NICU
Special UnitsFeel safe and secure even after your baby’s discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Every year, 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely, i.e. before 37 weeks of gestation are completed, and spend the first days or weeks of their life at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
What is IASO’s “FOLLOW UP” Program?
It is a long-term follow up program for children who have been previously hospitalized in the NICU, implemented by medical specialists for the early detection of any problems discharged neonates may experience in the future.
The Follow Up program is a valuable service for parents, as it provides an accurate picture of the child's neurological, sensory and developmental status for the years to come. The NICU’s consultants, who monitor the infants during their hospitalization at the Unit, continue to monitor them and implement the Follow Up program, having a full picture of their course and progression.
At the same time, the attending pediatrician can have a clear picture of the child’s health. All data resulting from medical tests are recorded in the child's health book as well as in the child’s medical record kept at IASO, until the follow up period ends.
When are consultations held?
- 1st visit: 4 months old (corrected age*)
The program starts when the infant is 4 months old (corrected age). At the consultation, a Pediatric Neurologist examines the infant and provides all the appropriate support instructions that the infant may need. - 2nd visit: 12 months old (corrected age*)
This consultation may be scheduled at an earlier time, depending on the individual needs of each case.
* Corrected age is calculated based on the baby’s due date.
- 1st visit: in about a month after discharge
- 2nd visit: scheduled by the Pediatric Ophthalmologist
Babies born at 33 weeks or earlier, or if their birth weight did not exceed 1,800 grams, should visit the Pediatric Ophthalmologist.
Pre-assessment preparation of your baby
For the correct performance of the examination, a pre-assessment preparation is needed for the baby's eyes. The mydriasis of the eyes is performed through instillation of eye drops, thus achieving the required dilation of the pupil. This procedure with the eye drops is repeated twice, at 15 minutes apart. Following the last instillation, you have to wait 15-20 minutes until the examination is completed.
The Ophthalmologist will see you according to the baby's order of preparation. So, the whole procedure will last approximately 1 hour, counting from the time you arrive at the Hospital until the time you leave.
During waiting, you can feed your baby if he/she wants to eat, but it would be best to feed him/her either before or after the test.
The Developmental Pediatrician (Specialist Auxologist) assesses the level of your child's ability in various development areas such as static functions, manipulations, perception and speech. A follow up may be necessary at the age of 5 years.
Contact phone numbers:
Appointment Procedure:
- Consultations are performed by scheduled appointments only, at IASO Children’s Hospital. The first visits to the Pediatric Neurologist and the Pediatric Ophthalmologist are scheduled by the person in charge of the Follow Up Program.
- Confirmation of the scheduled appointment is done by the person in charge of the Follow Up Program, at least two weeks in advance.