Taking Your NICU Baby Home
Doctors and nurses at Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas started planning for your baby's discharge from the NICU the day your baby arrived there. Everything we do is focused on getting your baby strong enough to go home and be with family. If your baby was premature, and has reached the gestational age of 36 - 38 weeks, the neonatologist will evaluate your baby's condition for discharge. We consider the following in preparing your baby for discharge:
- Does your baby maintain body temperature without the warming unit/isolette?
- Has your baby progressed from breastfeeding to bottlefeeding?
- Does your baby breathe independently, without supplemental oxygen?
- Are you comfortable with special care handling and instructions?
We want you to be as comfortable and as prepared as possible before you take your baby home. Ask a lot of questions. We are happy to help.
Car Seats for Your Baby
Nevada law mandates that all infants be protected in when traveling in a car. Infants younger that one year old and/or who weigh less than 20 pounds must be placed in a rear-facing car seat. Children's car seats are all too often improperly installed and thus don't protect babies. Clark County has a Safe Kids Coalition that provides information about car seats and offers safety classes. Review the car seat education events on the Safe Kids Clark County website. Most NICU babies can go home in a regular infant car seat. But to be sure, we test all NICU babies before they get in their family car - especially if your baby is less than 37 weeks gestation or if discharged with oxygen.