Neonatal Care

There’s a reason that St. Francis is the #1 choice of new moms in the Upstate.

In addition to outstanding obstetrical services and unparalleled amenities, we offer 24/7 neonatal care in our Level II Neonatal Care Unit (NCU). Very few babies will ever need the NCU, but you can find comfort knowing that St. Francis is fully equipped to provide the best care for your baby.

Special Care for Special Babies

Many of the infants in our Neonatal Care Unit (NCU) are pre-term and treated for the usual problems of breathing difficulties, poor feeding skills, or trouble regulating body temperature. Our Level II NCU is licensed to treat those late preterm babies who are at least 32 weeks and have a birth weight approaching 1500 grams (3.3 pounds). If you were to deliver unexpectedly an extremely premature baby, we have the skills and equipment to quickly take care of your baby and to safety transfer to a Level III NICU for further care.

The NCU is not just for preemies. We also care for full-term infants who have unexpected needs. Our NCU is fully equipped to handle these difficulties, with treatments including:

  • Resuscitation
  • Oxygen therapy and respiratory care
  • Short-term breathing assistance
  • Intravenous medications and special fluids
  • Special nutrition and feeding techniques with emphasis on the use of breast milk whenever possible

Neonatal Care Team

Our neonatal team is fully qualified to care for babies with special needs. Our board-certified neonatologist, Dr. John McKay, is on call ‘round-the-clock' and directs the NCU and its skilled support team.

John McKay, MD, FAAP is the Medical Director of Neonatology at St. Francis. He completed a fellowship in Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Dr. McKay has over 25 years of experience in neonatology and he is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

The Neonatal Care Team includes neonatal nurse practitioners with an average experience level of 20 years. Our nursing staff and respiratory therapists are specifically trained in caring for both sick and well babies.

View the OB Tour Video to See a Message from Dr. McKay > >

 

Family Philosophy

At St. Francis, we encourage our babies' parents to visit as much as possible. The Neonatal Care Unit is located on the same floor as our labor and delivery and mother/infant suites, so if your baby is in need of neonatal care, he or she will always be close by while you’re in the hospital.

As part of our focus on family, the NCU also promotes “kangaroo care,” a therapy that encourages skin-to-skin contact between the infant and parent to promote bonding between parent and child, and to help regulate baby’s breathing and heart rate.

 

Educational Vidoes

Learn the answers to common questions about newborns from neonatologist Dr. John McKay:



 

Learn six tips to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) from neonatologist Dr. John McKay: