Welcome to the Memorial Hermann Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where we provide comprehensive care for newborns of all gestational ages with a range of medical needs.
Our NICUs are equipped with the latest technology and staffed by health care professionals who are specially trained in the care of newborns. At Memorial Hermann, we understand that the birth of a newborn can be a challenging time for families. We are dedicated to providing the high-quality, personalized care for both the newborn and family.
Memorial Hermann offers NICUs at different levels of care. The level of NICU care depends on the complexity and severity of the newborn’s medical needs. Here is a brief overview of the different levels of NICUs available at Memorial Hermann:
Our 118-bed Level IV NICU at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center is one of the biggest in Texas, providing comprehensive care to newborns of all gestational ages. As the highest level of neonatal care available as designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), our Level IV facility treats the most complex and critically ill newborns/infants and/or those requiring sustained life support. Through our affiliation with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, a comprehensive range of pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical subspecialists is available to care for patients, offering the capability to perform major pediatric surgery for complex conditions. Neonatologists are in-house to provide care 24/7.
Through our Neonatal and Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team and Memorial Hermann Life Flight®, our Level IV NICU has the ability to treat critically ill newborns transferred from community hospitals all across the Greater Houston area.
Level III NICUs provide comprehensive care for newborns of all gestational ages with mild to critical illness or requiring sustained life support. They also provide for consultation to a full range of pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists, and the capability to perform major pediatric surgery onsite or at another appropriately designated facility.
Our Level II neonatal facilities can provide care for infants generally 32 weeks’ gestational age or greater and birth weight 1,500 grams or greater who have physiologic immaturity or problems that are expected to resolve rapidly. This designation signifies that the facility has a sound plan for transferring newborns/infants to a facility designated to safely provide more acute or long-term care if needed.
Preparing for your time in the NICU at Memorial Hermann? Here's what you need to know:
At Memorial Hermann, we are committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate care during your NICU experience. We're here to support you and your baby every step of the way.
When Melanie Allen went in for her routine 20-week anatomy scan with her husband, Andy, she expected to see their healthy baby boy growing strong. Instead, the Greenville, Texas couple learned that their son, Link, had congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a rare, life-threatening condition that...
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Mya Parham’s journey from elite athlete to first-time mom is one marked by strength, intuition and grace under pressure
Shruti, who had previously given birth to their first child at the same location in 2018, was admitted for monitoring overnight and told that her baby would likely be born the next day.
This brave heart warrior already has undergone six heart procedures to address her complex condition: hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with severely depressed heart function.
When Sienna Grace Wilson was born, a little fighter came into the world. Her parents, Sarah and David Wilson, were in awe of their new baby. They were also very emotional because of Sienna’s pre-birth diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot.
But in December of that year, during a routine screening in their hometown of Lufkin, Texas, Blain’s doctor found signs suggesting their baby might have spina bifida. The news was shocking, and the couple travelled to visit with specialists for extensive testing. The tests revealed that their son...
When Elizabeth came in for a second scan a week later, things felt off. The ultrasound technician kept going back to the same spot, muttering about the baby's diaphragm. Finally, she broke the silence with, "I can't see his diaphragm. It's there... and then it stops. I need to contact your OBGYN....
The majority of Teemer’s pregnancy was uneventful, and she felt healthy, happy and excited. But as she neared the 34-week mark, she began experiencing an unrelenting migraine for three consecutive days. Concerned, she sought medical attention at the hospital where she worked, just to ensure...
For Demetric Fisher, her daughter Kaydan's health was such a test. Born on June 20, 2012, in Jackson, Miss., little Kaydan’s life led her family on an emotional rollercoaster that would shape their lives for years to come.
Despite the previous reassuring tests, William’s position during the ultrasound raised concerns. His heart appeared too far to the left and his stomach couldn’t be located.
Isaac was born with imperforate anus, a rare birth defect where there is no anus (opening) at the end of his digestive tract. Isaac also had a neurogenic bladder, a term that describes what happens when neurological conditions affect the way the bladder functions. He had surgery to reconstruct hi...
As soon as possible, she and Troy made an appointment with The Fetal Center at Children Memorial Hermann Hospital for an in-utero echocardiogram, which would provide a detailed image of their baby's heart. Prenatal diagnosis plays a vital role in identifying critical cardiac defects, helps guide ...
Theodore was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a complex congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped and cannot pump oxygen-rich blood to the body. Babies with this condition need a minimum of three open-heart surgeries. ...
“My doctor and I decided together to monitor it and follow up with another scan in a few weeks,” Maggie said. “I was so nervous after I first learned about my diagnosis, so I started doing all of this research on my own, and that’s when I first came across The Fetal ...
"The ultrasound showed the ventricles in my baby’s brain were enlarged,” said Courtney. “Concerned he might have hydrocephalus, my OB-GYN sent me to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in town.” A few days later, Courtney met with her family friend and MFM physician, Dr. ...
A few weeks later, Sarah returned to her OB-GYN for another anatomy ultrasound. As the ultrasound technician glided the probe on Sarah’s growing belly, she noticed something unusual on the monitor. “The ultrasound showed Wyatt had fluid in his brain,” said Sarah.
At the time, Shamesia was only 18 weeks along. Although their baby’s heartbeat was strong, the amniotic fluid was too low for the baby’s lungs to develop during the critical period between 16 to 20 weeks’ gestation
Their baby had spina bifida. A portion of her lower spinal cord was exposed. The long-term effects could be seizures, bowel and bladder control issues, and difficulty walking. She might also need a special shunt to regulate her brain’s fluid levels.
While she was in the NICU being treated for her low blood sugar, Natalia also underwent all the standard newborn testing, including a newborn hearing screening. It was after that test when Zenia first learned there may be a problem with her daughter’s ability to ...
After being married for four years, Addie and Chase Adamek of Pearland were excited to learn that they were expecting in 2018. Addie was a NICU nurse at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center and Chase was a middle school PE teacher and coach. Ultrasound after ultr...
Meghann had planned a natural home birth for her first child, Elizabeth Caroline (“Lizzy”). When she started having abdominal pains at 23 weeks, her midwife ordered lab tests that came back normal. A week before Lizzy was born on January 18, 2013, severe abdominal pain sent Meghann to...
When Iris finally got her wish, an ultrasound revealed not one, but two heartbeats. Twins. Identical twins, in fact. Iris and her husband were elated. But the ultrasound indicated a potential problem, and her doctor referred her to The Fetal Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.&n...
Pediatric otorhinolaryngologist, Sancak Yuksel, MD, at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital has provided care for Jayda Hector since shortly after she was born in October 2010 at just 26 weeks’ gestation. After 12 trips to the OR at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, the six ...
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