Progress West Hospital’s NICU nurtures St. Charles County mothers and their babies

At Progress West Hospital, part of BJC HealthCare, babies who arrive much earlier than their due date or who reach their due date but have health concerns receive special care in the NICU, ensuring they get the best start in life. Below, Dr. Emily Fishman, a WashU Medicine neonatologist who sees infants in the newborn ICU, shares more about the extraordinary care babies receive.

How long do babies typically stay in the newborn ICU?

When babies are born early, they often stay in the hospital until closer to their due date. Sometimes, babies are in the newborn ICU for weeks, which, as you can imagine, can be very stressful for families.

We’re lucky at Progress West Hospital to be able to provide newborn ICU services to the community in St. Charles County. We can keep these babies close to home and provide family-centered care involving the parents, allowing them to stay near their infants while they remain in the hospital.

What services does the newborn ICU offer?

Some common treatments we provide include breathing support for babies with respiratory issues,  monitoring baby’s blood sugar and administering IV antibiotics to treat infections.

Who works in the newborn ICU at Progress West Hospital, and what is its relationship with St. Louis Children’s Hospital?

The physicians who staff the newborn nursery and the newborn ICU are all WashU Medicine neonatologists as well as pediatric hospitalists. We’re a 24/7 operation — we’re here to take care of babies all hours of the day. As part of BJC HealthCare, we also work closely with the experts at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

What benefits does the newborn ICU at Progress West offer babies and their families?

We provide care close to home for families in this community and offer them personalized care. One example is our wonderful lactation consultants, who often visit our families multiple times a day. We’re also fortunate to have an occupational therapist who works on feeding exclusively with our babies in the newborn ICU.

Are there special restrictions for babies released from the newborn ICU?

We talk about being careful as we’re going into the winter season. Premature babies are at a higher risk for developing long-term breathing issues such as asthma. I strongly encourage families to use good hand hygiene and minimize flu or COVID-19 exposures. Those who can are encouraged to get vaccinated and to keep baby at home.

Emily Fishman, MD, is a WashU Medicine neonatologist who sees newborns in the Progress West Hospital Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

To schedule an appointment, please call 636-980-5333. To learn more about the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Progress West Hospital, visit progresswest.org.