Common conditions treated in the NICU

What are some common health conditions babies have in the NICU?

Preterm babies and other newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may face some of the same medical issues. The conditions listed below may not be relevant to your baby's situation. We encourage you to read only what you feel would be helpful to you. Additional information and support for families with babies in the NICU can be found at Community stories.

anemia— A blood condition in which the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells (part of the blood that brings oxygen to different parts of the body) or the red blood cells are too small. Babies born too early often have anemia. Treatment includes giving the baby iron supplements (a product that can make up for certain nutrients that you don’t get enough of in the foods you eat) and medicines that help them make more red blood cells. If the anemia is really serious, the baby may need a blood transfusion. A blood transfusion means having new blood put into a baby’s body

apnea— A breathing problem in which a baby stops breathing. Babies born too early often have apnea. A baby with apnea may take a long breath, then a short one, then pause for 15 to 20 seconds before starting to breathe again. This breathing problem can cause a slow heart rate, called bradycardia. NICU staff may talk about apnea and bradycardia as A’s and B’s. NICU staff put sensors on the baby’s chest. These sensors do not hurt the baby. They send information about their breathing and heart rate to a monitor. If the baby stops breathing, an alarm beeps. A nurse helps the baby start breathing by providing mild, moderate, or vigorous stimulation and moving the baby into another position. A provider may give the baby medicine or use breathing equipment to help them breathe.

birth defects— Health conditions that are present at birth. They change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. Birth defects can cause problems in overall health, in how the body develops, or in how the body works. The most common birth defects are heart defects, cleft lip and cleft palate, Down syndrome, and spinal cord problems. Treatment is different depending on the birth defect.

bradycardia— A slow heart rate often caused by interrupted breathing called apnea. Babies born too early often have bradycardia. NICU staff may talk about apnea and bradycardia as A’s and B’s. NICU staff put sensors on the baby’s chest. These sensors do not hurt the baby. They send information about their breathing and heart rate to a monitor. If the baby’s heart rate is too slow, an alarm beeps. A baby with bradycardia may get medicine or breathing support.

breathing problems— Preterm babies often have breathing problems because their lungs are not fully developed. Full-term babies also can develop breathing problems due to complications of labor and delivery, birth defects, and infections. An infant with breathing problems may be given medicines, a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe, or a combination of these two treatments.

bronchopulmonary dysplasia— Also called BPD or chronic lung disease. Preterm babies (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) who have a serious breathing problem called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and full-term babies (born between 39 weeks and 40 weeks, 6 days) who have infections (illnesses caused by some viruses, bacteria, or other germs) like pneumonia can get BPD. The length of this disease is different for every baby.

Treatment includes giving the baby oxygen from a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP, a machine that helps a baby’s breathing) or a mechanical ventilator (a machine that breathes for a baby) to help them breathe. Babies also can get medicine to help them breathe.

coarctation of the aorta— A heart defect present at birth in which the aorta (the large artery that sends blood from the heart to the rest of the body) is too narrow for the blood to flow well.

Treatment may include a procedure where doctors insert a thin tube into the aorta that has a small balloon at the end. Once in place, the doctors put air into the balloon to help open the aorta. Other times a baby needs surgery to fix the condition.

Feeding problems— Not being able to breastfeed or bottlefeed right away. A baby may have feeding problems if:

• They’re born before they’re able to coordinate the suck and swallow and breathe pattern.
• They’re too weak or sick.
• They have a birth defect (a health condition present at birth that changes the shape or function of one or more parts of the baby’s body) that makes it hard to breastfeed or bottlefeed.

Treatment includes giving liquids and nutrients (like vitamins and minerals that help the body stay healthy) through a tiny tube placed in a vein (a blood vessel that brings blood back to the heart) in the baby’s hand, foot, arm, or scalp. The baby may also be fed through an umbilical catheter (a thin tube that goes into the baby’s umbilical cord and into the belly button). When a baby gets food through a tube like this, it’s called intravenous feeding.

As soon as the baby is strong enough, they’re fed breast milk or formula through a feeding tube. The tube is placed through the nose or mouth into the baby’s stomach or intestines (parts of the body that digest food and absorb liquids and salts). This is called gavage feeding. The baby is fed this way until they can breastfeed or bottlefeed. A speech and language therapist or occupational therapist can help the baby learn to breastfeed or bottlefeed.

If the baby can’t breastfeed or bottlefeed for a long time, a surgeon (a doctor who has special medical training in doing surgery and other procedures) may need to put a gastrostomy tube into the stomach. The baby can get breast milk, formula, and medicine through this tube.

gastroschisis— When a baby’s intestines and sometimes other organs, are outside of the baby’s belly. Intestines are parts of the body that digest food and absorb liquids and salts. Treatment may include surgery to put the baby’s organs back in place and close the opening in the baby’s belly. Some babies don’t have enough space in their body for all of their organs to be put back with the first surgery. If this happens a mesh sack, called a silo, is placed over the organs outside of the body. The organs go into the body over several days and surgery is done to close the opening. Feedings are often delayed for several days/weeks.

