{"id":1113,"date":"2026-01-29T13:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/?page_id=1113"},"modified":"2026-01-29T14:15:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T14:15:14","slug":"abcs-of-nicu-life","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/abcs-of-nicu-life\/","title":{"rendered":"ABCs of NICU Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We know it can be difficult getting use to the medical and nursing language in the neonatal unit. We hope this little library will help to give you a better understanding. There is also a helpful list at the back of your NICU Journal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_e688ca-9f\">\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><style>.kb-table-container1113_80ca79-cf{max-width:100%;overflow-x:auto;}.kb-table-container .kb-table1113_80ca79-cf th{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);text-align:center;}.kb-table-container .kb-table1113_80ca79-cf caption{text-align:center;}.kb-table-container .kb-table1113_80ca79-cf td{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);text-align:left;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-table-container kb-table-container1113_80ca79-cf wp-block-kadence-table\"><table class=\"kb-table kb-table1113_80ca79-cf\">\n<style>.kb-table-container .kb-table tr.kb-table-row1113_453d03-39{height:0px;}<\/style><tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_453d03-39\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_055823-f3\">\n\n<p>Anaemia<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_a77e0c-11\">\n\n<p>A low red blood cell count<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_b4c7f8-28\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_00c816-d9\">\n\n<p>ANNP<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_e8b7ff-15\">\n\n<p>Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_928e31-91\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_c9871b-b9\">\n\n<p>Antibiotics<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_546e2c-54\">\n\n<p>A medication given to help fight either a suspected or<br>proven infection<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_7b51c9-54\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_41bc18-70\">\n\n<p>Apgar score<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_ac24db-33\">\n\n<p>A simple way of checking a baby\u2019s health immediately<br>after birth, by scoring \u2018points\u2019 for heart rate, breathing, skin colour, tone and the baby\u2019s reactions<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_2fde65-72\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d73b6b-d8\">\n\n<p>Apnoea<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_34f79e-8b\">\n\n<p>A pause in breathing<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_1a65c9-f5\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_41d68b-7c\">\n\n<p>Blood Gases<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_4d2037-10\">\n\n<p>This is a small blood test done via a heel prick to find out more information about your baby\u2019s health. One of the main<br>functions of this test is to measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases and acids in the blood. Medical staff do this to work out how well the lungs and circulation are functioning, and to make sure any breathing help they are getting is working well<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_e60cd0-50\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_2ab3d7-80\">\n\n<p>Bradycardia<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_7ca224-d3\">\n\n<p>A term for when baby\u2019s heart rate drops lower than<br>normal<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_cb5e1a-d8\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_134a5f-d4\">\n\n<p>Breast Pump<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_e4ad03-d9\">\n\n<p>A piece of equipment that is used for expressing breast<br>milk<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_79eedf-bb\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_e88f77-bf\">\n\n<p>Cannula<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_3bfc7f-71\">\n\n<p>A very small, short, soft plastic tube that is put into a baby\u2019s<br>vein to give fluids or medicines straight into the bloodstream<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_dd68e6-57\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_896fa8-f7\">\n\n<p>\u2018Cares\u2019<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_951a47-f4\">\n\n<p>This is what nurses refer to when changing your baby\u2019s<br>nappy, eye care, mouth care etc. This normally happens every 6<br>hours<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_2ff929-34\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_b04167-30\">\n\n<p>Cerebral Function Monitor (CFM)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_76c6ee-03\">\n\n<p>A machine that looks at the background electrical activity in the brain<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_0b4108-26\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_059ef3-aa\">\n\n<p>Chest Drain<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_957d92-73\">\n\n<p>A tube passed through the chest wall into the space between the lungs and the ribs, to drain air or fluid<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_d6f958-d2\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_9ef951-98\">\n\n<p>Chronic Lung Disease (CLD)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_2e9cec-b1\">\n\n<p>Long-term breathing and lung problems in premature babies. It is also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Chronic lung disease is a serious complication of prematurity resulting from poor lung growth and lung injury<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_10da5c-d8\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_b42a4a-35\">\n\n<p>Cooling mattress<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_edc803-40\">\n\n<p>A cooling jacket is used to reduce baby\u2019s temperature to around 33.5 degrees. This is used as