Special Care Nursery

There are many reasons why a baby may require admission to a Special Care Nursery. They may have been born prematurely (before 37 weeks) or are unwell. If required, specialist care from the hospital’s Neonatologist and additional nursing support will be provided in the Special Care Nursery at Wollongong Private Hospital.

The staff at Wollongong Private Hospital understand that the admission of your baby to the Special Care Nursery may generate concerns and many questions. In the event that your baby requires Special Care Nursery support, staff will explain all equipment and procedures involved in caring for your newborn - care and comfort of you and your baby is our primary concern.

About the Wollongong Private Hospital Special Care Nursery

The Special Care Nursery at Wollongong Private Hospital is a Level 2 Nursery that is able to provide care for babies born from 34 weeks. Newborns with medical problems related to respiration, feeding, temperature maintenance, blood glucose levels, or babies at risk of infection may also be admitted to the Special Care Nursery for extra nursing care.

Our Special Care Nursery staff are all highly qualified registered nurses and midwives skilled in the care of newborns with special needs. Our nursing team work in partnership with the hospital’s staff Neonatologist and Paediatricians delivering personalised, around the clock care of you and your baby.

Caring for sick babies sometimes may involve a higher level of care beyond our Special Care Nursery. If your baby does need extra support that is beyond the capacity of Wollongong Private Hospital’s Special Care Nursery we are able to safely transfer your baby to a higher level centre. When your baby no longer requires a higher level of care, they will be transferred back to the Special Care Nursery at Wollongong Private Hospital.

Our Neonatologist and / or your nominated Paediatrician will care for your baby until discharge, offering support to you and your baby every day of your admission.

Collaborative Care with Parents

At Wollongong Private Hospital, we recognise parents are essential members of our care team. We encourage you to participate in all aspects of your baby’s care including:

• Care plan design
• Taking your baby’s temperature
• Changing nappies
• Establishing breastfeeding

Each family’s needs are unique and we welcome you to choose the level of involvement that is right for you.

Kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact with your baby) is encouraged as this interaction can have developmental benefits for premature babies and aids in lactation.

Our Special Care Nursery recognises that Mother’s breast milk is best for sick or preterm babies and where possible, we encourage mothers to regularly express breast milk, which can be stored and fed to your newborn.

Visiting Policy

Only parents are allowed to visit the Special Care Nursery and they are welcome anytime.

Due to risk of infection, visitors who have a cough, cold, fever, diarrhoea, vomiting or cold sore are not permitted to enter the Special Care Nursery. 

We ask that you please keep your visit brief and be considerate of the privacy of other parents in the Special Care Nursery.

Handwashing

All visitors, including parents, are asked to wash their hands on entry to the Special Care Nursery.

As Special Care Nursery babies are vulnerable to infection, it is important to reduce this risk. Hands carry bacteria on the skin. Bacteria are found on every surface you touch and can cause an infection in newborn babies, especially sick babies as their defence systems for fighting infection are not fully developed.

We also request that your visitors do not touch and handle your baby to avoid risk of infection and to allow your baby to get as much rest as possible.