Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)

NICU Outpatient Program

High-Risk Infant Follow Up

Family Centered Care Approach Infant Bill of Rights NICU Visitor Guidelines Possible Procedures Parent Support Programs Getting to the NICU

NICU Medical Director Request a Transport Refer a Patient

The Musey twins, Michele and William, were born extremely premature at 26 weeks and six days gestation. Fourth time mother, Kris Musey, gave birth at the MemorialCare Center for Women at Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach and Long Beach Memorial and they were cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Miller Children’s. The twins spent the first three critical months of their lives under high supervision in the NICU. Michele weighed 1 pound, 13 ounces at birth and William weighed 2 pounds, 1 ounce at birth.

Throughout her pregnancy, Kris experienced abnormal bleeding which had stemmed from a placental abruption and she had to spend 13 days on bed rest at the MemorialCare Center for Women. At 26 weeks she developed a urinary tract infection and went into an irreversible premature labor. Luckily, at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, Kris was able to get the high-risk pregnancy care she needed, while her twins were just footsteps away getting the highest level of care possible for premature and critically ill infants in the NICU.

The Museys had an entire care team of nurses, doctors, lactation specialists, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, case managers, and social workers at Miller Children's that were dedicated to their family. The staff worked around-the-clock to ensure that excellent care was provided. The physicians and nurses at Miller Children’s made it a point to communicate to Kris and her husband on a day-to-day basis about their babies’ health conditions and plans for treatment. They encouraged the Museys to become involved in their babies’ daily care and to feel comfortable in asking questions of the doctors and nurses.

“I was able to participate in the twins’ care via coaching from board-certified registered nurse lactation consultants. As a result of the coaching I became proficient at pumping and then breastfeeding my babies,” Kris said. “It is so apparent that the nurses in the NICU love the work they do, because they put 200 percent of themselves into their work every day. Like many of the nurses who cared for our twins, Lactation Consultants, Jody and Giselle always had a smile, a word of encouragement, and a hug for us.”

Once deemed safe to leave the NICU, Michele went home first and William followed a week later. Today, the twins are normal, healthy 4 year-olds who attend preschool, along with their sister, Margaret, who is 11 months older. At school, they enjoy painting and creating art projects, taking daily walks with their teachers and classmates to explore the outdoors, plants and animals. They are very well-rounded children and enjoy helping in the kitchen, playing musical instruments, singing, riding bikes with their older sister and going to the park. The twins love books and reading, especially Michele.

“We left Miller Children’s feeling so incredibly blessed and grateful for the fine care that was given to us and our twins during those three difficult months after their birth,” said Kris. “Our twins just turned 4 and are healthy and fully caught up. We owe this excellent outcome to the outstanding team of professionals at Miller Children's.”

Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)

It is difficult for a baby born at any age to transition into the world. Being born prematurely or with a congenital birth anomaly makes the transition even harder. These babies are in need of the highest quality care and are admitted into an area of the hospital known as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach features a Level III (tertiary) NICU which is the highest designation available from the state. Such designation means the unit must meet strict state regulatory criteria to provide the necessary care for very sick infants who need immediate surgery, or who weigh less than 2 pounds. Many hospitals in the area surrounding Miller Children’s do not have the personnel, a NICU or the resources to care for very sick infants and therefore transport their babies to Miller Children’s.

The care team of dedicated physicians, nurses, therapists and other staff, combined with state-of-the-art technology, work to save the fragile lives of infants born too sick or too early. The neonatal intensive care team provides developmentally supportive and family centered care through multiple programs including the Wee Care Program, Skin-to-Skin Care, lactation support and the March of Dimes NICU Family Support – the only one in California.

Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach Stands Apart:

The NICU at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach was featured in the book, “Baby E.R.: The Heroic Doctors and Nurses Who Perform Medicine’s Tiniest Miracles,” by Edward Humes.
Miller Children’s Hospital is one of only 22 hospitals in California to feature a Level III (tertiary) NICU which is the highest designation available from the state.
The NICU at Miller Children’s is home to the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program, the first such initiative in the state of California.
The NICU at Miller Children’s is one of the largest in the state of California. More than 20 community hospitals in California refer patients to the facility and more than 1,000 newborns are cared for every year.
In partnership with the Stramski Children’s Developmental Center, Miller Children’s Hospital offers extensive follow-up care for NICU babies and their families in the region with their high-risk infant follow-up (HRIF) Program.