March 2004

Nursery is for special babies

More than 270 babies were cared for in Latrobe Regional Hospital Special Care Nursery during 2003.

Unit Manager Heather Taylor said a variety of conditions led to the babies’ admission to the Special Care Nursery.

‘Among the conditions were prematurity (born before 37 weeks), a low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, seizures, multiple births, hypothermia and hypoglycaemia.

‘Some babies had cardiac conditions, anaemia, feeding problems and others were withdrawing if mother is chemically dependent,’ said Ms Taylor.

The Special Care Nursery at Latrobe Regional Hospital is a Level 2 nursery and is staffed by qualified midwives.

The nursery also has a qualified mother-craft nurse, lactation consultants and division two nurses who help to care for the babies in the nursery.