AvaBaby's Preemie Resource Center~Preemie & NICU Information

~NICU is the NeoNatal Intensive Care
Unit

~Isolette is a self contained incubator
that provides heat, humidity and on
occasion oxygen for low birth weight
babies. Units are capable of
weighing babies and monitoring their
temperature.

~Anemia is a low red blood cell
count.

~Billirubin is a natural waste product
that when not being eliminated
may cause the skin and eyes to
appear yellowish.

~Billi lights are fluorescent lights that
help the body eliminate billirubin.

~Bradycardia or Brady is a slowing of
the babies heart rate and is fairly
common in preemies. Something they
will grow out of generally.

~CAT Scan is a special kind of xray.

~Echo or echo-cardiogram is an ultra
sound image that lets the doctor see
the heart.

~Endotracheal tube is a tube
that passes either the the babies
nose or mouth and into the windpipe
that allows oxygen into the lungs.

~Gram is a weight of measure. One
ounce is equal to 28 grams and one
pound is equal to 454 grams.

~Hypoxia or being hypoxic is low
oxygen levels in your preemie's blood.

~Jaundice is when a premature baby's
skin turns yellow and is common in
preemies.

~Murmur is a sound made by the heart
when blood flow is not quite normal.
Most murmurs are not significant.

~Oxygen is what we all need to breathe

~PICC Line is a special IV for long
term administration of antibiotics
and other medications.

~Pulse ox measure how well the blood
is being oxygenated or is carrying
oxygen.

~Respiratory distress is when lungs of
a premature infant do not have
enough surfactant. This is a very
common problem for premature
babies.

~Sepsis is potentially serious
inflammation in the body to to an
infection either of a known or
unknown cause.

~Tachycardia is a fast heart rate.

~Tremors are when arms and legs
may shade and is fairly common.

~Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool which
uses sound waves to see inside the
body.

~Ventialor helps the baby to breathe
by pumping oxygen into the lungs.

~Preemie is baby born before 37 weeks

gestation.

~Micro Preemie is a preemie born

weighing less then 1 lb 12 oz.

~Apnea is a prolonged period of no

breathing, common in preemies, but

is something the eventually grow

out of.

~Bagging is when they may manually

push air into a babies lungs using

a facial mask and a bag that they

gently push air with.

~Blood gas is a blood test to detect

oxygen and carbon dioxide in the

blood.

~Chronic lung disease is a chronic

change in the babies lungs.

~CPAP is a machine the provides

constant low pressure to the airways

to keep the lungs expanded.

~EEG detects brain activity.

~EKG records the electrical activity

of the heart.

~Fontanel is the soft spot on the top of

your babies head.

~Gavage feeding is a tube that runs

either through the babies nose or mout

and into their stomach for feeding.

~Heel stick is a tiny heel prick to obtain

a small quantity of blood for testing.

~Intraventricullar hemmorage is another

word for a brain bleed.

~Kangaroo care is fun and is when you

will hold your baby skin to skin.

~Nasal canula is a tube the goes to the

nose providing oxygen.

~Oxyhood is a clear plastic hood that is

placed over the babies head to

provide oxygen and humidity.

~ Pneumonia is an inflammation of the

lungs.

~Reflux is when stomach contents back

up into the esophagus. A type of

vomiting or spitting up and is common

in preemies. They usually will grow

out of this.

~Suction is when they vacuum out

secretions with a tiny tube just like a

vacuum in your home.

~Surfactant is a lubricating substance

that lines the small airways of the lungs

and helps to prevent the lungs from

sticking together. Very common in

preemies. Surfactant is regularly given

to preemies and has had much to do

with the good outcomes seen today.

~Umbilical catheter is similar to an IV in

which blood may be drawn and

medications may be given. Commonly

used in those born very early.

~Wean is to slowly remove them from a

medication or machine like a

ventilator.

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