Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Neonatal Intensive Care at Golisano Children's Hospital

As a parent-to-be, you hope for a healthy pregnancy and baby. But some babies are born with complex medical issues that require treatment in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health is home to the only NICU in Vermont and northern New York. We provide critical care to infants born across the region.

It can be stressful to have an infant in the NICU. When your baby is in our care, you can feel assured that they are receiving advanced care from a team of experts. We also support you and your family during this challenging time and prepare you to care for your newborn after discharge.

Why Choose Golisano Children's Hospital?

Extensive team: Our comprehensive care team includes neonatologists, neonatal fellows, advanced practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, lactation consultants, pharmacists and social workers. Together, we care for over 650 infants every year.
Follow-up services: Some babies who spend time in the NICU have a higher risk of developmental delays as they grow. We offer ongoing care through our Neonatal Medical Follow-Up Program (Neo-Med), including digital health visits.
Commitment to quality: Our NICU participates in the Vermont Oxford Network (VON), an international organization that includes more than 1,400 NICUs around the world. VON members work together to improve care and patient outcomes.
Transport and video-assisted care: We provide transport services for babies across the region. Video communication with our hospitals and ambulance allows us to guide your baby’s care before they reach the NICU.

Innovation & Impact

Video-Assisted Neonatal Care

UVM Health's youngest patients get immediate support from our neonatal intensive care experts at Golisano Children's Hospital, thanks to innovations in video-assisted health care.

Conditions We Treat in the NICU

Newborns come to the NICU care for many reasons, including:

Premature birth: When babies are born before 37 weeks, their organs may not have had enough time to develop fully. Some premature infants may need NICU care to help them eat, breathe and stay warm.
Health conditions: Health issues can develop during pregnancy or delivery. Our NICU team provides critical care for a full range of common and complex neonatal conditions.

What to Expect in the NICU

Our NICU is open to you around the clock. If you come to us from outside the Burlington area, our social workers can help you locate lodging so you can stay close to your infant. We typically allow two caregivers to visit an infant in the NICU at one time.

Some infants stay in the NICU for only a few hours, while others are with us for a longer period. We support you and your family while providing state-of-the-art care for your child, no matter how long you are with us. Our neonatologists have access to the latest equipment and technology, including:

Isolettes: These convertible incubators warm your baby. A removable top and holes in the side allow us to provide care without disturbing them.
Respiratory support: Respiratory support helps your baby breathe. Our technology includes conventional mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation and high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). HFOV is an advanced type of mechanical ventilation that helps keep your baby’s airway open. Nitric oxide therapy is also available for babies with certain conditions, such as pulmonary hypertension.
Whole body cooling: Whole body cooling helps minimize brain injury in infants who experience hypoxia (low oxygen levels) at birth. We often combine this treatment with continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring to track brain activity.

Services We Provide

Prenatal Consultation

Our neonatologists consult with families who know their baby is likely to come to the NICU. Learning about the NICU ahead of time can help you prepare and ease your fears. Prenatal consultations provide an opportunity for you to learn more about the NICU, ask questions and take a tour.

If your baby will need surgery after delivery, we meet with you and the surgical team before birth to develop a plan. You are the most important member of the care team. We work with you to ensure your birth plan aligns with your preferences and goals for delivery.

Nutrition and Lactation Support

Your baby’s nutrition is crucial for their growth and development. We encourage and support breastfeeding or pumping breast milk and provide equal support for formula-fed infants. Nutrition resources include:

Dedicated lactation specialists for the NICU to help you breastfeed your baby
Dietitians who help optimize nutrition for each infant
Donor breast milk, so babies can receive 100% human milk

Family-Centered Care

Every member of our team is focused on your baby and your family. Your nurses, providers and other specialists understand the challenges you are facing. You can turn to them for guidance and assistance at any time.

We also have specific team members whose main roles are to support you. Our social workers meet with you to assess your needs. They can connect you with emotional support services, transportation, lodging and other resources. Our chaplain can provide religious and spiritual guidance.

Education

Our nurses are here to help you hold and touch your baby during their time in the NICU. When possible, we encourage skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care). If that is not possible, a gentle touch or lullaby can help soothe both you and your baby.

As you get close to discharge, our team makes sure you have the knowledge and skills to continue to provide care at home. We may show you how to give medications or monitor your baby’s condition.

Neonatal Medical Follow-Up Program (Neo-Med)

If your baby is at risk of developmental delays after discharge from the NICU, they may receive follow-up care in our Neonatal Medical (Neo-Med) clinic. Led by our neonatologists, our Neo-Med clinic helps coordinate special services, such as nutrition services or speech language pathology. We coordinate this care closely with your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider.

We typically see patients in the Neo-Med clinic for their first few years of life. This extra layer of support ensures your child gets the services they need to help them grow and develop.

Coordination with Pediatricians

We communicate with your baby’s pediatrician or primary care provider to coordinate care after discharge. If your child will receive follow-up services in our Neonatal Medical (Neo-Med) clinic, we may arrange a meeting between you, our neonatologists and your baby’s pediatrician or primary care provider. This face-to-face meeting helps us coordinate your baby’s care and ensures a smooth transition out of the NICU.

Palliative Care

Our pediatric palliative physicians help families of infants with severe illnesses. They work with you to learn about your values and preferences. These efforts help families navigate important medical decisions and plan for future care.

Awards & Certifications

March of Dimes

The March of Dimes awarded Golisano Children's Hospital an ‘A’ grade for perinatal services in their 2024 Report Card – making Vermont the only state to achieve an ‘A’ ranking in 2024 and setting a new benchmark for maternal and infant health across the United States.

Press Ganey Award

Our NICU received the prestigious 2023 Press Ganey Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award. The recognition places Golisano Children's Hospital among the top 5% of health care providers nationwide for patient experience, underscoring their unwavering commitment to clinical excellence and empathetic patient care.

Level 3 NICU

A level 3 NICU designation means we have the personnel, equipment and organization to manage complex cases and provide critical care. University of Vermont Medical Center has the only NICU in Vermont and northern New York.

Newsweek: America's Best Maternity Hospitals

Newsweek has included UVM Health's anchor academic medical center and Level 1 Trauma Center that serves the region on its ranking of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals after assessing the quality of perinatal care, operative obstetrics, patient education and counseling, accommodation and service, and nurse and midwife staffing.