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NICU

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides critical care to newborns who are ill or premature. Many factors may lead to a newborn being admitted to the NICU, including low birth weight or complications during delivery. The NICU staff works closely with parents to develop a treatment plan for their newborn.

Neonatal intensive care unit in Nashville, Tennessee

Our intensive care unit's goal is to help your baby get and stay healthy.

If your newborn needs specialized care, we at TriStar Health offer our tiniest patients lifesaving treatments. In our neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Middle Tennessee, we help your baby become healthier while supporting your family.

Related Specialties

Learn more about our related specialties.

Conditions that may require a NICU stay

The dedicated and specially trained medical teams in our NICUs provide critical care to newborns with conditions that require close attention, such as:

  • Birth abnormalities
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Delivery complications
  • Heart irregularities
  • Infections
  • Low birth weight
  • Premature birth

Neonatal intensive care services we offer

Our NICUs offer high-quality medical care and leading-edge treatment options to help your newborn grow strong and healthy.

Features of our neonatal intensive care

All NICUs help mothers and newborn babies. However, some NICUs have designated "levels," which refer to the specific type of care provided. We are committed to serving families at our Level II and Level III NICU locations with services that include:

  • Blood pressure and temperature monitoring
  • Facilitation of high-risk births
  • Heart rate monitoring
  • Minimal-stimulation environment
  • Neonatal transport services
  • Nutrition provided through IV, tube feeding, bottle feeding or breastfeeding
  • Private rooms where you can bond with your baby
  • Radiant warmers, incubators and open cribs
  • Respiratory rate monitoring
  • Video streaming to view your baby 24/7 through a secure online portal

Our Level II NICUs

Our Level II NICUs care for babies who are premature, but whose gestational time was longer, usually between 32 and 39 weeks. A Level II NICU may also be appropriate for babies who started out in a higher level but have graduated to less intense care needs. We are proud to offer Level II NICU care at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center and TriStar Summit Medical Center.


Our Level III NICU

Level III NICU care at the TriStar Centennial Children’s Hospital is designed for babies born early, usually earlier than 32 weeks of gestation. It is also often the best place for babies who weigh less than 1,500 grams, who are critically ill, who need equipment to help them breathe or who may need surgery. We provide a low-stimulation environment where it is quiet and dimly lit to help with the developmental care of our most premature babies.


Neonatologists and NICU specialists

At TriStar Health hospitals, your baby will receive continuous care when they need it most from highly experienced neonatal specialists, including:

  • Board-certified neonatologists
  • Case managers
  • Lactation consultants
  • Massage therapists (to help with development and maximize comfort)
  • Occupational therapists (to help with sensory and motor development)
  • Physical therapists
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Social workers
  • Specialty-trained nurses
  • Speech therapists (to help with difficulty swallowing)

Our case managers and social workers are here to support your family while your infant is in the NICU. They can help you get answers to any question and refer you to outside services to help as you transition your baby home.

Looking for a location?

We also offer quality care at these other locations in our extended network.
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