation consultants to support and guide you with breastfeeding your baby in NICU.

[Screen shows a private room with a double bed, bedside table with a touch phone and towels] Female voiceover continues: 
When your baby's well enough to come home with you, we offer a stay in an overnight room where baby you and your partner can spend the night in privacy.

[Screen shows the NICU reception area with staff attending] Female voiceover continues: 
The nurses and doctors will be close by for advice to help if you need.

[Screen shows a baby resting in an intensive care unit with a monitor wrapped around its right foot, a nurse strokes the baby's hand from one of the side port holes in the unit] Female voiceover continues: 

Then it's time to take your baby home and start enjoying all the normal pleasures of parenting and some of the sleepless nights that every baby brings.

We hope your baby will not need admission to NICU. However, if you are expecting a premature birth or surgery for your newborn baby this video is designed to help you and your family prepare for your baby in our NICU.

[Music] [NSW Health and Western Sydney LHD logos appear]

Entering the NICU

Entry to the NICU is through a secured front entrance. Please ring the bell and wait for a staff member to open the door. 

If there is no answer straight away especially in the afternoons or at night, the staff may be busy caring for a baby and will answer as soon as they can. These security measures are to protect you and your baby's privacy and safety.

Read the visiting your newborn in the NICU factsheet (PDF 185.54KB) and the NICU overnight rooms factsheet (PDF 214.61KB).

Please note:

  • a free and confidential interpreter service, including Auslan, is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
    Ask staff to arrange an interpreter for you.
  • carers provide care and unpaid assistance to others. They may be family members, friends or neighbours. Please tell staff if you have a carer.
  • paid parking is available on the hospital campus.
Handwashing and preventing infections

Babies are very vulnerable to infections like colds, flu, fever, rash, diarrhoea, etc. If you are unwell, please DO NOT visit the NICU.

To help prevent babies from getting infections, all parents and visitors must follow these actions:

  • Always use the alcohol hand pump at the NICU's front door to sanitise your hands before entering.
  • Put jackets, jumpers and coats on hooks provided outside your baby's room.
  • Remove all jewellery (watches, rings, etc.); wedding rings are excepted.
  • Rlease roll-up long sleeves to your elbow.
  • Re-wash hands with soap and water after each nappy change and when you leave the NICU.

If you are not sure if it is safe for you to visit the NICU, please speak to your doctor to check your risk of spreading infection to premature or unwell newborn babies.

Health professionals caring for your baby in the NICU

During your baby's stay with us you can expect to meet many health professionals.

List of health professionals you can expect to meet while your baby is in hospital.
Health professionalDescription
Consultant neonatologistsSpecialist doctors for newborn babies.
Neonatal fellowsDoctors doing their final studies to become a consultant in the specialty of neonatology.
RegistrarsDoctors training to become paediatricians or neonatologists.
Nurse manager senior nurseManages all nursing staff and resources for the NICU.
Clinical nurse unit managersNurse in charge of the staff and the unit for the shift.
Clinical nurse educatorsProvide clinical training and support for nursing and medical staff working in the NICU.
Clinical nurse consultantNursing expert in NICU and responsible for development and review of clinical practice.
Registered nursesQualified nurses providing bedside care.
Endorsed enrolled nursesQualified enrolled nurses who can administer medications.
Neonatal outreach teamQualified nurse practitioners that organise necessary support and follow up care after discharge.
Social workerQualified professional trained to provide emotional and social support to families in distress.
Speech pathologistQualified professional trained to help babies with development of sucking, swallowing and speech.
Clinical psychologistQualified professional trained in the understanding of emotional and mental distress and ways to relieve distress and promote mental wellbeing.
Lactation consultantSpecialist nurse / midwife in breastfeeding and infant feeding.
Ward clerksTrained staff who manage the phones and paperwork for NICU.
Student midwivesStudents being trained in the care of women throughout pregnancy, childbirth and for the first few months after birth and for care of the newborn baby.
Student nursesStudents being trained to become registered nurses and provide bedside care.
VolunteersGenerous people who give their time freely to help our service.
PharmacistQualified professional who dispenses medications and provides information on safe medication administration.
Occupational therapistQualified professional who supports babies to develop normal movement skills with daily activities.
Essentials of care

At Westmead NICU our teams work together to provide the best care for babies who need extra support. It is important that we use NICU beds for our smallest and most unwell babies. As babies grow stronger, they can be cared for in special care nurseries. 