a treatment in Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_a13950-9f\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_36b785-dc\">\n\n<p>CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d2f605-5e\">\n\n<p>A type of breathing support that delivers constant pressure into the baby\u2019s nose and lower airways. This allows the air sacs in their lungs to remain open and make it easier for them to breathe<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_3a4f58-67\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_c8fed7-e5\">\n\n<p>Cup Feeding<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_3ed10d-36\">\n\n<p>Is a method of feeding that can be used as an alternative to breastfeeding if the baby in unable to feed, which will not cause \u2018nipple confusion\u2019<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_359654-4a\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d1ed17-97\">\n\n<p>Desaturation \u2018Desat\u2019<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_e59ea1-c0\">\n\n<p>A drop in oxygen levels<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_57cb25-e4\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_60994a-54\">\n\n<p>Developmental care<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_8a56f7-67\">\n\n<p>This is about making the baby\u2019s surroundings as stress free as possible to help improve how your baby develops over time. This is done in several ways, by:<br>&#8211; Creating a \u2018nest\u2019 to nurse a baby, which makes them feel more<br>comfortable and secure<br>&#8211; Involving parents in caring for their baby on the unit and<br>encouraging \u2018Kangaroo Care\u2019 (having skin-to-skin with your baby)<br>&#8211; Reading\/speaking\/singing to your baby<br>&#8211; Reducing the amount of light and noise that the baby is exposed<br>to. The staff might cover the incubator with a sheet or cover<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_806761-46\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_a95e8c-ee\">\n\n<p>Donor Expressed Breast Milk (DEBM)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_4428a1-92\">\n\n<p>Donor milk is breastmilkexpressedand donated by a mother that is then processed by a donor milk bank to be given to your baby under specific circumstances.<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_61e256-34\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_98be1e-a6\">\n\n<p>DUOPAP<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_ea1766-1d\">\n\n<p>A type of breathing support delivered by face mask or<br>prongs which is similar to CPAP<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_d48c1d-9b\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_fc03f6-25\">\n\n<p>ECG Leads<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d832cc-7a\">\n\n<p>Leads that are connected to sticky pads on your baby&#8217;s<br>chest which provides a graphic representation of the heart rate and electrical activity<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_6034ca-0f\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d370b0-00\">\n\n<p>Extubating \/ Extubation<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_28b4a6-80\">\n\n<p>Removing the Endotracheal Tube (ET) (breathing tube) from the baby\u2019s mouth and coming off the ventilator<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_73181f-a2\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_373e68-4e\">\n\n<p>Family-Integrated Care or FICare<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_e6854f-54\">\n\n<p>This is a principle which ultimately means involving families directly in decision-making about their baby\u2019s care and in delivering their baby\u2019s care. Good FICare creates a welcoming environment for parents, meets their physical and emotional needs, provides great education for parents and staff and also provides psychological and emotional support. A unit successfully delivering FICare will lead to parents who go home fulfilled, and prepared<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_5cec6b-63\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_3fc785-4b\">\n\n<p>Gestation<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_4c083e-1c\">\n\n<p>The number of weeks since the conception of a fetus \/ baby. E.g. Full term = 37 \u2013 40 weeks gestation<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_73b731-44\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_549cf6-ac\">\n\n<p>Grunting<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_966175-b2\">\n\n<p>A noise made by a baby who has difficulty breathing and is<br>using extra energy<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_005f29-36\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_2c7da2-d9\">\n\n<p>Heated mattress<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_2a1bf5-06\">\n\n<p>A special mattress on which the temperature can be adjusted to help your baby maintain their temperature without needing to be inside an incubator<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_4c004c-5b\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_4f5dbe-5d\">\n\n<p>HFNC (High Flow Nasal Cannulae)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_7e991c-e4\">\n\n<p>Where warm, moist air flows into your baby\u2019s lungs through small tubes (called nasal cannulae) in their nose to help them breathe<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_d0b1fd-e5\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_cd8566-dd\">\n\n<p>High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d4d1d1-87\">\n\n<p>A type of breathing support on a ventilator which wobbles or vibrates the chest at a fast rate. Usually, babies will be managed with this mode if the breathing difficulty is very severe<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_cd2a70-fb\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_bbcf5e-89\">\n\n<p>Humidity<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d5a0bd-cb\">\n\n<p>To prevent premature babies losing too much water through their skin, they are often cared for in warm, humidified