Protecting against infections
Babies in the neonatal unit are vulnerable to infections so there are strict policies to protect them. The nurses on your unit can explain the details to you.
Everyone coming into the neonatal unit must wash their hands and forearms thoroughly and, after drying, use the sanitising hand gel provided.
The unit might also have what’s called a bare arm policy. This means no clothing or loose jewellery can be worn below the elbow.
Family members may need to stay away if they have a cold, the flu or a tummy bug, or if they have whooping cough, measles, chicken pox or other contagious infections. This will apply to siblings and other family members, and may also apply to you if you are seriously ill.
This can be hard. If you are not able to be with your baby because you are sick then the unit will arrange other ways for you to stay up to date with their condition.
Your baby might be swabbed for infections when they are first admitted into the unit. This is to help the staff know what they might need to treat.
Read more about washing your hands in our information on common infectious illnesses.
Visiting
Parents are not considered visitors, as you should be able to be with your baby 24 hours a day. In some units, parents might be asked to leave the room if staff are having confidential conversations about other babies.
It will be very important to the staff that you are not separated from your baby unnecessarily and they will do everything they can so that you can stay with them as much as possible. To do this, units are encouraged to have confidential conversations away from the cot or incubator, so that as many parents as possible can stay with their babies.
For security, the unit will only be accessible to staff with relevant passes. Parents and visitors will usually be let in by the staff.
Each unit has its own visiting policy. The unit may have set visiting hours for other family members, and might ask you to limit the number of people. This allows the babies to get enough rest and lowers the risk of infections. Sometimes there is not much space and the staff need room to work safely.
Some hospitals allow brothers and sisters to visit. If you can, it may be helpful to bring your older children to see the baby in hospital.
Even when they can’t visit, your children can stay in touch with the new baby. You might like to give your child a picture of the baby to keep. You can also encourage your child to give your baby a present or make cards and paintings to hang near your baby’s cot.
Privacy
It can be a difficult time when your baby is in hospital and privacy for you and your family is important.
Most units will:
- Make sure you have private space for feeding, expressing, cuddling and medical procedures. Screens are ideal if your baby does not need to be monitored all the time.
- Ask visitors not to approach other babies’ cots when their parents are not there, and not to read their notes.
- Provide a private place for discussions about your baby’s condition and treatment.
There should also be a sitting room nearby for parents to relax and a kitchen for making tea and snacks. Some units offer accommodation to stay overnight near your baby.
Peace and quiet
For premature or sick babies, it is very important to make sure their environment helps them to respond to treatment, grow, and develop.
Neonatal units help keep the environment calm for babies, by:
- Turning lights low and shielding the babies from bright lights as much as possible
- Protecting them from loud or continuous noises from equipment
- Keeping conversations and phones at a quiet level
- Making sure babies have lots of quiet time
- Asking everyone to put mobile phones on silent
Being quiet in the unit does not mean that you can’t talk softly to your baby. In fact, doing this can really help you and your baby to connect and to feel reassured.