The advanced delivery unit (ADU) at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware recently reached a major milestone — welcoming 300 babies into this world!
Expectant parents can take comfort in the comprehensive multidisciplinary care model of the Nemours Advanced Delivery Program, which is designed for babies diagnosed with medical conditions before birth that require a post-delivery intensive care unit stay. This planning ensures that newborns’ medical needs are met, allowing access to nationally renowned pediatric specialists and providing families with necessary support and guidance during a critical time. The story of baby Ricky’s family illustrates the program’s benefits, as they chose to plan his arrival at the Nemours Children’s ADU after he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD) before birth.
When a Family Learns Their Baby Needs Extra Care
Most commonly, families learn their unborn baby will need specialized care during a routine prenatal ultrasound. Ultrasounds during pregnancy are often fun and exciting for expectant parents, as this is typically when they learn about fetal sex and catch the first glimpses of baby. For some families, this is the time when they learn something unexpected — in Ricky’s case, the baby has a heart defect.
When this happens, Nemours is there for families to help them navigate the various prenatal testing options and help plan the best path forward.
How the ADU Supports Moms and Their Babies
The ADU allows delivery to take place in a center with many experts to support the mother during her prenatal care and birth, while providing immediate complex care for her newborn, all under one roof. This means families can remain together during this critical period of time.
For families like Ricky’s who are expecting a baby with a CHD, Nemours Children’s, Delaware, provides specialized care and planning. The hospital’s maternal-fetal medicine, obstetric, and cardiology teams work together to develop a personalized care plan for each mother and baby to offer a unique birthing experience for the expectant mother. This includes comprehensive obstetrical care and multiple supports to help transition to caring for a newborn with complex medical needs. The team plans in depth for the arrival of the newborn, ensuring that the necessary team members are available at the time of delivery. The team worked closely with Ricky’s family to prepare them for his arrival and what to expect regarding his medical care.
Ricky needed specialized heart care, so there was a coordinated team working together awaiting his arrival, with Abdul Majeed Bhat, MD, leading the care related to cardiac concerns. Margaret Chou, MD, was the obstetrician who delivered Ricky, and Marcus Zebrower, MD, provided anesthesia care specifically focused on mom’s obstetrical needs.
“Everyone in this hospital is so caring and has been incredibly nice to us,” says Ricky’s dad. “Since our consult appointment and the tour of the unit, I knew we would be in excellent hands. All the nurses, doctors, housekeepers, everyone has been so kind.”
Building a Plan for Ricky With the Care Team
The doctors at Nemours Children’s, Delaware that care for moms and babies like Ricky are all experts in their fields. To achieve this highest level of expertise, our doctors are board-certified and fellowship-trained in specialties such as cardiology, pediatric surgery, neonatology, obstetrics and gynecology, and maternal-fetal medicine. The care team also focuses on perinatal mental health to support families experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) and perinatal care are related, but distinct. MFM is a specialized field that focuses specifically on high-risk pregnancies. In other words, all MFM specialists provide perinatal care, but not all perinatal care is provided by MFM specialists.
In Ricky’s case, Dr. Chou worked closely with pediatric specialists and the family to prepare for his arrival. “Dr. Chou took care of us, and made us feel comfortable with the plan,” says Ricky’s mom, Milka.
What Happens During Delivery and Beyond
Nemours Children’s expert labor and delivery nurses Tammi Gorman, RN, and Caitlin Ward, RN, provided care for Ricky’s mom during her delivery. Once Ricky was born, he received high-level care from his dedicated Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) nurse, Jessica Wright, RN. For babies with CHDs, the connection between the ADU and CICU is crucial for providing comprehensive care.
The CICU is a specialized unit dedicated to the care of children with critical cardiac conditions. For babies born with heart defects, the CICU provides advanced life-supporting care, including post-operative management after cardiac surgery.
Before discharge, families like Ricky’s receive lots of instructions on caring for their baby at home. This includes guidance on feeding, medication administration, and monitoring their baby’s overall health. The care team also arranges follow-up appointments with the expert specialists that will follow these children throughout their lives. This ensures the baby continues to receive the necessary medical care and families have access to support. Nemours offers various resources to support patient families, including a care management program.
Looking Towards the Future
With more than 300 births and counting, Nemours Children’s is committed to helping families like Ricki’s prepare for a safe delivery and providing exceptional care for babies after birth.
By providing advanced delivery planning, Nemours ensures that babies with complex medical needs receive the best possible start in life. Families can trust that they’re in good hands, from the moment of diagnosis through delivery and beyond.
Learn more about the Advanced Delivery Program. And stay informed with our Nemours KidsHealth® Milestones newsletters, created by Nemours Children’s pediatric medical experts to provide you with reliable health insights tailored to your child’s age, from pregnancy through the early years.
The photos used in this article are for artistic purposes only. They do not reflect AAP safe sleep recommendations.
