Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)

Newborns who come into the world early (premature birth) or have health problems receive specialized care at Penn Medicine. Our hospitals have Level 3 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

What Is a Level 3 NICU?

Our Level 3 NICUs provide advanced medical care for all premature infants, including newborns weighing less than 3.3 pounds (1,500 grams). We also care for full-term infants who need additional help. We quickly transport babies who need surgeries to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Penn Medicine NICUs: Advanced Care for Fragile Infants

For babies who need extra care, we offer:

• Award-winning nurseries: The NICUs at Pennsylvania Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) are the only two in the state that have earned the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence. This honor from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recognizes our expertise in helping medically fragile babies survive and thrive.
• High-level help for the smallest infants: We’re known for successfully helping extremely low birth weight infants (some weighing less than 1 pound). During delivery, we keep you and your baby safe. Then your baby receives around-the-clock care in our Level 3 NICU.
• Seamless care: We see a large number of women with high-risk pregnancies every year. After childbirth, some of these infants need time in a specialized nursery to get stronger. Our high-risk pregnancy and NICU teams work together to give your family seamless care.
• Dedicated team of experts: Infants in our NICUs receive care from Penn doctors and CHOP neonatologists. These pediatricians specialize in caring for critically ill infants. Families may consult with CHOP specialists in person or by phone or video conference. Meet our team.
• Prematurity prevention program: We have the expertise and tools to help fragile babies. But our hope is that few families need to use our NICUs. Our Penn Medicine Prematurity Prevention Program offers services to lower your risk of early birth.
• Safe sleep education: Premature babies and those with medical problems have a higher risk of sleep-related infant deaths. We are the state’s leading expert on safe sleep practices for newborns. With help from nurses in our Safe Sleep Awareness for Every Well Newborn (SAFE) Program, parents can help babies sleep safely at home.
• Infant development program: We help you feel more confident caring for your baby when it’s time to go home. Neonatal developmental specialists at our hospitals provide ongoing support.

Family-Focused Care

Research shows that infants in intensive care nurseries eat, sleep and respond to treatments better when their parents are around. We support your family, giving you access to:

• Board-certified lactation consultants who can aid breastfeeding or pumping
• Private family rooms at most hospitals for your family to enjoy skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo care) with your baby
• Family Advisory Councils composed of parents who give us feedback to improve a family’s time with us

Penn NICUs

We have Level 3 NICUs at:

• Pennsylvania Hospital
• The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP)
• Chester County Hospital (highest level NICU in Chester County)
• Lancaster General Health Women & Babies Hospital (first NICU in Lancaster County)
• Princeton Medical Center in New Jersey

Request an Appointment

To request an appointment, please call 800-789-7366 or complete our online form.