St. David’s Women’s Center at 12221 N. MoPac, Austin, recently expanded its neonatal intensive care unit with 30 additional beds.
The expansion brings the total number of NICU beds to 97, with 25 of those in the “small baby unit," designated for babies born at less than 26 weeks and weigh around 1 pound, and five in the neurocare unit for babies needing brain monitoring services.
“We do see a pretty large number of what we call micro-preemie [babies],” said Amy Irons, director of neonatal services. “Developmentally, they need certain things, so we cohort them so we can meet their needs as a group.”
The NICU, which will start accepting patients July 10, includes 24-hour in-hospital neonatologists and nurse practitioners, plus isolettes, reclining chairs for parents, curtains for privacy and milk warmers in each space.
The center also renovated its Ronald McDonald Family Room with four sleeping rooms. The rooms are designated for families with children at St. David's who need a place to eat, shower, sleep and relax without having to leave the hospital and be far from their child.
The center is expected to complete the final phase of its women’s services expansion later this summer, which will add an additional 166,369 square feet and three additional floors, according to a news release.
St. David’s Women's Center is designated as a Level IV Maternal Facility and has 32 labor, delivery and recovery rooms, Cesarean section surgical suites, 24/7 neonatology coverage, lactation consultants, a midwifery program and more.
512-901-1050. www.stdavids.com/locations/st-davids-womens-center-of-texas
