Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) | Lakes

Public Service, Intensive Care, Obstetrics (Maternity), Paediatrics

Description

The SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) at Lakes is an 8-bed, level two neonatal unit which provides care for sick and/or preterm infants greater than 32 weeks gestation although occasionally we care for babies that are 31 gestational age who do not require tertiary level care ar Waikato Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Hamilton.

Our unit is dedicated to providing individualised, holistic, family/whānau centred developmental care that responds to the infant's physiological, psychological, spiritual and cultural needs.

The unit has three nurseries: one for isolation, one for intensive care and one for the infants who are stable but require support with feeding and growing until they are ready for discharge home.

In our intensive care nursery we provide breathing assistance (called CPAP), Hi Flow oxygen and short-term ventilation pending transfer to our tertiary support unit. We administer Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and antibiotics via Umbilical Vein Catheters (UVDs), long lines or peripheral lines.

We have four available Mothercraft rooms where mothers can stay close to their infant and continue to seek support and guidance from the SCBU staff while their infant is in SCBU care.

Where to find us: see the Rotorua Hospital map here.

Consultants

Dr Michelle Bawden

Paediatrician
Dr Stephen Bradley

Paediatrician - Woman, Child & Family Clinical Director
Dr Belinda Coulter

Paediatrician
Dr Sonja Crone

Paediatrician - Head of Department (HOD)
Dr Sarka Davidkova

Paediatrician
Dr Danny de Lore

Paediatrician
Dr Anne Jaquiery

Paediatrician
Dr Aimee Kettoola

Paediatrician
Dr Jaco Nel

Paediatrician
Dr Aaron Ooi

Paediatrician

Referral Expectations

Babies that are born early; are very small or have other acute problems at birth will be referred to the Paediatric Department who may admit your child to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) if indicated (or may be involved in their care on the Perinatal Unit).

Fees and Charges Description

New Zealand citizens or those who have obtained permanent residence are entitled to publicly funded health care.

Non-residents may be required to pay for their health care.

Click here to read more about eligibility for funded care at Te Whatu Ora Lakes

Procedures/Treatments/Common Conditions

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

Continuous positive airway pressure, commonly called CPAP, is a special type of breathing circuit that is used to help your baby's breathing. CPAP is delivered through a set of nasal prongs or through a small mask that fits snugly over a baby’s nose. A baby may require CPAP if: they are born early (premature) they have an infection they are having difficulty breathing How long your baby requires CPAP will depend on their age, when they were born and their medical condition. CPAP will help your baby to breathe, by supporting their own breathing efforts. CPAP delivers constant air pressure into a baby's nose, which helps the air sacs in the lungs stay open. This helps a baby to breathe more regularly and prevents apnea (when they forget to breathe).

A baby may require CPAP if:

they are born early (premature)
they have an infection
they are having difficulty breathing

How long your baby requires CPAP will depend on their age, when they were born and their medical condition.

CPAP will help your baby to breathe, by supporting their own breathing efforts. CPAP delivers constant air pressure into a baby's nose, which helps the air sacs in the lungs stay open. This helps a baby to breathe more regularly and prevents apnea (when they forget to breathe).

Hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycaemia is when the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood is too low. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the brain and the body. In a newborn baby, low blood sugar can happen for many reasons. Babies most at risk are those who are: born premature (especially with low birth weights) born small or large for their gestational age born under significant stress born to mothers with diabetes or who have been treated with certain medicines. Hypoglycaemia can cause problems such as shakiness, blue tint to the skin, and breathing and feeding problems. Treatment will depend on your baby's gestational age and overall health. Treatment includes giving the baby a fast-acting source of glucose. This may be as simple as a glucose and water mixture or formula as an early feeding. Or your baby may need glucose given through an IV.

Hypoglycaemia is when the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood is too low. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the brain and the body.

In a newborn baby, low blood sugar can happen for many reasons. Babies most at risk are those who are:

born premature (especially with low birth weights)
born small or large for their gestational age
born under significant stress
born to mothers with diabetes or who have been treated with certain medicines.

Hypoglycaemia can cause problems such as shakiness, blue tint to the skin, and breathing and feeding problems.

Treatment will depend on your baby's gestational age and overall health. Treatment includes giving the baby a fast-acting source of glucose. This may be as simple as a glucose and water mixture or formula as an early feeding. Or your baby may need glucose given through an IV.

Visiting Hours

Parents can visit their baby at any time of the day or night.

Hospital visiting hours for other visitors is between 8am and 8pm. Please note that we prefer all visitors to be accompanied by the baby's parent. Only two people per baby at a time due to space and infection control requirements.

In order to minimise the risk to neonates from infections/viruses, visitors with cold or flu symptoms, diarrhoea, cough, runny nose or rash will not be able to visit babies in SCBU.

Children under 14 years of age may not visit in the nursery but can come to the mothercraft rooms on site and visit the baby once they are rooming in with the parents.

Please be mindful that that this is an intensive care unit with some very sick babies and, at times, visiting may be restricted.