Mysore/Mysuru: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sigma Hospital in city has been upgraded to provide care for new-born babies that are either sick or born much earlier than their due date (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and require medical or surgical care.  The word “neonate” means a new-born, less than 28 days of age. Doctors delivering care for neonates are called Neonatologists.

NICU facility at Sigma Hospital is headed by Dr. Rajeshwari Madappa, Director and Chief Paediatrician, Sigma; Dr. Nanditha Nandakumar, Senior Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Sigma and Dr. M.S. Kanya, Senior Paediatrician, Sigma.

Majority of the babies are born without any problems. One in 10 babies are born premature and a few others too may need specialist medical care and for this, they need admission to NICU. Some of the many reasons a baby might need NICU admission are: difficulties with breathing, prematurity, low birth weight, infections, jaundice, low blood sugar, etc. Some babies may be born with birth defects (for example heart defects, problems with development of gut) for which would need immediate NICU attention with surgical and or medical interventions.

A few babies are born with genetic or inherited conditions, which again need specialist input immediately in NICU.

NICU in Sigma Hospital, Mysuru, is fully equipped and staffed 24×7, to care for critically ill neonates. The facilities include neonatal ventilators, bubble CPAP, high flow nasal cannula oxygen, LED phototherapy units, total parenteral nutrition, bedside X Ray, ECHO and neurosonogram to name a few.

The Hospital has a fully equipped 24-hour lab and pharmacy, in-house dietician and lactation consultant. Being a hospital specialising in renal diseases, Sigma NICU is also capable of managing neonates requiring peritoneal dialysis. Sigma NICU has successfully treated many sick babies in and around Mysuru at affordable rates for the last 10 years.

Sigma Hospital has now expanded services to sick babies born at other hospitals also.