Neonatologists: Lifesavers at Birth

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Written by Sathya Mathiyalagan

September 23rd, 2024

 

In this week’s article we are going to be discussing a speciality in pediatrics that is dedicated to caring for the tiniest and most vulnerable lives, neonatology. Neonatologists are doctors who care for premature babies, infants born with severe illnesses or injuries, and infants born with congenital disorders. These professionals are usually present throughout the pregnancy journey of a family, closely working with obstetricians, if the health condition is diagnosed before birth. However in many cases where this is not possible, neonatologists will be in the delivery room to treat newborn babies immediately after delivery.

 

Neonatologists usually work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

(NICU) in hospitals. The NICU is an ICU that is specifically used

for treating newborn babies. They provide 24-hour care with

neonatologists and nurses working day and night shifts.

However, their role does not end at birth. Once the newborn

has been treated, the neonatologist will still closely follow up

with the baby during visits with the baby’s pediatrician. 

 

The path to becoming a neonatologist involves the following steps: 

1. 4 years of undergraduate degree at a college or university​​

2. 4 years of medical school

3. 3 years of training in a pediatric residency program

   • ​A “fellow” is a doctor who had more specialty training after completing medical school and a residency.”1

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However, this does not mean that pediatricians do not work on newborns. Although pediatricians can solve most health problems in newborns, neonatologists are specifically trained to handle complex situations. This makes them more knowledgeable regarding different treatments and providing care. Below you will be able to find a list of treatments that neonatologists are training to provide: 

• Diagnose and treat newborns with conditions such as breathing disorders, infections, and birth defects.

• Coordinate care and medically manage newborns born premature, critically ill, or in need of surgery.

• Ensure that critically ill newborns receive the proper nutrition for healing and growth.

• Provide care to the newborn at a cesarean or other delivery that involves medical problems in the mother or baby that may compromise the infant’s health and require medical intervention in the delivery room.

Dr. Josephine Enciso, an associate clinical professor of pediatrics and neonatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA explains the difficult atmosphere of the NICU, “The NICU is an overwhelming place. The babies are very sick, the nursing staff is very knowledgeable and high-intensity, and the work is extremely fast-paced."2 Although the atmosphere is extremely stressful, she explains how the team-driven atmosphere in the NICU eases stressful situations, as there are charge nurses, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatology fellows, pediatric residents and attendings all working together. This shows the close-knit relationship among healthcare professionals, united by a shared goal of saving a baby’s life.

Along with providing treatment, neonatologists play a crucial role of providing emotional support to families. The stress that parents endure as they watch their child battle serious health conditions is unimaginable. Dr. Josephine Enciso describes this by saying, “The hardest part of the specialty is that we can't promise the parents we'll hand over a healthy baby to them in the end."3 Neonatologists must deliver difficult news with empathy and initiate conversations about outcomes that are often uncertain. The mental and emotional resilience required to handle these situations deserves immense appreciation. For parents of premature or critically ill babies, neonatologists are a beacon of hope, guiding their little ones toward a brighter, healthier future.

It is very clearly evident that neonatologists are truly unsung heroes. Their specialized care, emotional support, and dedication to both newborns and their families are irreplaceable.The impact they make reaches far beyond the hospital walls, as they help shape the futures of countless children and families. 
 

Footnotes