Stay in nicu

Are there state laws on how long a baby stays in nicu

Specifically NJ

Stay in nicu

Generally a baby is kept in the NICU until it reaches certain developmental mile stones critical for survival. There is no one size fits all diagnosis for how long a baby will be kept-I know most hospitals will not allow a baby to be taken from the NICU against medical advice- they will usually take legal action to prevent a parent from signing a baby out with good reason--the infant is developmentally incapable of sustaining fundamental functions required for survival.

Re: Stay in nicu

i know where i deliver the baby automatically goes in the NICU if they are born 36w or earlier... even if its just for observation to be on the safe side

Stay in nicu

My son was born at 28 weeks and transferred from the hospital I delivered at to another hospital. When he was first born we were told to expect him to be in the NICU until his due date. Ultimately it comes down to development. Feeding is a biggie. So is maintaining body temp. Each step is an achievement. There is no one size fits all answer. Ultimately my son spent 7 weeks in the NICU and came home a month before he was due. In the NICU he became what they call a grower feeder. He had no medical issues but he needed to be able to eat on his own and maintain body temp. He also needed to pass a car seat test to make sure he could be in the car seat and continue breathing. Basically he needed to just finish developing and reach a stage that he was able to be "independent".

If you have a question feel free to FM me.

Message edited 2/8/2014 8:22:34 PM.

Stay in nicu

Oops double post

Message edited 2/8/2014 10:07:47 PM.

Stay in nicu

DH spent 6 weeks in the NICU and was born at 30weeks. He came home a month before his due date and had some
Serious medical issues, however, he probably wouldn't have come home much earlier regardless. Depending on the Hospital, they'd like the baby to be anywhere between 4-5lbs, able to maintain body heat, able to feed (suck, swallow and breathe), and not have any issues with heart rate dropping for a week or so and developed lungs (not on Any support or oxygen).

I'm sure exceptions are made and babies are sent home on oxygen or with feeding tubes - but these are the requirements the neonatologists told me DS had to meet before going home.

The day the doctor called and told me DS could come home was the best day ever. FM me if you need anything or have questions

Re: Stay in nicu

It might depend on the hospital, but they also needed to be sure DD could eat at least 45ml consistently every 3 hrs.

Re: Stay in nicu

Thanks all my nephew was just born today at 29 weeks

2lb 13 oz.

Stay in nicu

i dont think theres any hard or fast rule, it all depends on the baby. my DD was born at 33w at 3lbs 8oz and was in the NICU for almost a month. i thought she wouldnt come home til my due date but she was home about 3 weeks before. she had no complications just needed to gain weight and maintain body temp. as long as they can eat, gain weight, and maintain temp with no breathing issues, thats usually enough to go home. my DD was 4lbs 10oz when we brought her home. good luck !!

Stay in nicu

I had twins at 29.5 weeks. They were 2 lb 12 oz and 2 lb 14 oz. They stayed exactly 2 months in the NICU

Re: Stay in nicu