Below is a guide to the equipment you may find in the NICU, hopefully this will answer any questions you may have and help put your mind at ease.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
The NICU is a medically equipped unit designed to take care of premature and ill babies. Your premature baby will be cared for care by specially trained NICU staff.

Radiant Warmer
A Radiant Warmer is a unit, which has a mattress inside for your baby to lie on and heater overhead. Newborn babies need help to regulate their body temperature, this is even more important for a preemie baby. The Radiant Warmer keeps your baby warm and also allows the NICU Staff to access them with ease to monitor and provide medical care. A premature baby is often taken to the NICU in a Radiant Warmer, later they may be transferred into an incubator.  Some Radiant Warmers have a lid that can be closed to transform the warmer into an incubator.

Incubator
Once your baby is stable he or she will be moved to an incubator, which is a large Plexiglass box with a mattress inside, these are also known as an Isolette.  An Isolette helps your preemie baby maintain their body temperature.  Incubator safe premature baby clothes are available from specialist shops.

Pulse Oximeter
A Pulse Oximeter is a device used to measure the amount of oxygen in the baby’s blood. A small probe is placed on a baby’s wrist, finger or foot and held in place with a bandage. The readings from the Pulse Oximeter are displayed on a monitor often along with their respiratory rate, oxygen intake and heart rate. The probe is often placed on the foot of a premature baby; this may be rotated throughout the day to ensure the probe does not damage the baby’s delicate skin.

Transcutaneous Monitor
A Transcutaneous Monitor measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the baby’s blood. An electrode is placed on the baby’s skin to measure this.

Heart Monitor
A Heart Monitor is used to monitor the baby’s heart rate. A sensor is attached to your baby’s chest and their heart rate is displayed on a monitor, often with a reading from the Pulse Oximeter. If the baby’s heart rate goes up or down too much an alarm will sound to notify the NICU staff.

Monitor Screen
The Monitor Screen is used to display readings from any monitor your baby is attached to. This includes oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiratory rate. If any level drops too low or goes too high an alarm will sound and the NICU staff will make any adjustments they need and provide any necessary medical care.

Ventilator
A Ventilator is used to help premature babies with immature lungs breath. The Ventilator helps to regulate the mixture of oxygen, as well as the rate and pressure. A tube called an endotracheal tube is placed in the windpipe allowing the Ventilator to push oxygen into the lungs. Ventilators are programmed to fit each baby’s need; some babies need more help than others. You will find two pieces of equipment attached to the Ventilator; these are the Nitric Oxide Delivery Unit and the High Frequency Oscillator.

Nitric Oxide Delivery Unit
The Nitric Oxide Delivery Unit delivers nitric oxide to the blood vessels around the lungs. This relaxes them and stops them from being damaged.

High-Frequency Oscillator
The High -Frequency Oscillator helps to keep your baby’s lungs open. It shakes the air into the lungs in measured amounts, which stops any damage to the lung tissue.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is used when a premature baby needs some help breathing. This is often used after a baby has come off the Ventilator but will also be used if the baby needs extra help with their breathing. The CPAP provides a pressurized flow of oxygen rich air to the baby’s lungs; it helps keeps their lungs open and keeps their oxygen level stable. Two small tubes are placed into or just under the baby’s nostrils. The pressure can come from either a bubble CPAP that is a device that uses a column of water or from a ventilator.  Suitable CPAP dummies are available from on line premature baby stores.

Oxyhood
An Oxyhood is a plastic hood that is placed over a premature babies head, oxygen rich air is released. This is used for babies who can breathe unaided but need extra oxygen.

Nasal Cannula
A Nasal Cannula is used to blow oxygen rich air into the baby’s lungs. Two small plastic tubes are placed into the baby’s nostrils. This is another method for babies who can breathe unaided but may need extra oxygen.

Intravenous Line (IV)
An Intravenous Line is a very fine line that is used to deliver medication and sometimes food to a premature baby. The line is entered in to vein this can be in the arm, leg, scalp or umbilical cord. The line is attached to a monitor that ensures the right amount of food or medication is being given to the baby.

Feeding Tube
A Feeding Tube is used when a premature baby cannot be fed by either breast or bottle-feeding yet, often because they have difficulty sucking or coordinating their sucking and breathing at the same time. A small tube is passed down the nose or mouth through to the stomach so the liquid can be feed directly into it.

