NICU Services | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit | UC Davis Children's Hospital

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a designated Level IV nursery (the highest possible rating), providing clinical care for infants who are born very prematurely, are extremely ill or require surgery. It includes a small baby unit, specifically equipped for the smallest babies — those who are born less than 27 weeks gestation or weigh less than 2.2 pounds.

The 49-bed NICU and nursery are staffed by neonatal caregivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Through close collaboration with perinatologists in the maternal-fetal care specialty in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Fetal Care and Treatment Center, as well as referring physicians from throughout Northern California, UC Davis Children’s Hospital neonatologists are able to plan for the care of infants diagnosed with congenital anomalies before birth.

Following treatment in the neonatal intensive care nursery, premature and newborn infants may receive developmental evaluations and interventions and ongoing care from developmental pediatricians in the UC Davis high risk neonatal follow-up clinic, the Baby Steps Clinic.

Children receive the specialized care that only UC Davis Children’s Hospital can provide with the help of our Neonatal Transport Team. Referring physicians work with the neonatal team to bring patients from distant and rural locations to our hospital for high-level care.

Transport services are available to neonatal patients throughout our 33-county service area — and sometimes beyond — 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

We provide consultative services for physicians caring for children throughout Northern California through the use of our pediatric telehealth program. Pediatric subspecialists, including neonatologists, cardiologists, neurologists and geneticists are available for consultation in cases where newborns are experiencing problems in hospitals that do not have these specialists.