Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU is a special unit at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for newborns and infants who require extra care and monitoring due to illness. Although it may seem like a scary place to parents with many machines and incubators, it is actually a highly monitored area for your baby with specially-trained staff. The team ensures that your baby is getting the best care and attention possible.

We are also here to support you, the parents and family. Please feel free to ask any questions about the care or health of your child, (though please note that specific health information can only be discussed with parents or identified guardians/caregivers).

You can learn more about the NICU in this brochure (right-click and ‘Save as…’ to download or pick up a copy at the NICU on your next visit).

Visiting

Parents are not considered visitors, and are welcome at any time (though we ask that you please avoid arriving between 7am and 8am, and 7pm and 8pm during shift changes when nurses are discussing your child’s care). Other visitors are welcome when accompanied by mom or dad of infant, up to two at a time, during daytime hours.

For the safety of your child and other babies in the unit, please do not visit the NICU if you have a fever, cough, sneeze, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea or other symptoms of sickness.

The NICU is a secure unit for the safety and health of the babies. To enter the NICU, please push the intercom button at the door, identify yourself and your baby, and a nurse will buzz you in.

Please note that access to the NICU may be restricted at certain times due to NICU activities or unexpected events.