Welcome to our dedicated space for parents facing the unique and tender journey of having a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We recognize that the depth of your journey and stand beside you with empathy, care, and a commitment to providing knowledge that empowers.n this space, we extend our heartfelt care and support to parents facing the twists and turns of the NICU path.

In these moments, when each heartbeat echoes with both joy and concern, we extend our warmest embrace to you. The NICU experience can be overwhelming to say the least, filled with uncertainties and unfamiliar terms that may seem like a foreign language. Understanding the terminology that surrounds it is like finding a compass, guiding you through the care and love your little one needs. Illuminating the language that surrounds your precious little one’s care gives you the confidence to actively engage with your healthcare team, ask informed questions, and play an integral role in your baby’s journey to health.

A Personal Journey

I stand before you not just as a guide through the common terms used in this world of care but as someone who, like you, has felt the weight of those terms and the emotions they carry. In the early moments of New Year’s 2023, my own journey took an unexpected turn as my daughter arrived three months ahead of schedule. I intimately understand the blend of emotions that accompany this journey, the mixture of joy and uncertainty, and it is with this understanding that I present to you a guide through the common terms used in the NICU.

Decoding NICU Terminology

In the NICU, every term matters.

Together, let’s navigate the language of love and healing in the NICU.

1. Adjusted Age/Corrected Age – The age of a baby based on their due date.  So if a baby is 8 months old, but was born 3 months early, their adjusted age is 5 months.  This is important when measuring development and milestones.  The adjusted age is used for the first 2(ish) years of life.
2. Apnea – An unexplained pause/stop in breathing for > 20 seconds.  There are three different types of apnea – central, obstructive, or mixed.  Central apnea is unexplained and occurs when your body stops its effort to breathe.  Obstructive apnea is when something is in the way of an infant’s breathing (i.e. soft tissue in the throat collapses and blocks the airway).  This is important because apnea can lead to decreased heart rate and decreased oxygen saturation levels.
3. Art Stick/Arterial Stick – When you use an artery as a means to obtain blood.  Usually used when you need a large volume of blood.  The radial artery is most commonly used.
4. Alveoli –  small sacs in the lungs where oxygen and other gases are exchanged in the blood stream.
5. Anemia – a low number of red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to the tissues. Anemia is common for premature babies, and, in some cases, a blood transfusion may be necessary to correct it.
6. Antibiotics – medications that prevent or treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibodies: produced by the body to fight bacteria or viruses in the blood.
7. Aorta – a large artery leaving the heart that carries blood with oxygen.
8. Apgar Score – A quick assessment of a newborn’s physical condition at birth.
9. Bradycardia – A drop in heart rate.
10. Brain Bleed – Also known as intracranial hemorrhage, this is common in premature infants.  A brain bleed can range from stage I-IV with IV being the worst.  It’s also classified by the right side, left side, or bilateral.
11. Bili lights – special lights used to aid in the removal of bilirubin from the infant’s blood.
12. Bilirubin –  a yellow-orange pigment to the infant’s skin due the presence of excessive amounts of bilirubin. This byproduct of cell breakdown causes jaundice.
13. Bilirubin Phototherapy – Treatment using special lights to help break down bilirubin.
14. Blood gas – a test that monitors the oxygen and other components of the infant’s blood.
15. Blood pressure – a measure of the amount of pressure on the walls of the blood vessels.
16. Blood transfusion – [with parental consent] blood from a donor is given to the baby through an intravenous line after careful matching of compatibility.
17. Bonding – the connection between parents and infant.
18. Bradycardia – a slower heartbeat than normal. This is usually accompanied by apnea.
19. Catheter –  a thin tube used to give fluids and blood into or out of the body.
20. Central line – an intravenous line used for long-term treatment that enters the skin and rests just before the heart.
21. Central nervous system – brain and spinal cord.
22. Chronic Lung Disease CLD – This is described as the need for oxygen by a premature baby for an extended period of time.
23. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure CPAP – Pressurized air is delivered to the baby via small plastic prongs to aid in the expansion of the lungs. 
24. Colostrum – breast milk produced in the first days after delivery. This milk carries many antibodies and nutrients vital for your baby.
25. Desats – When your baby has a “desat” event that means that its oxygen saturation levels drop.  Every baby is individualized and each hospital has a different policy on what is an appropriate oxygenation level.  To fix this you should make sure that the equipment that is being used is on and working.  If it is, turn up the oxygen or reposition the infant.
26. Endotracheal tube – thin plastic tube inserted into the baby’s trachea to deliver air, oxygen and breaths to the infant.+
27. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) – a complex, multidisciplinary therapy method usually reserved for very sick children for whom other methods have not been successful. It’s a type of life support system that may be used to help your baby’s lungs or heart function for a period of days or weeks while your baby heals.
28. Full-term baby –  between 37 and 42 weeks gestation. Less than 37 weeks is considered premature.
29. Feeding Tube – A tube for delivering nutrition when a baby cannot feed orally.
30. Gavage feeding – feeding through a tube that enters the nose and ends in the stomach.
31. Glucose – type of sugar that stays in the baby’s blood and provides energy.
32. Gavage – When a baby gavage feeds it means that they are getting milk from a tube that (typically) goes into their stomach.
33. Gestational Age – The age a baby is born at.  This is measured in weeks and days. If you have a baby that was born at the age of 32 weeks and 3 days, you would say “GA 32 and 3”.
34. Halo – a plastic dome placed over the baby’s face to concentrate oxygen available for the infant.
35. Hyperglycemia –  excessively high amounts of sugar in the blood.
36. Hypoglycemia –  abnormally low amounts of sugar in the blood.
37. Heel Stick – A means to get blood.  A small poke in the heel for small volumes of blood.
38. HIE – This stands for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and is an emergency when a baby’s brain doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen.
39. Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar levels.
40. Hematocrit -The proportion of blood that is cellular, indicating oxygen-carrying capacity.
41. Infusion pump – a pump used to deliver IV fluids to the baby for nutrition when feeding is not possible.
42. Intraventricular Hemorrhage IVH – This describes bleeding in the infant’s brain. The condition can be mild or severe and should be discussed with your baby’s doctor.
43. Isolette – An enclosed crib providing a controlled environment for the baby.
44. Intubation – placement of an endotracheal tube into the trachea (windpipe) to ensure air and oxygen passage to the lungs.
45. IV – A small catheter that is placed in a vein and delivers antibiotics and nutrition or IV fluids.  IVs are for short-term use.
46. Incubator – A temperature-controlled box that a baby is put in until they are big enough to transfer to an open crib.  An incubator is usually used for premature babies.  It can control temperature and humidity, plus acts as a sound and light barrier.  Premature babies are started on “skin mode” meaning the infant is not dressed and the temperature probe is placed on their skin to measure the temperature.  The incubator air temperature adjusts to what the baby’s temperature is.  Once the baby gets bigger, you switch to “air-mode” where you can dress the baby and the air temperature is changed by you (not the baby). When the baby gains enough weight and can maintain their own temperature they are placed in a crib.  (Weights vary per hospital policy but the typical weight to come out of an incubator is around 1800 grams).
47. Intubated – When a breathing tube (an endotracheal tube or ETT) is placed down a baby’s trachea.  This means that a machine – a ventilator – is breathing for the baby.  There are different modes and different types of vents depending on why the baby is intubated.
48. Jaundice – Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels.
49. Kangaroo Care – When a baby is kept skin-to-skin on the chest of their mother or father.  Typically the baby is naked and is placed right on the front of Mom or Dad’s naked chest.  The skin keeps the baby warm and a blanket is placed over their back.  If the baby is very premature a hat is usually also put on the baby’s head to ensure the baby doesn’t get cold.  If a baby is doing skin-to-skin you want to make sure to check their temperature about every hour (or more if the baby is getting cold).
