The neonatal period is generally defined as the first 28 days of an infant’s life. However, infants may be cared for in a neonatal service for more than 28 days, depending on the time frame from birth to discharge.
A neonatal service can provide a range of care from well infant care to highly specialised care. This includes care for sick, low birth weight and/or premature infants, and/or infants born with congenital conditions or other conditions compromising their health and survival. Regardless of the level of neonatal service provided, it is essential neonatal staff are skilled in neonatal resuscitation, stabilisation and examination.
Antenatal consultation and planned management of birth with maternal fetal medicine (MFM) services where neonatal illness / abnormality is expected
Consultation and assessment of infants post-birth (including well newborn assessment).
Follow-up and ongoing care after discharge from the neonatal service
An Apgar score of 6 or less at 5 minutes
Birth weight less than 2000 grams
Evidence of respiratory distress / recurrent apnoea
Persistent hypothermia
Neonatal hypoglycaemia
Major congenital anomaly requiring specialist care and/or surgery (e.g. gastroschisis)
Suspected congenital heart disease
Convulsions
Jaundice and appears in need of exchange transfusion
Bleeding from any site
Need for special diagnostic and/or therapeutic services