Sue Edmondson runs Prem2Pram the online premature baby store http://www.prem2pram.co.uk as a mother herself of two premature babies she understands the difficulties parents face when their baby arrives early.
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2.These type of premature baby clothes are made from fabrics that cause the least irritation to delicate skin. High cotton content means washing at high temperatures can be tolerated to help combat harmful germs.When you buy Neonatal baby clothes it is far better to wash them prior to your baby wearing them.Only using non biological washing powder and fabric softeners.babies can become allergic and have skin reactions to other types of biological washing detergents.

3.Neonatal baby clothes offer easier,quick fastenings and allow access for tubes, monitors and any wires the nursing staff have to attach a baby’s body to,and it helps to keep a constant check on vital organs.Its good as you can often find buttons buttons every where every direction yet still providing the cute clothes you want for your baby to wear too.

4.In the neonatal care unit mums tend to be a arms length whist a baby is in a critical care unit. The nurses rush around checking this monitor and the blood gases etc  and all a mum can do is worry. At least by taking part of the simple care needs such as dressing,changing a nappy cleaning your baby’s face and tubes etc a mum can feel like she is doing something imortant until able to take baby home.Thats why choosing stylish neonatal baby clothes in wonderful colourways, that make mum smile makes all the difference when gazing lovingly at a newborn in the nicu.

5. neonatal baby clothes also offer the very smallest sizes availabale to premature babies and tiny babys born of a low birth weight. Most often supermarkets cater for tiny and early babies 7lb where neonatal baby clothing offer a much varied sizing such as 1.5lb,0-2,1-3lb,0-2lb,2-3lb,3-5lb+

5. Where to look for such clothes Nanny Nicu offer neonatal baby clothes with choices galore in the most vibrant and varied sizings for tiny babies you can watch a short video clip here 

You can also shop online for Handmade Neonatal baby clothes offering a touch of class, style and in delicious colours of the softest fabrics worldwide see them at http://cheekychumsonline.co.uk its choices galore at the cheekychums premature baby clothes superstore.

Qualified Baby and Early Years specialist.T.D.L.B D32+D33 Assessor.Owner of Cheeky Chums
Cheeky Chums the Premature Baby Store, plus more
For choices galore visit the cheeky chums store at http://cheekychumsonline.co.uk

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/neonatal-baby-clothes-why-your-premature-baby-should-wear-these-instead-1566004.html

Obviously, appropriate sizing will help you get the right fit for preemie baby clothes.  If you opt to do the shopping through stores near you, make sure you have taken the general length and weight of your preemie.  Once you have done so, then you will be able to get the dress fit for your child.

More on proper sizing for premature baby clothes

Sizing is not always about the general body weight and length of your child.  There are specific things you should consider to measure as well.  Here are some of the things you should focus on preemie baby clothes and the techniques to help you with:

• Torso.  The torso is the upper part of the body – usually the chest portion.  Some people find this part the trickiest to measure.  In making your choice for premature baby clothes, you have to see to it that you will not be getting a very long one.  Take note of the standards of measurement as well.  Sometimes, there are sizing differences from one store to the other so better take note of that.
• Length of the arms.  Most preemies have long and skinny arms so if you buy premature baby clothes like shirts, buy short-sleeved ones.  They are more favourable for your baby than long-sleeved ensembles.

Your baby’s growth and premature baby clothes sizing

For those of you who want to look after the welfare of your preemies, you certainly favour the fact that your baby grows in no time.  Your baby’s weight during birth may not be his weight after a month.  How is this correlated with premature baby clothes sizing then?

The answer is very simple.  The connection between your baby’s growth and preemie clothes sizing is seen in the number of sets you should buy for your baby.  This simply means that once you foresee that your baby will grow in the future, there is no need to invest much on one size for premature baby clothes.  In like manner, you should also endeavour to look for clothes that have extenders or stretchers to help you lessen your budget.

On top of all these considerations, proper sizing for premature baby clothes will give utmost convenience to you as a parent as it provides comfort to your little one.  You have to take note that whilst you focus more on giving the appropriate clothing to your child, the more you should also give him the chance to grow.  Handling all things with utmost care and concern is crucial to the development of your children.  Never overlook the sizes for premature baby clothes.

Looking for the right <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" “>http://www.teddyandme.co.uk/”> premature baby clothes to match your preemie’s size? Check on the list of http://www.teddyandme.co.uk and use the size charts provided.

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