Depending on the level of care your baby needs: 

  • We may request your baby be moved to another hospital.
  • The NICU doctors and nurses will talk to you about the decision and give you as much time to prepare as possible.
  • There are times when babies may need to be moved quickly. Sometimes it may be to a hospital where your baby can receive appropriate specialist care.
  • At other times it may be that your baby is getting stronger and can be safely moved closer to home.
  • Social work and Aboriginal liaison services are available to support you and can help organise transport and accommodation.
  • Women from rural areas may also be able to access financial help - please ask the staff about this.

We understand this can be difficult for you and your family. We thank you for your understanding in working with us to make sure all babies get the right care, in the right place and at the right time.

To learn more, read our transferring babies to another special care unit factsheet (PDF 534.4KB).

Essentials of care program

The staff at Westmead NICU are proud to participate in the Essential of Care Program (ECP), which aims to provide safe, dignified, and compassionate care for you and your baby. There are 8 NICUs and 33 special care nurseries across NSW.

The program aims to help us collaborate with you to explore and improve our practices to provide the best care and service. It is also about creating a positive workplace culture and implementing quality improvement strategies in consultation with you. We are striving for the best patient outcomes we can achieve.

You and your baby are at the centre of our care; therefore, you may be asked to participate in surveys or questionnaires about your experiences in the NICU. This feedback allows us to improve and deliver the best possible patient centred care.

To learn more, read the NSW Health essentials of care program overview factsheet (PDF 1.33MB).

Research activities in the NICU

Many babies and families in the NICU take part in research projects conducted within the hospital. This research allows us to find new and better ways to improve the survival and long-term health of our babies.

You may be asked if your baby can be part of a research project, or we may ask you to be part of a research project. The research project will be clearly explained to you, and we will not enrol your baby without your permission. 

Taking part in research is your choice and no matter what you decide, we will continue to provide your baby with the best possible care.

Westmead Hospital is affiliated with several universities and has many supervised students, both nursing and medical, on practical placements in the NICU. Please understand that their learning is important to provide ongoing excellent care for newborns in the future.

Learn more about research in Western Sydney Local Health District.

Fabric hearts and wraps for the NICU

The Westmead NICU appreciates all the help it receives from the public for NICU babies. We currently have all the knitted items we need but you can still help our babies by making fabric hearts and wraps:

Read our factsheets on how to make baby wraps (PDF 267.77KB) and fabric hearts (PDF 493.91KB) for the NICU.

Contact the Westmead NICU

Contact the Westmead NICU for general enquiries on (02) 8890 7375 between 7am to 9pm, 7 days a week.

If your baby has been admitted to the Westmead NICU, you will be provided with the telephone number of the room your baby is in. You will be able to speak with the staff caring for your baby, day or night. 

For privacy reasons, information will only be provided to the parents.

What to know about premature babies

Premature or preterm babies are born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. If your baby has arrived early, it is common for parents to have a range of emotions, be stressed and overwhelmed.

Preterm babies can experience some common medical conditions or health problems, which our staff are experienced and knowledgeable in managing and caring for.

Our NICU team of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals can help you through this journey. They will explain what is happening and how to look after your baby.

Use the information from the links and factsheets provided to understand, prepare for and learn about what to expect and the common NICU medical terms and conditions in premature babies or sick newborns.

Resources

Links to more information

Factsheets

To find more resources in English and multiple languages online go to the NSW Health resource hub

How to help with your baby's care

We will do our best to include you in all of the care we provide for your baby. We want to support your parenting and understand how important your involvement is for your baby's wellbeing. 

Daily ward rounds

You are welcome to join us every morning for our 'ward round' where a team of doctors, nurses and other health professionals meet and plan for care for your baby. 