50. Low Birth Weight – birth weight less than 2500 grams (about 5.5 pounds).
51. Lipids – Fat that is given to an infant to help with weight gain.  It comes in a syringe or small bag and the fluid is white.  This can be delivered through an IV, PICC, or UVC.
52. Neonatologist – A specialized doctor who cares for newborns, especially those born prematurely or with health complications.
53. Necrotizing Enterocolitis NEC – This is a condition where the intestines are compromised and require a temporary break from food and the need for antibiotics to treat an associated infection.
54. Neonatology –  a special field in pediatric medicine and nursing that is devoted to the care of the premature or sick newborn.
55. NEC – Stands for necrotizing enterocolitis and is a common, sometimes fatal, condition in premature babies.  This is an intestinal disease where the small or large intestine becomes inflamed and sometimes perforates.
56. ND – A nasoduodenal tube is a small tube that goes from the nares to the duodenum.  It passes through the stomach and is typically placed in babies who experience frequent emesis.  You need an x-ray for this to check placement and make sure that it’s in the right place.
57. NG – A nasogastric tube is a small tube that goes from the nares to the stomach.  It’s used for babies who cannot eat by mouth.  An x-ray is not necessary to confirm placement.  Instead, you should aspirate or auscultate to confirm placement.
58. Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIMV) – Also known as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or BiPAP (bi-phasic positive airway pressure), NIMV is non-invasive meaning that the baby is not intubated.  The pressure comes from a mask or cannula that is placed on the infant’s nose.
59. NPO – NPO means that the baby cannot eat anything.  This means that feeds are stopped whether this is by mouth or by a tube in the stomach.  Instead, an IV is placed and nutrition is given through a vein.  Reasons to go NPO are when a baby is firstborn, if a baby is getting surgery, or if a baby gets NEC.
60. Nasal Cannula – A small tube placed in the baby’s nostrils to deliver oxygen.
61. Preterm or Premature – A baby born before completing 37 weeks of gestation.
62. NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) – A specialized hospital unit providing intensive care for newborns, particularly those born prematurely or with health issues.
63. Micro-Preemie – A micro-preemie is a baby born before 26 weeks gestation.
64. Patent Ductus Arteriosus PDA – This is a condition in the infant’s heart where it has not transitioned to the extra-uterine environment. It can be treated by medication or may require surgery.
65. Pneumonia – This is an infection in the lungs that causes fluid accumulation and requires antibiotics to treat.
66. Prematurity – Prematurity happens when a baby is born before 37 weeks’ gestation (time spent developing in the mother’s womb). Babies who are part of a multiple birth, such as twins, are more likely to be born prematurely.
67. Pacing – A term used when feeding a baby.  A baby that needs to be “paced” typically doesn’t have a coordinated suck-swallow-breathe meaning they are at risk for aspiration.
68. Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) – Stands for a peripherally inserted central catheter.  A PICC line is for long-term antibiotic or nutrition use.  It has to be placed by someone who is specially trained as a “PICC nurse” or a nurse practitioner or doctor.  This is a sterile procedure.
69. PO – PO means “by mouth”.  If a baby is “PO feeding” it means that they are taking full or partial feeds by mouth whether that means using a bottle or breastfeeding.
70. Preemie – A birth that occurs before 37-weeks.  Some hospitals now resuscitate babies as young as 22-weeks.
71. Primary Nurse – A nurse primarily has one patient.  For instance, you can sign up to be a “primary nurse” on a baby and that means that every time you work you have that particular baby.  This can be important because you know the baby better than anyone else and you get to know the family better than anyone else too.
72. Pulse Ox – A probe that is placed on a baby’s hand or foot that measures the oxygen level in the blood.
73. Peripheral Intravenous Line (PIV) – A catheter placed in a vein away from the center of the body.
74. Parenteral Nutrition – Providing nutrients through intravenous means when a baby cannot tolerate oral feeds.
75. Peripheral Arterial Line (PAL) – A catheter placed in an artery to monitor blood pressure.
76. OG – An orogastric tube is a small tube that goes from the mouth to the stomach for feeding purposes.  It is not as good as using an NG tube because it usually comes out much more often but is placed when an infant is needing respiratory support through their nose in a form of a cannula, CPAP, or BiPAP.  An OG is taken out and replaced with an NG when an infant starts to breastfeed or bottle-feed.
