Pediatric Neonatology

Why choose Ochsner Health for your neonatology care?

Babies born prematurely or with serious problems need specialized care and support for a successful start to life outside the womb. That’s exactly what they receive at Ochsner. We are dedicated to providing outstanding, personalized neonatology care to infants using a multidisciplinary approach that promotes open discussion between all members of the team and encourages parents to participate in their child’s care.

Neonatal care begins from the moment your baby enters the world. Highly skilled teams in our Level 2, 3 and 4 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) use the latest treatments and technology to deliver exceptional neonatal-perinatal medicine care. Ochsner Baptist Women’s Pavilion offers the only Level 4 NICU — the highest designation awarded by the state of Louisiana — within a birthing hospital in the state. Our team of board-certified neonatologists and experienced neonatal nurse practitioners staff this 54-bed NICU, which features private rooms. You can rest assured your baby will receive the care needed to thrive through Ochsner.

Ochsner’s collaborative approach to care ensures that our team will deliver a personalized care plan. The team includes board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, experienced neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dietitians, lactation consultants and pharmacists. In addition, social workers and a hospital chaplain provide families with support services throughout the time their infants are in the NICU, providing helpful resources and emotional and spiritual support.

As part of our care team, families are encouraged to bond with their baby. Strategies, such as kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact between baby and parent have been proven to decrease the length of hospital stay, promote bonding and improve breastfeeding outcomes.

At Ochsner, our highly experienced neonatologists provide the highest level of care for a wide range of conditions, including:

Premature birth and its resulting complications
Respiratory distress syndrome
Pulmonary hypertension

Advanced treatment methods include:

High-frequency jet and oscillatory ventilation — advanced technology that helps infants breathe
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — a machine that does the work of the heart and lungs
Total body cooling — a treatment that helps protect the brain from brain injury after delivery

Our neonatologists work in collaboration with our pediatric subspecialists from Ochsner Hospital for Children.

The neonatology team at Ochsner is dedicated to advancing technology and treatments for newborns with health challenges. Through clinical trials, we participate in needed research to investigate new treatments which may be of benefit to this population. We are currently participating in clinical trials.

Neonatology care is available at Ochsner NICUs throughout Louisiana, including in New Orleans and Shreveport. Find a location near you.

Ochsner Baptist Women’s Pavilion, NICU Level 4

Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner, NICU Level 2

Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank Campus, NICU Level 3

Ochsner Medical Center - Baton Rouge, NICU Level 3

Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, NICU Level 3

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - St. Mary Medical Center, NICU Level 3

Ochsner LSU Health - Monroe Medical Center, NICU Level 3

FAQs

Our neonatologists only take care of babies while they are admitted to the NICU. However, our neonatologists collaborate closely with the maternal fetal medicine specialists and obstetricians and may be consulted through them.

Neonatologists practice neonatal-perinatal medicine, which means they care for preterm or critically ill newborns. They diagnose and treat complex conditions, including birth defects, breathing disorders, infections, pulmonary hypertension and other high-risk conditions including those which may require surgery.

The length of stay in the NICU varies depending on your baby’s unique situation. The neonatology team will keep you informed of your baby’s progress and be available to answer any questions you may have.