Neonatology
When your baby arrives early or needs extra medical care, you want experts by your side. Our neonatal teams care for a 1,000+ newborns each year at our hospitals—with doctors on-site 24/7 and families at the center of everything we do.
Premature babies and critically ill full-term newborns need highly specialized care. Our neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) bring together neonatologists—doctors who specialize in newborn care—along with advanced practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, physicial therapists, feeding specialists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, care managers and lactation consultants.
A member of our NICU team attends every delivery where complications are possible, and our doctors and advanced practitioners are in the hospital around the clock. Your baby's care plan is personalized, and you are part of the team — because parents play a real role in helping babies heal and grow.
What makes our NICUs special
We offer four levels of newborn care across northern New Jersey, so your baby gets the right care close to home.
Expecting a baby who may need special care?
If a condition is found during pregnancy, early planning leads to better outcomes.
Neonatal transport
Sometimes a baby born at another hospital needs a higher level of care. As the regional perinatal center, Sam's NICU at Goryeb Children's Hospital accepts newborn transfers from across New Jersey.
Our hospital-based transport team—neonatology physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists—travels with your baby every step of the way. The ambulance carries a specially designed incubator with a built-in newborn respirator, IV pumps and heart and breathing monitors. Emergency transport is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Family-centered care
You're part of the team
Having a NICU baby is stressful. We work hard to make it an environment where babies can heal and parents feel at ease. Our approach is called family centered care—open communication between your baby's care team and your family, and real support to help you bond with and care for your baby.
A NICU built for healing—and for families
Advanced technology
Voice-activated calling let's nurses stay at your baby's bedside instead of answering pages. Duplicate monitors at the nursing stations cut down on in-room alarms, so your baby rests in a calmer space.
Comforts of home
Spacious private and semi-private rooms fit families—including twins and triplets. You'll find sleeper sofas, soft lighting, personal temperature control, sound dampening design and free Wi-Fi.
Family support
In room lactation equipment and refrigerators make feeding easier. A family lounge offers TV, refreshments and activities for siblings, plus programs like the NICU Hugger Program and Lending Library.
Helping you bond with and care for your baby
Specialized NICU programs and services
Care doesn't stop at the NICU door. These programs support your baby—and your family—before birth, during your stay and after you go home.
Coordinated care during pregnancy when a baby is expected to need specialized care, in partnership with maternal-fetal medicine. Includes prenatal consultations and NICU tours.
Infant apnea program
Some premature babies go home with an apnea (breathing) monitor. Our team provides training, ongoing support and medical management.
NICU developmental follow-up program
After discharge, your baby can receive coordinated outpatient care with pediatricians, therapists and socials workers.
Ongoing breastfeeding support for NICU families.
Neonatal CPR education
Hands-on training so you feel prepared before taking your baby home.
We track clinical practices and outcomes so we can keep improving care and adopting the latest innovations.
NICU frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions families ask most.