heart valve abnormalities— When a baby’s heart valves are too narrow, closed, blocked, or don’t close properly so blood can’t flow smoothly. A heart valve is part of the heart that opens and closes with each heartbeat. Sometimes doctors can open up the valve. They put a thin tube into the heart valve that has a small balloon at the end. Once in place, the doctor puts air into the balloon to help open up the valve. Other times, surgery is needed to fix the valve.

hypoglycemia— When a baby has low blood sugar levels after birth. Sick babies, babies born preterm, and babies born to moms with diabetes (a condition in which there is too much sugar in the blood) have their blood sugar levels checked regularly. Feeding the baby with a sugar solution through an IV (intravenous line, a small tube put in a baby’s vein to give fluids or medicine) helps prevent and treat this condition in the NICU.

hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy— Also called HIE. This condition happens when a baby’s brain doesn’t get enough oxygen and blood. Seizures may occur in some babies. For serious cases, a cooling blanket or cap is used to bring the baby’s temperature down. This treatment helps reduce or prevent problems that can happen when there isn’t enough oxygen getting to the baby’s brain.

intrauterine growth restriction— Also called IUGR. When a baby grows more slowly in the uterus than usual and is smaller than normal at birth. Most of the time, IUGR is diagnosed during pregnancy using an ultrasound test (a test that uses sound waves to take pictures of the inside of the body). A baby with this condition may get a high calorie formula to help them gain weight and may be put in an incubator (a clear plastic bed) or radiant warmer (an open bed with an overhead heating source) to keep them warm.

intraventricular hemorrhage— Also called IVH. A condition in which there is bleeding in a baby’s brain. This condition is most common in preterm babies (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy). Most of the time, the bleeding happens in the first 4 days after the baby is born. In serious cases, the bleeding may cause fluid to build up in the baby’s brain. Providers use ultrasound (a test that uses sound waves to take pictures of the inside of the body) to check for bleeding in the brain. If bleeding is found, it is graded from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most serious. Most brain bleeds are mild (called grade 1 and grade 2) and get better without treatment. Treatment for more serious bleeding problems, may include putting a tube (called a shunt) in the baby’s brain to relieve pressure by draining built-up fluid.

jaundice— When a baby’s eyes and skin look yellow. A baby has jaundice when their liver (an organ that helps digest food, store energy, and remove harmful substances from the body) isn’t fully developed or isn’t working well. A baby gets a blood test to check for jaundice. The test measures the amount of bilirubin in the baby’s blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish waste that forms when red blood cells break down. In most cases, jaundice goes away without treatment and doesn’t hurt the baby or cause pain. For moderate to serious jaundice, the doctor may treat the baby with phototherapy. This treatment uses special lights called bili lights that reduce the amount of bilirubin in a baby’s blood. These bright lights are placed over the baby’s incubator (a clear plastic bed where a baby is put to keep warm); the baby wears eyeshields to keep the light out of their eyes. Sometimes phototherapy is done using a pad or blanket made with special lights that’s placed underneath or wrapped around the baby.

If the jaundice does not get better, then the baby may need an exchange transfusion. This means small amounts of the baby’s blood is taken out and replaced with blood from a donor to reduce the bilirubin.

macrosomia— When a baby is born weighing more than 9 pounds, 14 ounces (4,500 grams). Often babies this large are born to moms who have diabetes (a condition in which there is too much sugar in the blood). A baby’s provider checks them for low blood sugar (called hypoglycemia). If the baby has hypoglycemia, they’re fed a sugar solution through an IV (also called intravenous line, a small tube put in a baby’s vein to give fluids or medicine) to help increase their blood sugar.

necrotizing enterocolitis— Also called NEC. When a baby’s intestines (parts of the body that digest food and absorb liquids and salts) are damaged. The intestines can become inflamed or in serious cases, develop a hole (also called perforation). When this happens bacteria can infect the damaged area and cause serious health problems. Babies with NEC may have trouble feeding and swelling in their belly. This condition mostly affects preterm babies (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy). Babies with this condition are treated with antibiotics (medicine that kills infections caused by bacteria) and fed through an IV (intravenous line, a small tube put in a baby’s vein to give fluids or medicine) until the intestines get better. Sometimes a provider does surgery to remove the damaged part of the baby’s intestines.

patent ductus arteriosus— Also called PDA. When a blood vessel near the baby’s heart doesn’t close normally after birth, causing problems with blood flow. In a healthy baby before birth, much of the blood goes through a passageway (called the ductus arteriosus) between blood vessels and doesn’t go through the lungs. This passageway normally closes soon after birth so that blood takes the route from heart to lungs. If a baby has PDA, the passageway doesn’t close and blood doesn’t flow correctly. This occurs most often in babies born preterm (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy). To test for a PDA your baby’s provider may do an X-ray, an EKG or an echocardiogram. Most of the time, the passageway closes on its own. In some cases, medicine can help close the passageway. If medicine doesn’t work, the baby may need surgery to close it.

persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn— Also called PPHN. A breathing problem in which a baby can’t get enough oxygen because they don’t have enough blood flowing through their lungs. When most babies are born, the blood vessels in the lungs relax and open up so the blood can flow through. Once the blood flows well, it can pick up more oxygen. For babies with PPHN, the blood vessels don’t relax and the blood doesn’t flow well. When this happens, the blood can’t pick up enough oxygen. Treatment includes using a machine, called a mechanical ventilator, to help the baby breathe and giving the baby nitric oxide, an inhaled medicine. This gas helps blood vessels in the lungs relax so more blood can flow through.

pneumonia— A lung infection. Viruses, bacteria, or other germs cause infections. Signs of pneumonia include trouble breathing, changes in breathing rate, and having more frequent episodes of apnea (when a baby stops breathing). To check for pneumonia, a doctor listens to the baby’s lungs and does a chest X-ray (a test that uses small amounts of radiation to take pictures of the inside of the body) to check for an infection and fluid in the lungs. Treatment includes antibiotics (medicine that kills infections caused by bacteria). Some babies need help to breathe until the infection clears up.

preterm birth— A birth that happens too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Babies born too early may have more health problems or need to stay in the hospital longer than babies born on time. They also may have long-term health conditions that can affect their whole lives. Treatment depends on each individual baby and the health conditions they have. It is important to take a baby born preterm for regular checkups with their healthcare provider to make sure they are healthy and their development is on track.

respiratory distress syndrome— Also called RDS. A breathing problem that happens more often in preterm babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy. Babies with RDS don’t have enough surfactant in their lungs. Surfactant is a substance that helps prevent the tiny air sacs in the lungs from collapsing at the end of each breath. Babies with RDS may need help to breathe. One treatment for RDS is giving a baby surfactant to help the lungs work properly. Another treatment uses the continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP, a machine that helps a baby breathe), which sends air into the lungs through small tubes put in the baby’s nose. Some babies may need the help of a ventilator.

retinopathy of prematurity— Also called ROP. When blood vessels in a baby’s eyes don’t develop the right way. ROP happens most often in preterm babies born before 30 weeks of pregnancy. It can cause bleeding and scarring that harm the eye. Sometimes ROP causes damage to the eye’s retina (the lining at the back of the eye that sends images to the brain) and affects vision. Vision loss may be mild to severe. An ophthalmologist (eye doctor) checks a baby’s eyes for signs of ROP. Most mild cases get better without treatment, and there is little or no vision loss. In more serious cases, the doctor may use a laser or other treatments to help fix bleeding and scars. These treatments help protect the baby’s eyes.

sepsis— A serious blood infection (an illness of the blood caused by some viruses, bacteria, or other germs). Many babies have trouble fighting off germs that cause sepsis. If a baby has problems controlling their body temperature, high or low blood sugar levels, breathing problems, or low blood pressure (the force of blood that pushes against the walls of the arteries), NICU staff may do lab tests and X-rays (a test that uses small amounts of radiation to take pictures of the inside of the body) to check for sepsis. Providers give antibiotics (medicines that kill infections caused by bacteria) to a baby with sepsis.

septal defects— Heart defects present at birth in which there’s a hole in the wall (called a septum) that divides parts of the heart. Because of this hole, the blood can’t flow the way it should, and the heart has to work extra hard. If the hole is between the upper two parts of the heart, it’s called an atrial septal defect (ASD). If the hole is between the lower two parts of the heart, it’s called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Small holes may heal by themselves. Other holes need to be fixed by inserting a device through a tube (called a catheter) into a large vein (a blood vessel that brings blood back to the heart) or by surgery.

temperature regulation problems— When a baby has trouble staying warm. Babies who are born too small or preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) often don’t have enough body fat to help them stay warm. Babies in the NICU stay in an incubator (a clear plastic bed) or under a radiant warmer (an open bed with an overhead heating source) right after birth to help them stay warm. A tiny thermometer taped to the baby’s belly monitors their temperature and controls the heat. The baby can grow faster if they maintain a normal body temperature, which is most often 98.6 F (37 C).

Tetralogy of Fallot— A heart condition present at birth in which heart defects keep the right amount of blood and oxygen from getting to the lungs. This causes the baby’s skin to turn blue (called cyanosis). It may cause growth problems for a baby. Most babies have open-heart surgery to fix the defects. Some babies have a different kind of surgery to put a thin tube (called a shunt) into the heart. The shunt helps increase blood flow to the lungs.

transient tachypnea of the newborn— Also called TTN. When a baby has trouble breathing after being born because they have extra fluid in their lungs or the fluid leaves their lungs too slowly. Babies with TTN breathe faster than normal, and they may make a grunting sound. TTN usually lasts 3 days or less. Providers use blood tests and X-rays (a test that uses small amounts of radiation to take pictures of the inside of the body) to check for TTN. Treatment includes providing oxygen, using a mask, nasal cannula, or by putting your baby under an oxygen hood to help the baby breathe better. Once TTN goes away, most babies get better quickly and don’t have other breathing problems.

transposition of the great arteries— When the two arteries that carry blood to the heart and from the heart to the rest of the body are reversed so the body doesn’t get enough oxygen. Surgery can correct the position of the arteries.

Last reviewed: April 2025