incubators. This is why there is sometimes mist on incubators. Humidity (water) is also added to the gases the baby breathes through the ventilator, CPAP or high-flow machines<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_7e4ffa-6b\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_870eff-26\">\n\n<p>Hypoglycemia<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_cac5e8-ae\">\n\n<p>A low blood glucose level<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_cb0a1f-55\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d26517-cd\">\n\n<p>Incubator oxygen<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_3a28f4-21\">\n\n<p>A way of giving oxygen directly to your baby in the incubator<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_326133-9e\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_56b05e-59\">\n\n<p>Inotrope<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_1ef511-8b\">\n\n<p>A medicine used to support blood pressure<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_9e6fe9-fc\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_98a918-f3\">\n\n<p>Intravenous Fluids (IV Fluids)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_616516-ae\">\n\n<p>Fluid containing sugar and sometimes salts, pumped into the blood stream to help baby when they are unable to feed<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_4cbbb1-c8\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_eb6d3e-9f\">\n\n<p>Intraventricular Haemorrhage (IVH)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d005c4-af\">\n\n<p>Bleeding into the fluid chambers (ventricles) of the brain. IVH\u2019s are graded 1-4 according to size and are found on an ultrasound scan. Grade 1 bleeds are minor and grade 4 bleeds more significant<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_05ccfb-d7\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_fd8921-29\">\n\n<p>Intubated<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_0c6cb5-f7\">\n\n<p>A breathing tube is passed through baby\u2019s mouth, into the<br>main breathing tube (trachea) and then this is connected to a<br>ventilator to help them breathe<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_e19fa9-80\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_979e1a-1f\">\n\n<p>Jaundice<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_f6c810-e1\">\n\n<p>A yellowness of the skin and\/or whites of the eyes caused<br>by a high level of bilirubin in the blood. It is very common in babies, and is usually caused by the normal breakdown of the baby\u2019s red blood cells. We manage higher levels with phototherapy (shining blue light onto the baby\u2019s skin)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_1a8ebc-e7\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_461113-78\">\n\n<p>Keeping Mum\u2019s and Babies Together (KMBT)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_02f669-cf\">\n\n<p>We try to minimise separation from your baby when possible. We may be able to facilitate care on the postnatal ward, in our transitional care unit, or at home<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_0b0444-d2\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_3a987c-40\">\n\n<p>Long line or PICC line<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_fa3418-07\">\n\n<p>This is a very fine, longer cannula that is put into a vein with the end of the line in a large blood vessel close to the heart. It is also sometimes called a central line. These lines are used to give the baby nutrition directly into a vein. They can also be used for medication<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_ba666f-ea\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_1389b9-1c\">\n\n<p>Low flow oxygen<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_514f39-70\">\n\n<p>A way of giving small amounts of oxygen to babies<br>though nasal cannula (small prongs in the nose)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_3c0249-6a\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_09b3b5-a2\">\n\n<p>MEBM (Maternal Expressed Breast Milk)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_dcc197-fe\">\n\n<p>Expressing breast milk means to use a pump, hands, or both to extract milk from a mother\u2019s breasts. The milk can be stored in the fridge, freezer or given directly to baby<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_d8cd67-57\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_1866a3-29\">\n\n<p>Nasogastric Tube (NGT) Feeding<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_fce48e-d3\">\n\n<p>A long, thin, soft plastic tube that goes from your baby\u2019s nose to their tummy. This is used to give milk to your baby until they are big\/well enough to feed<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_280b4b-db\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_115faf-00\">\n\n<p>Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_58dab3-5a\">\n\n<p>A serious condition in which the bowel becomes inflamed. Babies can become incredibly ill as their bodies try to heal the inflamed tissues. Babies can die from NEC. The illness may be less severe but causes sections of the bowel tissue to die and\/or leak. This would require surgery. When a baby is unwell with NEC, the doctors will rest their bowel (no milk) and give antibiotics<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_07b5f9-28\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_7652f7-56\">\n\n<p>Neopuff<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_f4b22c-f7\">\n\n<p>This is a mini-manual ventilator, used with a face mask placed gently on baby\u2019s face<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_a7b5f8-a9\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_75f2fb-a6\">\n\n<p>Nitric oxide<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_213b78-83\">\n\n<p>A gas that can be given via a ventilator to make the blood vessels in the lungs relax and hope to improve blood flow to the lungs. This should in turn improve baby\u2019s oxygen