Neonatal care

Our paediatricians and neonatologists look after newborns from 35 (0/7) weeks of pregnancy with a weight of at least 2 000 grams and offer the following range of services:

• Initial care of healthy and sick newborn babies
• Care of newborns with adjustment problems after the birth
• Short-term care including close observation via a monitor (oxygen saturation levels) and the administration of oxygen, if necessary
• Preventive medical check-ups
• Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice
• Hearing test
• Developmental care (kinaesthetics) for newborns
• Breastfeeding counselling
• Advice for parents on the care of a newborn baby
• detailed postnatal discussions with your paediatrician (individual progress and examination results, further care and preventive examinations after discharge, general recommendations, procedure with emergencies, etc.)
• Outpatient follow-ups
• Laboratory tests if necessary

Every birth and the development of the newborn baby differ. Babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy are described as being premature. Even when premature babies are perfectly healthy, some show signs of immaturity from being born too early and need our help to get their life off to a good start. The younger premature babies are when born, the more support they will generally need.

Those born from 35 (0/7) weeks of pregnancy normally only show slight signs of being premature, such as:

• Adjustment problems after the birth involving circulation and breathing: The baby is closely observed using a monitor and assistance provided with oxygen saturation, pulse and temperature.
• Low body temperature: The baby's temperature is checked at regular intervals. If it is too low, the infant's temperature is raised either by the mother through bonding or using a warming bed.
• Difficulties with feeding: Premature babies sometimes find breastfeeding and drinking difficult, so clear guidance and support is needed from the maternity unit team.
• Low blood sugar levels: This is measured at regular intervals in the first hours after the birth and close attention paid to feeding.
• Jaundice in the newborn: This, too, is more common in babies born too early and is often more pronounced than in infants who were not premature. This condition is caused by the yellow bile pigment that is found in the body and broken down in the liver. Phototherapy (the baby is placed on a mat that emits blue light) can be used to help disperse bilirubin with an alternative method via the skin.