Neonatal

The Birth Place

Thousands of expectant Eastern Kentucky families have chosen The Birth Place for their childbirth experience. And it’s easy to see why. Since patients first were admitted in 1971, The Birth Place has grown to become one of the largest, most progressive centers in the region.

The highly trained staff includes both obstetrical and nursing specialists. They receive training which allows them to use the latest techniques to make new mothers as comfortable as possible. Just as important, they are skilled listeners, trained to focus on the unique needs of individual families. The staff is a valuable resource on topics ranging from pain management to baby baths.

The Birth Place has birthing suites for any woman who is anticipating a normal vaginal delivery. The suite allows the mother to labor, deliver and recover in one quiet, comfortable room. All suites are attractive and fully equipped with a telephone, television and private bathroom.

After baby arrives, parents have a choice to where he/she will spend the majority of time. Some parents prefer that baby remain in the nursery and is brought to mom at regular feeding times. Others prefer rooming in, a practice of keeping baby in mother’s room except during the night when mom is encouraged to rest. The baby is cared for by its parents, with nursing assistance.

In the Newborn Nursery, baby spends the first few hours of life getting warm and snugly under an infant warmer until his/her body temperature is stabilized. Then baby gets the first bath, has a hearing test and is ready to visit with mom and family. In addition, baby wears a leg sensor that is part of an infant security system at The Birth Place.

Neonatal Developmental Follow-up Clinic

The Neonatal Developmental Follow-up Clinic was started so that infants from this region who were sick when they were born can be regularly assessed for developmental problems during the critical first year of life. The Clinic’s purpose is to identify and follow infants for up to 12 months of age or longer if the child has some developmental problems, to recommend appropriate interventions and to monitor outcomes. Each clinic visit involves testing and evaluation for possible problems in developmental, neurological, communication, social and nutritional areas. Reports from the visit are sent to the baby’s primary care physician. All clinic services are free to the babies and their families.

If intervention is indicated, the clinic provides caregivers with a home program and other referrals as needed. Clinic personnel work closely with primary care physicians, therapists, Kentucky Early Intervention System and other community agencies which provide services for children. All this combines to promote the best possible health and developmental outcomes for the child.

Neonatal Transport Service

The Neonatal Transport Service is another aspect of the care provided to newborns by Pikeville Medical Center. The ambulance is specially equipped to transport infants and serves a 5 county area in Kentucky and West Virginia. The NICU coordinates with area hospitals that do not have neonatal units and with more distant university hospitals which have NICU's with sub-specialties. This network ensures that each newborn in the region receives needed care as close to home as possible.

Our neonatal transport team includes a neonatal nurse, respiratory therapist, EMTs and neonatologist. The team travels to area hospitals to bring babies to PMC for special care.

NICU

The overwhelming majority of newborns arrive healthy, the result of uncomplicated births. But for the approximate ten percent of newborns who are born with special medical needs, an intensive care nursery is essential. The Birth Place is served by an eight-bed Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit equipped to care for premature and sick newborns weighing 1250 grams ( 3 lbs.) or more. It is the only licensed neonatal intensive care unit in southeastern Kentucky. The special care nursery is staffed by board certified Neonatologists and a staff of highly skilled nurses. The staff is assisted by state-of-the-art equipment that regulates and monitors the progress of sick infants. Through such intensive, round the clock care, it is out ultimate goal that our patients recover and lead normal lives. Attention to infant development begins as soon as the baby is medically stable. The babies are seen by a team of therapists (occupational and physical) who are trained to work with newborns. The special care nursery encourages parent involvement and education. Parents are instructed in the care of their newborn and specialized care of their high risk infant. Social Services is also involved to help find needed resources and coordinate plans with agencies and follow-up programs.