Your baby's care team

Neonatologists are pediatricians with special expertise in caring for sick or premature infants. At least one of our four neonatologists is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Meet our neonatologists.

Registered nurses provides a full range of care to you and your baby. The nurse monitors your baby at all times, provides care, assists the neonatologist with procedures and consults with other members of the team. Your baby's nurse will help you understand the medical, nutritional and developmental needs of your baby and help you learn how to care for your baby.

Respiratory care practitioners provides breathing support for your baby. Most babies admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit have respiratory distress syndrome. RDS means a baby is not able to breathe well on his or her own. A respiratory therapist works with the neonatologist and nurse to support your baby's breathing. Respiratory therapists monitor each baby's breathing status throughout the day. We have a respiratory therapist in the unit 24/7.

Speech therapists work with babies who have feeding difficulties. The speech therapist evaluates your baby's suck-swallow-breathe technique and creates a plan of care for babies with difficulties. The speech therapist meets with parents to teach them how to safely and effectively feed their baby.

Additional services

  • Transport - Critically ill infants may be transferred to Children's Hospital from other facilities via our emergency transport service, which partners with ThedaStar Air Medical helicopter and Gold Cross ambulance. Transport service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our transport team of nurses and respiratory therapists have a minumum of three years experience in the NICU, have completed advanced training in transport, CPR and other cares.
  • NIDCAP - Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program. Learn more. 
  • Lactation - Certified lactation consultants are available to provide individual consults to the mothers of our babies.
  • Nutrition - Our physicians work with a nutritionist to ensure proper protein, fat, mineral and vitamin intake to support optimal growth and development for each baby. 
  • Physical therapy - Occasionally, babies are born with a birth defect or birth injury requiring splints or physical therapy. Our team of physical therapists provide necessary care and information.
  • Follow-up Clinic - A developmental screening clinic for NICU graduates tracks their developmental progress up to 3 years of age. If needed, they help connect families to community agencies that can help their child.
  • Discharge coordination - Some babies require ongoing care or equipment at home. We ensure families have the equipment, information and education they need to comfortably take their baby home.