A fully geared and functional neonatal unit is essential to the working of a busy and high-risk obstetrics unit. Medicsi is one of the very few setups in Pakistan where antenatal care, labour and delivery, and post-natal care are managed proactively. Our community has a huge shortage of setups where standardised neonatal care is provided and hence the need for a well-equipped and functional Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU). In November 2006, Medicsi Islamabad took on this responsibility to care for little lives and we have been successfully managing this department since then.

Medicsi NICU has a fully functional tertiary neonatal intensive care unit with a capacity of around 40 incubators and 10 ventilators in Bahria and Saudi Pak Towers combined. We manage a variety of presentations and complications, including, but not limited to, difficult deliveries, low birth weight babies, premature babies, and maternal comorbidities, such as Gestational Diabetes (GDM) or Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH).

We are proud to have our NICU management being practised alongside the Artificial Reproductive Technique unit (IVF or test tube) which has been established since 1998 and is successfully bringing joy to hundreds of families who have previously had trouble conceiving. Without the support of the NICU, ART care would not be possible.

The babies that are delivered at Medicsi are received by the Neonatal team consisting of duty doctors, nursing staff, nurse assistants, and also consultants if clinically indicated.

NICU works with Incubators, Ventilators, Resuscitation equipment, suction apparatuses, imaging and phototherapy equipment. The team of staff consists of senior nurses, technicians, nurse aids, on-floor radiologists, and a team of 4 to 5 drs on-suite besides junior and senior consultants. The reception staff helps with the procurement and documentation of the unit work.

We have fully functional equipment to look after the babies admitted to the Newborn Intensive care unit. We believe in providing gentle respiratory care to our babies. We have acquired a Humidified Heated high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) and we feel proud to be the pioneers in twin cities. We have bubble CPAP machines for babies needing non-invasive ventilation. For babies who are critically unwell, we provide Ventilatory support and adhere to evidence-based clinical practice. Our team is fully trained in looking after extremely premature babies (less than 30 weeks) involving intubation & ventilation, surfactant instillation, Umbilical and PICC line placement, and arranging Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) for these premature babies in their early days till their feeds are established. We practise delayed cord clamping and have helped many babies in achieving a successful transition to ex-utero life after birth.

Medicsi believes in family-integrated care and involves parents in every step of their baby’s care. We conduct routine counselling sessions with parents to address their concerns. We believe in a multidisciplinary (MDT) approach to care for babies born with us or admitted to our unit from other hospitals. We work in close coordination with the Obs /Gynae team in order to plan the best possible treatment we can provide to babies born with problems diagnosed before and after birth. Our team promotes breastfeeding & supports mothers in establishing adequate breast feed.

Examples of care provided in NICU:

Premature Babies:

Premature babies are born before 37 weeks gestation and can face a number of medical issues after they are born. The more premature the babies are, the more prone to complications they become. Some of the challenges they face after birth include temperature regulation, breathing problems, feeding difficulties, infections, and bleeding tendencies.

These babies need to be nurtured in an environment where they can have body-friendly temperatures and humidity, respiratory support mechanisms, feeding by trained staff, adequate and controlled hydration, and can avoid catching infections as far as possible. Nature gives us all these abilities when we are born at the right time. When we come into this world before we should we need all the support we can get – and THAT’S the TASK Medicsi took over.

Breathing Problems:

Whether babies are born early or on time, they can sometimes have some breathing difficulties. The majority of these will resolve on their own with minimal support required. Sometimes, a baby can need a bit of extra help and that’s where we come in. Some of these examples include fluid in the lungs, lung collapse, pneumothorax, or infection. In such cases, we can support your baby in NICU with oxygen or pressure, or in more serious cases, with intubation and mechanical ventilation. This support will then be weaned off as the baby requires and will be monitored continuously until fully weaned off.

Feeding Support:

While your baby is admitted to NICU, they may not be ready for fully enteral feeds, either due to prematurity or requiring extra breathing support. In these cases, babies will be managed closely with families and may require feeding through a Naso-Gastric tube (NGT) which is passed through the nose and straight into the stomach. In such instances, we encourage new mothers to express breast milk as early as possible as this has many benefits for your baby.

Term Babies:

The term babies, though born at the right time, maybe delivered un-prepared or with congenital problems that now need to be looked after. They might also need support mechanisms similar to that of a premature baby but for a shorter time period. We have a highly dedicated and professional team who is looking after these babies and our on-call duty doctors are closely working with and supported by a 24-hour Consultant cover.

Consultants from allied specialties like cardiology, Neurology, Radiology, and Nephrology are all on call and at arm’s length to help us with the child’s care. We also have a clinical geneticist available for advice on suspected or confirmed genetic conditions.

We wish our tiny guests a life full of happiness and smiles.