Neonatal Unit

Caboolture Hospital’s Neonatal Unit provides inpatient care for neonates who require intensive medical and nursing surveillance and specialised diagnosis and treatment. The health care team within the Neonatal Unit implement a family-centred and developmentally supportive model of care that enables individualised care and high levels of parental/care giver involvement where appropriate and safe.

We understand having your baby admitted into the Neonatal Unit may be an overwhelming time for you. We are here to offer our expertise, care and ongoing support for you and your baby. Please feel free to ask the staff any questions you may have about your baby’s care.

Our services

The nursery has 15 cots.

Newborn babies are admitted to our unit for many reasons.

Babies who are born early (less than 37 weeks) or those requiring diagnostic evaluation and treatment for conditions such as respiratory difficulties, infections, or other medical concerns, may be admitted to the Neonatal Unit for specialised care.

If your baby has been born before 32 weeks or if they require intensive care, your baby will be transferred to another hospital for treatment and then may be transferred back to our unit for ongoing care. When your baby no longer needs specialised nursing or medical care, we will prepare you and your baby for discharge home.

Your baby will be cared for by a team of health professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, speech pathologists and dieticians.

Visiting your baby

Parents

Parents are encouraged to spend as much time as possible with their baby during the day and at night. 

Children

Siblings of the baby are the only children allowed in the nursery providing they have not recently been unwell. Siblings need to be supervised by a parent at all times.

If you are planning an extended visit with your other children, you may wish to bring something along to occupy them. To keep all babies safe, uncontrolled playing may result in parents being asked to take their child out of the unit.

Visitors

Parents of the baby must accompany visitors.  Close family relatives and friends who are 12 years and older can visit during regular visiting hours.

All visitors to the unit must be free from fevers, coughs and colds, especially a runny nose, as this places your baby and others at serious risk.  

Visitors with vomiting or diarrhoea cannot visit until 48 hours after symptoms stop.

Hand washing

Hygiene is extremely important in the Neonatal Unit, as sick and premature babies are very susceptible to illness. Everyone must wash their hands on every entry to the Neonatal Unit using the soap and water supplied.

When will my baby be discharged?

One of the most common questions we are asked is “how long will my baby be here?” Unfortunately, we can’t give you a clear answer as it will depend on many things.

If your baby is born prematurely, you can usually expect to have your baby home by the time they reach your original due date.

For full-term babies, the decision to discharge your baby from Neonatal Unit will be made in consultation with you, your doctor and the nursing staff.