Pediatrix Neonatology of Georgia

About Our Practice

Designated as one of six regional perinatal tertiary centers for the state of Georgia, our Level III NICU has provided the best care for our tiniest patients and their families for over 40 years. Combining efforts and compassion for providing the best care along with Memorial Health Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah, our neonatal team provides top quality services and is prepared to care for the most critically-ill babies. We also manage a specially-trained neonatal emergency transport team that travels throughout 24 counties in Southeast Georgia and the Low Country of South Carolina.

Family-Centered Care

In our NICU, we strive to provide family-centered care to all our patients. This is an approach to medical care rooted in the belief that the best outcomes are achieved when patients’ family members play an active role in providing emotional, social and developmental support. To provide this level of care, our unit allows unlimited parental presence, encourages parent participation in care and decision-making, kangaroo care and offers breastfeeding support.

In addition, we have a dedicated March of Dimes representative in our unit who provides sibling support and offers parent education seminars and family-support activities. Additional dedicated NICU services include social work, lactation, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, child life specialist and care coordination for discharge planning. We also understand that some families cannot visit as often as they would like, so we have a volunteer program where volunteers snuggle and rock babies to ensure that all infants receive the human touch that is essential for optimal growth and development.

Care of Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates

We are committed to offering potentially lifesaving treatment to the youngest preterm infants, some as early as 22 weeks' gestation. The decision to provide care to this population of preterm infants differs among NICUs nationwide, with only one in four hospitals providing this care at 22 weeks and one in three hospitals providing care at 23 weeks. Survival at this early gestation is still low and depends highly on coordinated care and intervention before and after delivery.

Our board-certified neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners partner with maternal-fetal specialists to provide optimal care for both mother and baby. Our dedicated and specialized team uses an approach that has been shown to improve outcomes after preterm birth. Once in our NICU, we are able to offer the most advanced ventilation available (including high-frequency jet and oscillation) and care by a dedicated nursing and respiratory therapy staff.

Our approach also includes starting feedings early for the best nutrition. Our commitment to the best nutrition includes offering donor human milk, which can be lifesaving for premature infants. In addition, we use several strategies to prevent infection and brain injury in these vulnerable infants. Parent involvement remains crucial for these babies during their hospital stay. After discharge, our care of these infants continues for those with ongoing medical issues in our NICU Medical Follow-up Clinic.

These combined strategies make us one of the leaders in our region for the care of these tiny, fragile infants.

Services Offered

Blood Transfusion in Newborn

Process in which blood is given to a baby. This is a common need in premature babies and full-term babies born with health problems. A blood transfusion is a way to provide extra red blood cells (RBCs) to the baby. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and it is vital that the baby has a certain amount.
PICC Line
Umbilical Catheter

A thin tube that is placed in the body in order to draw out blood to be used for testing or to allow fluids and medicines to be given. This device serves as a passage that allows doctors and nurses to perform these functions as needed. An umbilical catheter is inserted into the umbilical cord in one of two ways; either into a vein (called an umbilical venous catheter or UVC) or into an artery (called an umbilical arterial catheter or UAC).

Conditions Treated

Prematurity
Air Leak Syndrome
Apnea of Prematurity

A condition in which a baby temporarily stops breathing while sleeping or resting. Many newborns have short pauses in their breathing (less than 20 seconds), but a baby is said to have apnea if he or she stops breathing for at least 20 seconds, has a slowed heart rate (bradycardia) or has a bluish color to the skin with a shorter pause in breathing. Periods of apnea may be accompanied by bradycardia and these events are called "spells" or "alarms."
Babies Born with Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

The amount of sugar in our blood, called blood sugar or blood glucose, is the fuel that keeps all of our body systems working. If this level dips too low, it is called hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can happen in any newborn, but some babies have a higher risk for it. Because a baby's body requires so much energy (sugar) after birth, low blood sugar usually occurs within the first few hours after birth. In general, the risk for low blood sugar in a healthy, full-term newborn declines shortly after birth. Yet, if blood sugar stays too low for too long without treatment, it can affect the brain. The effects can range from mild to severe, and may result in learning problems, vision problems and impaired development of motor skills and speech.
Brain Injury
Chronic Lung Disease

Also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), occurs if growth in parts of a baby's lungs are disrupted, altering the lung structure and function. CLD can lead to continued lung problems for some children. Because severe CLD can cause decreased oxygen to parts of the baby's body, it also can lead to problems with the baby's heart, and with hearing, motor skills, speech and learning.
Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a term used to describe a group of problems present at birth that affect the structure of the heart and/or the large vessels near the heart. There are many types of CHD. Some types may be detected before birth and, in some cases, may be treated before birth. Other types are not found until the baby is born, during childhood or in adulthood.
Congenital Malformations
Jaundice
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

A problem with a baby's eyes. The retina is a thin layer of tissue that covers the back portion of the eyeball. In babies born early, blood vessels still need to grow in the retina. In some babies, these vessels grow too fast and in a corkscrew shape. This process can cause bleeding and scarring. Scarring sometimes pulls the retina off the back of the eye. This can cause loss of sight or decreased vision.
Hearing Loss and Hearing Disorders