The Albert Katz Department of Neonatology

The Intensive Care Unit provides comprehensive care for tiny premature infants born in weeks 23-25 of pregnancy. The smallest baby treated in this department weighed only 415 grams at birth, and is currently growing and developing nicely. Our neonatal doctors also treat newborns who are not premature and are born at a normal weight, but suffer from birth defects or conditions requiring intensive care.

Once the condition of a premature infant stabilizes, the baby is moved from the ICU to one of three additional rooms located in the department. Care in these rooms consists primarily of building nourishment, increasing weight, monitoring breathing and preparing for discharge. Parents are welcome at all hours of the day.

The unit is equipped with 12 hospitalization stations, precise monitoring devices, 12 respirators, and the option of nonconventional ventilation with nitric oxide inhalation.

All newborns are brought immediately to the intermediate care unit for a few hours after birth. These hours are regarded as a transition period from fetal life to newborn life outside the womb. The intermediate care unit also enables neonatal doctors to monitor infants classified as high risk, such as babies who:

• Weigh less than 2 kg or more than 4 kg
• Are born with meconial amniotic fluid
• Have low Apgar scores
• Have mothers with diabetes
• Have an excess amount of blood
• Have trouble breathing
• Are after a difficult birth

In this ward, we provide attentive care for healthy premature infants who still need to grow before they can be discharged to their homes or transferred to the newborn unit. Parents are welcome at all hours of the day.

The Department of Neonatology at Sheba Medical Center is the only place in Israel that performs hearing tests on all newborns. Research has proven that early detection of a hearing disorder (before the age of 3 months) significantly improves the child’s speech and hearing later on.

Following initial examination and monitoring of body temperature, newborns are transferred to this unit. During their stay, immunization against hepatitis B is administered, as well as an injection of vitamin K (to prevent newborn bleeding).

To be released to their homes, all babies (whether delivered by a vaginal birth or Cesarean section) undergo comprehensive examination by a neonatal doctor. The evaluation includes checking the level of jaundice, amount of red blood cells in the blood count, PKU and thyroid gland function. Very early detection of these conditions can help prevent possible brain damage. All male newborns also undergo a test for G6PD deficiency (sensitivity to various medications).