Problems during pregnancy

There are some problems in pregnancy, which increase the risk of a baby needing admission to a neonatal unit. These include:

• any mother in premature labour, particularly if before 35 weeks;
• a fetus who has not been growing normally. This is called intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and is usually due to the placenta not functioning properly; if severe it can lead to problems in the baby;
• an abnormality that is detected in the fetus and which will need the baby to be admitted for investigation and treatment - e.g. some heart defects.

Some problems in the mother increase the risk of the baby needing admission. These include:

• maternal diabetes -  this increases the risk of the baby having problems with maintaining blood sugars and possibly breathing;
• raised blood pressure - in pregnancy and particularly if part of the condition called pre-eclampsia, raised blood pressure often results in premature delivery.

Problems with baby

A small number of newborn babies are unwell, or have a high chance of developing problems, which mean that they need to come to the neonatal unit. In Liverpool the reasons a baby will be admitted to the neonatal unit are:

• intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). This is the term used when a fetus is smaller than expected at any given time in the pregnancy - if this is severe the baby may need to come to the neonatal unit for support. All babies born weighing less than 1800grams (4lbs) will come to the neonatal unit;
• prematurity. All babies born before 35 completed weeks of pregnancy will come to the neonatal unit for assessment and support;
• abnormalities which cause immediate problems in the baby.Ultrasound scans in pregnancy can detect problems in your unborn baby, for example, heart or kidney defects, which will need investigation and treatment in the neonatal unit;
• for close monitoring. For example those who have low blood sugars which are not getting better with feeding or who have a suspected infection;
• any baby who is giving staff cause for concern can be admitted to the neonatal unit for investigation and monitoring.