Neonatology: The Medical Field That Cares for Newborns
- Maimoonah Naveed
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
By: Maimoonah Naveed
1 in 10 babies are born prematurely and with health complications. How do these babies receive medical care, and who attends to them? The term neonatology was first introduced in 1960, and ever since, it has become its own field, leading to a rise in specialized healthcare for newborns. Neonatologists deal with premature and critically ill newborns, helping them progress towards stable health. If a baby has a health condition diagnosed before birth, a neonatologist will be involved in the mother's prenatal care.
Neonatologists work in the NICU(Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). A NICU is a specialized unit within a hospital catering to premature and ill infants. Advances in neonatology have greatly improved survival rates amongst newborns. Common conditions treated in the NICU include anemia, respiratory distress syndrome, jaundice, sepsis, heart conditions, and apnea. The NICU is equipped with incubators, ventilators, and monitors. It contains 4 levels. Level I provides basic newborn care, Level II offers specialized care for moderately ill infants, Level III delivers advanced care including ventilation and surgery, and Level IV offers highly specialized care for complex conditions.
Anemia: Low red blood cells. Treated with iron or sometimes a blood transfusion.
Breathing Problems: Lungs not fully developed. Treated with breathing help (ventilator or medicines).
Apnea: Stops breathing for 15+ seconds. Monitored closely and treated with gentle stimulation or medicine.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD): Chronic lung disease from breathing problems. Treated with meds, ventilator help, and time.
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN): High lung blood pressure, affecting oxygen flow. Treated with a ventilator and special gas (nitric oxide).
Pneumonia: Lung infection. Treated with antibiotics and oxygen.
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS): Trouble breathing due to immature lungs. Treated with surfactant and C-PAP.
Heart Defects: Abnormalities like narrow arteries or heart valves. It can require surgery.
Feeding Issues: If too small, fed through IV or a tube until strong enough to feed by mouth.
Gastroschisis: Organs outside the abdomen at birth. Fixed with surgery.
Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar. Treated with feeding or glucose solution.
Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH): Brain bleeding in premature babies. Monitored with ultrasounds, it can range from mild to severe.
Jaundice: Yellow skin/eyes due to an immature liver. Treated with special lights (phototherapy).
Keeping Warm: Premature babies have trouble staying warm, so they are kept in incubators.
Macrosomia: Very large baby, often due to maternal diabetes. Monitored for low blood sugar.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC): Damaged intestines. Fed intravenously and sometimes requires surgery.
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP): Abnormal eye blood vessel growth. Treated with laser or freezing if severe.
Sepsis: Infection in the blood. Treated with antibiotics and careful monitoring.
Early neonatal care was extremely limited, directly correlating to high infant mortality rates. Advancements in this field were introduced in the 19th and 20th centuries, including incubators and the establishment of early NICUs. In the 1980s, surfactant therapy was launched, significantly improving the survival rates of premature infants. Surfactant therapy involves administering a substance that helps keep the lungs open, making it easier for premature infants to breathe and preventing their lungs from collapsing. It is used to treat RDS (respiratory distress syndrome) in newborns. Now, advancements such as gene therapy have caused numerous breakthroughs in the field. Gene therapy holds great promise as it can potentially treat genetic disorders in newborns, however, there are some ethical implications to it.
In conclusion, neonatology plays a crucial role in the survival and care of premature and critically ill newborns. The field has evolved significantly over the years, leading to better treatment options and improved survival rates and health for infants. As research continues to progress, the future of neonatology holds great potential. While there are still challenges ahead, the advancements in neonatology provide a promising future for the care and survival of infants.
Sources:
Philip, Alistair G S. “The Evolution of Neonatology.” Pediatric Research, vol. 58, no. 4, Oct. 2005, pp. 799–815, https://doi.org/10.1203/01.pdr.0000151693.46655.66.
professional, Cleveland Clinic medical. “What Is a Neonatologist? What to Expect & When to
See One.” Cleveland Clinic, 19 Mar. 2025,
“Preterm Birth.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization,
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/preterm-birth#:~:text=An%20estimated%2013.4%20million%20babies,deaths%20in%202019%20(2). Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
“Common Conditions Treated in the NICU.” March of Dimes,
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