A neonatologist is a doctor who specializes in the care of premature and sick newborns. Neonatologists work in hospitals, usually in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or the special care baby unit (SCBU). These doctors get their training by completing a pediatric residency and then a fellowship in neonatology, which is the branch of medicine that deals with newborns. Working conditions for neonatologists are generally stable, especially if they are willing to relocate.
When a patient is brought to a neonatologist, the doctor evaluates his or her health and may perform a series of tests to check organ function and look for signs of infection. After the patient has been assessed, the neonatologist can determine what kind of treatment he or she requires, as well as the level of care required. Because neonatologists do not want to send babies home until they are completely better, neonatologists must consider issues such as ensuring that infants have contact with their parents so that they can bond, providing intellectual stimulation to promote development, and providing appropriate hydration.
Premature newborns are usually admitted to the care of a neonatologist because they have some special needs, even if they are not sick. Premature infants have not completed their development, and their organ systems may require assistance while they do so. Premature babies are evaluated by a neonatologist to determine their gestational age and treatment options. As the infants grow stronger and require less monitoring and intensive care, they are gradually moved to more general wards during their stay in the NICU.
Neonatologists also help babies who are sick or have a low birth weight. They may collaborate with neonatal surgeons to treat babies born with congenital birth defects that require surgery, as well as diagnose and treat sick babies. Some babies are taken to a neonatologist right after birth if they show signs of illness or birth defects, while others are taken back to the hospital after they’ve been home if their parents notice any new health problems that need to be addressed.
In some hospitals, skilled neonatologists collaborate with a team of health care professionals that includes respiratory therapists, neonatal nurses, neonatal surgeons, and trainee neonatologists. These medical professionals must be able to work effectively as part of a team, and they must also be skilled at communicating with parents and addressing parental concerns. Parents of premature and ill infants are frequently concerned, and the neonatologist must strike a balance between their concerns and the needs of the infant being treated.