Special Care Nursery

Caboolture Hospital’s Special Care Nursery cares for sick, low birth weight and/or preterm babies that are 32 weeks or above gestation with minimal complications.

We understand having your baby admitted into the Special Care Nursery may be an overwhelming time for you. We are here to offer our expertise, care and ongoing support for you and your baby. Please feel free to ask the staff any questions you may have about your baby’s care.

Babies born less than 32 weeks or require ongoing highly specialised care are transferred to a more specialised hospital.   When the baby is well enough, they are transferred back to Caboolture Hospital for ongoing care and preparation for home.

Our services

The nursery has 12 cots with two areas:

• Acute area – for sick newborns with a birth weight of equal or greater to 1500gms that require constant monitoring, diagnosis and treatment
• Growing area – for stable growing premature babies and those babies establishing feeding and preparing for discharge home.

We provide:

• Incubator care
• Cardio-respiratory monitoring
• IV fluid therapy
• Nasogastric tube feeds
• Phototherapy
• CPAP and short-term assisted ventilator care, pending transfer to a tertiary neonatal service.

Your baby will be cared for by a team of health professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, speech pathologists and dieticians.

Visiting your baby

Parents

Parents are encouraged to spend as much time as possible with their baby during the day and at night.  The nursery is closed between 1.30pm-2.30pm with the exception of mums who are breastfeeding during this time.

Children

Siblings of the baby are the only children allowed in the nursery providing they have not recently been unwell. Siblings need to be supervised by a parent at all times.

Visitors

Parents of the baby must accompany visitors.  Close family relatives and friends who are 16 years and older can visit during regular visiting hours. Visitors with a cough, cold, vomiting or diarrhoea cannot visit.

Hand washing

Preterm and sick babies are very susceptible to illness.  Everyone must wash their hands on every entry to the Special Care Nursery. Hand sanitisers are available at every cot to protect your baby against germs and infection.

Length of stay

The length of time your baby stays in hospital depends on their condition. If your baby is born prematurely, you can usually expect to have your baby home by the time they reach your original due date. Ask your doctors, nurses and midwives if you have any questions.