Most babies leave the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and grow into normal, healthy children. Some leave the NICU with temporary or chronic medical conditions. If it becomes clear that your baby will not survive, you will likely want to think about how you want to spend your baby's final days or hours. Grief & Loss has more information.

Getting Better
When your baby is better and stronger, he will graduate from the NICU. That means your baby is:

• Probably breathing on his own
• Possibly starting to feed from the breast or bottle
• Gaining weight
• Getting stronger

Your baby is almost ready to go home—but not quite. Your baby is now ready to move to the "step-down" or intermediate-care nursery for some additional recovery time. The step-down nursery may be in the same hospital as the NICU, although not every NICU has one. Sometimes babies are transferred to a community hospital closer to home. Your baby's doctors will discuss any transfer plans with you in advance. If you and your baby's doctors decide this is right for your baby, the baby probably will be moved in an ambulance.

Although you are happy your baby is getting better, you may be a little nervous about leaving the familiar staff and routines of the NICU. A visit to the step-down nursery before your baby is moved may help ease your concerns.

Step-Down Nursery
The step-down nursery is usually quieter than the NICU. There are fewer machines because these babies no longer require the type of intensive care the NICU provides. Your baby needs fewer tests now. But he still needs a lot of care and rest to continue to grow and recover.

August 2009