77. Open Crib – A crib that an infant is placed in when they can maintain their temperature and don’t need a heat source.
78. Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) – Breathing difficulty in premature infants due to a lack of surfactant in the lungs.
79. Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) – Eye disorder in premature infants with abnormal blood vessel development in the retina.
80. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) – A viral infection affecting the respiratory system.
81. Red Blood Cells – cells that carry oxygen to the tissues.
82. Rooting – coordinated movements of the head and mouth as an infant is looking for a nipple to suck on.
83. Radiant Warmer – An open bed that has a heat source.  This is used for sick babies who aren’t premature and don’t need light and sound protection.  Sometimes a baby is placed on a radiant warmer without the heat on because it’s easy to start IVs, etc because it doesn’t have crib rails.
84. ROP – ROP stands for retinopathy of prematurity and it’s an eye disease that occurs in premature babies that require a lot of oxygen supplementation.  ROP is potentially blinding and starts being monitored > 30 weeks but there are different requirements in different hospitals.
85. Sepsis – an infection if the blood stream that is treated by antibiotics. 
86. Surfactant – substance formed in the lungs that helps the alveoli with air exchange. Many premature infants are given surfactant at birth to aid their breathing.
87. Stim – Stim means stimulation and is when you have a baby that goes stops breathing or drops their heart rate and you rub their chest or back to get them to start breathing again or have their heart rate go up.  This is common in premature and sick babies.  If “stimming” the baby doesn’t work you need to resort to “bagging”.
88. Suck-Swallow-Breathe – A coordinated effort between sucking on a bottle, swallowing, and breathing that we monitor in premature babies learning how to eat.  If a baby is not following all of these steps – sucking, swallowing, breathing – then there is a risk for aspiration.  The way to help babies through this is by pacing them.
89. Tachycardia – an unusually fast heart rate.
90. Trachea – the windpipe from the back of the throat to the lungs.
91. Tachycardia – Tachycardia is a fast heart rate.  The more premature you are the higher the heart rate, but a fast heart rate can also be caused by sickness or heat amongst other things.
92. Tachypnea – Tachypnea is when you’re breathing fast.  When a baby is tachypneic sometimes they require “support” – in the form of a nasal cannula.  It’s important to watch how fast a baby is breathing because if they breathe > 70 breaths per minute it’s not safe for them to be eating by mouth.
93. TPN – TPN is total parenteral nutrition, and is what a baby receives in place of milk or when they are working up on feeds.  TPN is given through an IV, PICC, or UVC.
94. Umbilical Artery Catheter – a small plastic tube placed most often in the baby’s umbilical artery to serve as an IV for the administration of nutrients, medications or blood products.
95. UAC – An umbilical arterial catheter is placed by a physician or nurse practitioner and is threaded through the artery in the umbilical cord and is typically used to monitor blood pressure.  This is placed on brand new infants with umbilical cords.  Once the umbilical cord falls off you, you can’t place a UAC.  You can also easily draw blood off of a UAC by a stopcock that is placed.  This is beneficial because you don’t have to poke the baby as many times, but is not beneficial because every time you “break into the line” there is a risk of infection.  UAC lines are placed for emergencies are taken out as soon as possible as to not cause an infection.  Placing a UAC is a sterile procedure.
96. UVC – An umbilical venous catheter is placed by a physician or nurse practitioner and is threaded through a vein in the umbilical cord and is used for fluid management.  This is placed on brand new infants with umbilical cords.  Once the cord falls off, you can’t place a UVC.  UVC’s are taken out as soon as possible as not to cause an infection.  Placing a UVC is a sterile procedure.
97. Vein – a blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.
98. Vital Signs – measurements of heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and temperature. 
99. Venous Stick – A means to get blood from a baby by sticking a needle in a vein.  Typically, a hand vein or an AC vein is used.
100. Ventilator – A machine that assists a baby’s breathing by delivering air and oxygen into the lungs.