Neonatal

Our Neonatal Unit (NNU) is located on the first floor of the Maternity Building at Hillingdon Hospital. It has 18 cots in two rooms: the intensive care room and the special care room.

The unit also has two 'rooming in' rooms, an expressing room, plus parental access to a kitchen and sitting room.

In addition to the NNU, the team also run a six-bed Transitional Care Unit, within Alexandra Ward. The Nursing Team supports parents to care for their babies who require additional support and the unit provides a bed space for the birthing parent to stay.

If your baby is admitted to NNU you will be given information about the unit on an individual basis.

If you need to contact the unit, please call: 

• Intensive care on 01895 279447 or 279114
• Special care on 01895 279109

The Transitional Care Unit (TCU)

The TCU is part of the Neonatal Unit and uses the same principles of 'FICares' (Family Integrated Cares) that you may already have seen on the Neonatal Unit. This is a really exciting time of your baby's care as parents: we see this time as a partnership between your family and us. 

As parents, you are the main provider for all the needs of your baby. However, our team will remain with you to ensure that you can feel confident looking after your baby in hospital and at the point of going home. 

Through FICares and partnership with the Neonatal Team, we hope you feel supported in the care of your baby throughout your stay on TCU. If you have any questions, please ask any member of the team.

Your stay on the TCU

TCU has six beds on Alexandra Ward, which is on the third floor of the Maternity Department building at Hillingdon Hospital, where you and your baby can stay together while your baby needs hospital care. Our team's office is located at the end of Alexandra Ward and there should always be a member of staff in here or nearby to assist you. 

Our team is made up of doctors, nursing and infant feeding specialists who will discuss care with you and develop a personal plan for your baby. These plans are reviewed daily and will be adjusted to suit your baby's ongoing needs. You will be involved in all decisions regarding your baby's care needs so that you are able to make an informed choice. Please feel free to ask any questions that you may have. 

• Please supply your own nappies and clothes for your baby
• Mothers are expected to stay overnight but partners are welcome to stay as well
• Please ask the team for the current visiting policy.

Feeding

Feeding your baby is an important time for you and your baby on TCU. Our Infant Feeding Team and nursing staff will support you whichever way you would like to feed your baby. This is parental choice and we support both breastfeeding and bottle feeding on the unit. 

If you wish to breastfeed, the team will assist you until you and your baby are comfortable breastfeeding. We have breast pumps available to use during your stay if required and we provide sterilising facilities. There is the availability to rent pumps when you go home too. 

Looking after breast milk on TCU

We have guidelines for everyone on TCU to avoid mixing milk with that of other mothers. Our team will show you how to do this but please ask for help.

• always label your milk after expressing
• when milk is collected from the TCU fridge, please check with one of our nursing staff that it is your milk, before giving it to your baby

When to store your expressed breast milk in the fridge

• expressed breast milk can stay by the bedside for a maximum of four hours before putting it in the fridge. In warm weather, please consider using the fridge anyway
• milk warmed up from the fridge can only be used within one hour and cannot be returned to the fridge. After this, any unused milk must be discarded.

Bottle feeding on TCU

Bottle feeding is fully supported on TCU and our staff are here to help with any questions you may have about feeding and sterilising. Please bring your own bottles and teats. 

Maternal needs

If you remain an inpatient on Alexandra Ward but your baby is ready for TCU, the Midwifery Team will still provide your care and the TCU Team will assist with your baby. If you have been discharged from inpatient maternity care, you are responsible for your own medications. We recommend that you plan ahead for any needs you might have, such as painkillers, nursing pads, Dalteparin injections etc. If you feel unwell, you will have to be seen in Maternity Triage, which is on the first floor.

Discharge 

Going home is exciting, but it can also be challenging. Our team will work with you to ensure a safe and well-supported discharge. At discharge, your baby should be:

• feeding well - breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a combination
• maintaining their temperature without support in a cot
• gaining weight, if applicable
• off antibiotics and no longer needing phototherapy.

Some babies on longer courses of antibiotics or phototherapy might be able to continue at home with our PATCH (Providing Assessment and Treatment for Children at Home) service. If your baby is eligible, this will be discussed during your TCU stay.

When you go home, you will be given a discharge summary of your baby's stay, any medication that your baby requires and your baby's 'red book'. This is a health and development record for every child in the UK.

Contact

If you need to contact the TCU please call 01895 279146.