Note: For privacy reasons, you will be asked to leave the room when the team talk about other babies' care plans. You can re-enter the room after the team has finished. 

Learning baby care

Staff will help you learn how to care for your baby, including:

  • changing nappies
  • feeding
  • bathing and cuddling
  • other care your baby needs.

Use the information from the links and factsheets to learn more about newborn intensive care.

Babies expecting surgery

Your baby may need surgery after birth. We work with The Children's Hospital at Westmead to help you and your baby with a smooth transition from birth to surgery.

Our Perinatal Advice, Referral and Liaison Service (PEARLS) team will support you and provide information for your needs and situation.

Use the information from the links and factsheets to learn more about babies expecting surgery.

We also recommend you learn more about kids' surgery services and the Newborn Intensive Care (Grace Centre) at The Children's Hospital at Westmead

After you baby leaves the NICU

The NICU provides follow-up care for babies born extremely preterm who may be vulnerable to developmental challenges as they progress through early childhood. 

In this section, learn more about our Growth and Development Clinic that provide our neonatal follow-up service.

Eligibility and corrected age for preterm babies

Who is eligible?

Babies from Westmead NICU who were born less than 29 weeks' gestation or weighing less than 1000 grams are routinely seen by our Growth and Development Clinic.

Corrected age

When we look at development of your preterm baby, it is important consider their prematurity by working out their ‘corrected age’. 

The corrected age is based on the baby's age if they had been born on their due date. We use your baby’s corrected age until they are around 2 to 3 years of age.

Services, assessment and follow-ups

Services

The Growth and Development Clinic offer a range of services, including:

  • assessment focussing on your child's development progress, growth and medical concerns
  • early referral to therapies and service providers who will help your child's development
  • ideas and suggestions to help and encourage your child's development and learning.

Assessment

We work closely with parents to help you meet your child's needs. The information from our work with parents helps inform and assist other families who have preterm babies.

At each assessment:

  • you child will be seen by a specialist multidisciplinary team who will provide expert advice.
  • you can accompany your child during each visit.
  • you can ask question about your child's progress.
  • we provide support and resources to your family. 

Follow-up schedule

Your baby needs follow-up at regular intervals. The follow-up schedule is at:

  • 3 months corrected age
  • 8 months corrected age (as needed)
  • 12 months corrected age
  • 2 years corrected age
  • 5 years of age.
Appointments

You do not need to make an appointment. Your baby will automatically be enrolled in our clinic after being discharged from the NICU.

For the first appointment, we will contact you when your baby is around 3 months' corrected age. It is important that you notify us of any change in your contact details (phone or address).

Hospitals with special care nurseries in Western Sydney LHD
List of hospitals with special care nurseries in Western Sydney LHD
HospitalPhone
Auburn Hospital
Norval street, Auburn NSW 2144		(02) 8759 3000
Blacktown Hospital
Blacktown road, Blacktown NSW 2148		(02) 9881 8000
Norwest Private Hospital
Norbrik Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153		(02) 8882 8882
Westmead Private Hospital
Corner of Mons and Darcy roads, Westmead NSW 2145		(02) 8837 9000

Contact us

Auburn Hospital maternity services

Business hours: 7am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (02) 8759 3278 or (02) 8759 3244

Email: WSLHD-Auburn-WomensHealth@health.nsw.gov.au

Unit manager: 0447 283 975

Blacktown Hospital maternity services

Business hours: 8am to 7.30pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 3.30pm on Saturday

Contact hours: 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (02) 8670 8356 or (02) 8670 8352

Email: WSLHD-BMDHWHC@health.nsw.gov.au

Unit Manager: 0427 653 254

Westmead Hospital maternity services

Business hours: 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (02) 8890 6161 or (02) 8890 6162

Appointments: (02) 8890 6508

Email: WSLHD-WestmeadPregnancyBookings@health.nsw.gov.au

Contact Western Sydney LHD

More options to contact us.

For general enquiries, complete our online enquiry form.

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