levels<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_7884e5-85\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_c482eb-75\">\n\n<p>Oedema<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d9fab8-82\">\n\n<p>Swelling caused by fluid in the tissues under the skin<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_7e7bca-57\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_ab23bd-83\">\n\n<p>Oxygen saturation<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_ac983d-35\">\n\n<p>This is measured by placing a probe on the hand or foot of the baby. This can measure the amount of oxygen flowing through the baby\u2019s blood vessels<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_e5018f-7c\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_eb93e9-82\">\n\n<p>Oxygenation Study (sometimes called a sleep study)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d1569d-d2\">\n\n<p>This is a test for babies to understand if they need the ongoing support of oxygen at home, while their lungs continue to grow. The study is used to measure the background oxygen saturations of baby and look for desaturations. Usually the study will happen over a period of 12 hours and must include a period when the baby is in quiet sleep, as this is the time that the body\u2019s oxygen levels are usually at their lowest. A study can be carried out in air to see if oxygen is needed, or in oxygen, to see if this is enough for baby<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_d24c7a-b9\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_896609-42\">\n\n<p>Parental Nutrition (PN)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_ea1d93-94\">\n\n<p>Nutrition given directly into the bloodstream. The liquid contains sugars, proteins, fats and vitamins<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_6da92b-05\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_be7bec-f7\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-57dffba6\">\n\n<p>Respiratory Rate<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_eb5a9d-87\">\n\n<p>How many breaths your baby takes in a minute<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_2e9397-8b\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_9e7f9a-4d\">\n\n<p>Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_0cfa00-33\">\n\n<p>This is a complication of prematurity in which the blood vessels at the back of the eye grow in a more tortuous manner. In some cases, ROP requires eye injection or laser treatment by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) and could mean your baby needs to be re-ventilated for a short time (usually overnight)<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_7b434a-ed\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_ca6bfc-f1\">\n\n<p>Suction<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_f201bd-dc\">\n\n<p>A suction catheter (long plastic tube) is used to clear secretions from an ET tube, mouth or nose<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_53d496-36\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_a05df6-73\">\n\n<p>Tachycardia<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_d4f68a-03\">\n\n<p>When your baby has a fast heartbeat<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_392824-32\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_8718a6-28\">\n\n<p>Tachypnoea<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_379aef-f4\">\n\n<p>When your baby breathes quickly<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_dee22a-e8\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_95906e-b0\">\n\n<p>Temperature skin probe<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_dac08a-71\">\n\n<p>A small probe that is put on the skin to measure the baby\u2019s temperature.<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_57f69c-3a\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_b03916-ab\">\n\n<p>Umbilical Arterial Line<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_22d02b-eb\">\n\n<p>This is a plastic tube that sits in a blood vessel travelling from the umbilical cord. The tip sits very close to the heart. This allows for monitoring of blood gases and blood sampling as well as being used for continuous blood pressure monitoring<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_b2d636-93\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_ab9ab1-6a\">\n\n<p>Ventilator<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_3cebea-eb\">\n\n<p>This is a machine that breathes for your baby when they<br>cannot breathe well enough on their own. A baby is connected to the ventilator by an endotracheal tube (ET), which is a plastic tube that is placed into the windpipe, through the mouth<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n<tr class=\"kb-table-row kb-table-row1113_4a03dc-05\">\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_02257e-23\">\n\n<p>X-Ray<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n\n<td class=\"kb-table-data kb-table-data1113_c977d9-04\">\n\n<p>A picture of organs, tissues or bones in the body<\/p>\n\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We know it can be difficult getting use to the medical and nursing language in the neonatal unit. We hope this little library will help to give you a better understanding. There is also a helpful list at the back of your NICU Journal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-1113","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"NHS Lothian","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/blog\/author\/nhs-lothian\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"We know it can be difficult getting use to the medical and nursing language in the neonatal unit. We hope this little library will help to give you a better understanding. There is also a helpful list at the back of your NICU Journal.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1113"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1131,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1113\/revisions\/1131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/neonatalunit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}