Care After Baby Born

At the delivery hospital, a doctor who specializes in working with sick infants (neonatologist) will manage the care of your baby. This doctor will watch your baby’s breathing and heart rate and look for other problems. Babies born with heart defects may need care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the delivery hospital. An intravenous line (IV) may be started in your baby’s belly button (umbilicus), arm, leg or scalp. The IV gives fluids, medicines and antibiotics to prevent dehydration and infection.

Some heart conditions won’t need to be fixed right away. In fact, when possible, waiting to give your baby the chance to get bigger and older will make recovery much easier. For these cases, your baby can safely stay close to you at the delivery hospital, and then will see the heart doctor (cardiologist) as an outpatient, or once you are home. The medical team may order tests like an echocardiogram or genetic studies, based on your baby’s condition.

Some heart conditions cause problems right away. Your baby may need help with breathing, extra oxygen or may need to be started on a medicine called prostaglandin E (PGE, or "prostins"). This medicine keeps the blood flowing through the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Keeping the PDA open lets blood flow to your child’s lungs or body, helping to keep him/her stable until surgery.

Your baby will need to be transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) shortly after birth. Nationwide Children’s Mobile Intensive Care team will take your baby from the birth hospital to Nationwide Children’s. The team is very experienced at transporting newborns with heart defects. Every effort is made to let you see your baby before leaving the birth hospital.

At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, you will meet with a team of many different specialists. This team includes:

  • Cardiologists: doctors who specialize in working with the heart
  • Cardiothoracic surgeons: doctors who specialize in surgery on the heart and lungs
  • Neonatologists: doctors who specialize in treating newborns
  • Interventional cardiologist and catheterization team: a team of healthcare professionals that specialize in heart procedures
  • Additional specialized support, like social work, nutrition, therapy, psychology
  • A specialized team of nurses and nurse practitioners