NICU Admission

Congratulations on your new baby! We know this is a very scary time, but an exciting time as well. On behalf of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, we would like to welcome you to our unit. We are a Level IV NICU, meaning we provide the very highest standard of neonatal care. We are also pleased to be able to offer our families the privacy of single or double patient rooms, which have been shown to improve neonatal outcomes while providing families the private space they need to bond with their baby. 

We consider parents to be vital members of our NICU medical team, and we encourage your involvement and daily participation. We understand that it takes time to learn new health information and terminology, and you are not alone if you feel confused. We are here to help you learn and become a confident advocate for your new baby. Your presence is invaluable. You are the only parents your new baby has, and your baby needs you. 

In addition to your baby’s medical team, we have a strong support team to help you through the ups and downs of your NICU journey. We also offer several parent programs that are both educational and supportive. These programs give you the chance to meet other NICU families and make connections that can help you feel less alone during your baby’s NICU stay. 

Here are some members of your NICU team you will meet during admission: 

As soon as possible after admission, please visit the admitting office on the first floor, across from the ATM. There you will confirm insurance and receive a parking pass and KD Café discount card. Remember to add your baby to your insurance as soon as possible. Once you have your baby added, take your baby’s hospital proof of birth letter and insurance information to the admitting office to register them in the CHKD system. 

Under certain circumstances, you may be able to stay overnight at the Ronald McDonald House. On weekdays, ask your social worker for more information. On weekends, the charge nurse or the on-call social worker can help you. 

If you plan to pump and/or breastfeed, speak with one of our lactation consultants as soon as possible to help establish your milk supply. See the pumping and breastfeeding section for more information on pumping and obtaining a hospital-grade breast pump.