Extra Care
Extra care for your baby - all in one place
If your new baby needs special care due to a critical illness or premature arrival, he or she is in very good hands in Mercy Children’s Hospital’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – the only one in St. Louis County and the largest in the region. Our Emerson Level III NICU provides the highest level of advanced neonatal care just steps away from our Labor, Delivery and Recovery suites. We’ve designed this special area to nurture your baby’s development in a soothing, healing environment that’s best for helping your baby grow and thrive.
You can call your baby’s NICU nurse at anytime of day to talk about your baby. Our dedicated, experienced team of neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pharmacists and respiratory therapists care for your baby 24 hours a day. As part of Mercy Children’s Hospital, the NICU is supported by more than 80 pediatric specialists. When your baby is ready to leave Mercy, we will give you the education and support you will need to help transition to life together at home
Care notes
- Our Emerson Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is located inside Mercy Children’s Hospital and is the only one in St. Louis County – your baby stays in the same hospital with you.
- We focus on bonding babies with their parents in a healing environment.
- More premature and critically ill babies are cared for in our NICU and Special Care nursery than at any other hospital in Missouri.
- Ronald McDonald House
- Families are encouraged to take advantage of the amenities and restful atmosphere of our Ronald McDonald family room within Mercy Children’s Hospital. Or, for longer stays, the Ronald McDonald House located on Mercy’s campus.
- Parents benefit by connecting with the NICU parent support group, NICUPS (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parent Support).
While You Are Waiting™
If this is necessary during your pregnancy, our exclusive While You Are Waiting™ program provides the support you need while away from home.
Essentials
- Private rooms and flexible room service meals help you feel at home
- Group education classes are provided, including childbirth preparation and newborn care
- Keep your hands busy with creative activities: learn to knit, enjoy scrapbooking or try painting and journaling
- Stay connected to family and friends on our laptops with Wi-fi
- Caring Bridge® – a private, personalized website – makes it easy to stay in touch
- Special support groups are available for dads and siblings
