Neonatologist

Conditions Treated

• •Prematurity — Birth before 37 weeks of gestation. India has the highest number of preterm births globally. These babies need specialised NICU care.
• •Neonatal Jaundice — Yellowing of skin and eyes in newborns due to elevated bilirubin. Common in the first week of life, usually physiological.
• •Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) — Breathing difficulty in premature babies due to lack of surfactant — a substance that keeps lung air sacs open.
• •Neonatal Sepsis — Serious blood infection in newborns, either acquired during birth (early-onset) or in NICU (late-onset).
• •Birth Asphyxia — Oxygen deprivation during birth causing potential brain damage. Therapeutic cooling within 6 hours can reduce brain injury.

Health Tips

• •Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months
• •Keep the baby warm — especially premature babies
• •Follow the vaccination schedule strictly
• •Watch for danger signs — fever, poor feeding, breathing difficulty, yellow skin
• •Ensure proper cord care

How to Prepare for Your Visit

• •If premature delivery is expected, ask about antenatal steroid injections — they mature baby's lungs before birth
• •Choose a hospital with a Level II or III NICU for high-risk pregnancies
• •Prepare mentally — NICU stays can range from days to months depending on gestational age
• •Arrange for breast pump if the baby cannot feed directly — expressed milk can be given via tube
• •Participate in kangaroo mother care as soon as the neonatologist allows — it stabilises heart rate and temperature
• •Express breast milk every 2-3 hours to establish supply even if baby cannot feed yet
• •Learn to read your baby's cues — stress signs, feeding readiness, and comfort signals
• •Ask about your baby's daily weight, feeding volume, and any medication changes
• •Follow the modified vaccination schedule recommended for premature babies
• •Monitor growth using corrected age charts — don't compare with full-term babies
• •Watch for signs of illness — premature babies are more vulnerable to infections in the first year
• •Attend all developmental follow-up appointments — early intervention for delays makes a significant difference

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• •When can I hold and feed my baby?
• •Is my baby's development on track for their gestational age?
• •When can my baby go home from NICU?
• •Does my baby need any special screening tests?
• •Can I breastfeed or do I need to express milk?
• •What follow-up care will my baby need after discharge?

When to See a Specialist

A Neonatologist specializes in the care of newborn babies, especially premature or sick newborns requiring NICU care.

• •Premature birth (before 37 weeks)
• •Low birth weight baby (below 2.5 kg)
• •Difficulty breathing after birth
• •Jaundice in newborn
• •Birth defects or congenital problems
• •Feeding difficulties in newborn
• •Seizures or unusual movements in baby

If your baby is born premature or has breathing difficulty, a neonatologist will be part of the delivery team.