Newborn babies who need intensive medical care are often put in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU has advanced technology and trained healthcare professionals to give special care for the tiniest patients. NICUs may also care areas for babies who are not as sick but do need specialized nursing care. Babies who need intensive care do better if they are born in a hospital with a NICU than if they are moved after birth.

Most of these newborn go to the NICU within 24 hours of birth. How much time they stay depends on their health conditions, some stays only for few hours or days, others stay weeks or months.

Babies who need intensive care do better if they are born in a hospital with a NICU than if they are moved after birth.