What equipment and aids are available to help premature and newborn babies? An easy-to-understand guide for parents

An Isolette is a special incubator for newborns, used primarily in neonatology for very small premature babies. It provides a protected environment in which temperature, humidity and oxygen levels can be precisely regulated. Premature babies often still have difficulty maintaining their own body temperature. The incubator helps to create a stable environment in terms of warmth and humidity.

Typical features

• Constant temperature control
• Adjustable humidity
• Protection against infections and external stimuli such as noise
• Access for care and treatment via special openings

An open care unit is often used immediately after birth. Unlike an incubator, the baby lies naked under a heat lamp on a heated surface, so that medical staff can access the baby quickly and easily – for example, during examinations or in emergency situations.

A heated bed is used when the main priority is simply to provide warmth. In some cases, the newborns are already wearing clothes at this stage, as they no longer require such close monitoring.

Many premature babies require breathing support, as breathing on their own would be too strenuous for them due to their lungs being immature or diseased. This support is provided by ventilators, which can offer various types of respiratory support. The mildest form of respiratory support is known as CPAP ventilation.

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) with and without oxygen

With this non-invasive method, the baby receives a gentle, constant air pressure via small nasal prongs or a nasal mask. This pressure keeps the airways and alveoli open, thereby making breathing easier. CPAP is frequently used for:

• Premature babies with immature lungs
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Temporary breathing problems after birth

The baby continues to breathe independently, but is supported by the continuous pressure.

In the neonatal unit, the vital signs of newborns are monitored round the clock. To this end, every baby is connected to a patient monitor that continuously measures key bodily functions.

These include

• heart rate
• respiratory rate
• blood oxygen saturation
• and, in some cases, blood pressure or carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels

The small adhesive patches on the baby’s skin are known as ECG electrodes. They are connected to the monitor via thin cables and record the heart’s electrical signals as well as breathing movements. The measured data is continuously transmitted to the monitor, where it is displayed as graphs. This enables the treatment team to identify changes immediately and respond swiftly. If a value falls outside the normal range, the monitor automatically sounds an alarm.

The pulse oximeter measures the oxygen saturation in the blood. A sensor – usually placed on the baby’s foot or hand – sends light signals through the skin and uses these to calculate the oxygen saturation in the blood. Like all monitoring measurements, this is completely painless.

Many medicines, and sometimes even nutritional supplements, must be administered directly into the bloodstream of premature babies and dosed with precision. Infusion pumps enable:

• highly accurate administration of medication
• continuous fluid administration
• safe feeding via infusion

Many newborns develop neonatal jaundice. If the bilirubin level reaches a certain threshold, the jaundice must be treated. Neonatal jaundice is caused by elevated bilirubin levels in the blood. Bilirubin is a breakdown product of red blood cells. To prevent bilirubin levels from rising too high, which could damage the brain, babies are treated with a special lamp. LED phototherapy lamps emit a specific type of blue light with minimal heat production. This light helps to lower the bilirubin level in the blood. Phototherapy is one of the most common treatments for newborns; it is highly effective and painless.

Premature and unwell newborns are sometimes unable or not yet allowed to feed independently. If available, they are fed breast milk via a feeding tube. If breast milk is not yet available, or is available only in insufficient quantities, the newborns are given age-appropriate formula milk. This ensures that the baby receives sufficient energy and nutrients.

If a newborn baby needs to be transported within the hospital or between hospitals, a transport incubator is used. It provides:

• stable temperature
• ventilation and monitoring capabilities
• safe transport, even over longer distances

A small sensor is stuck to the baby’s skin – usually on the back or thigh. Transcutaneous CO₂ monitoring means that the carbon dioxide concentration in the blood is monitored via a small sensor on the skin. This allows nursing staff to see at any time how well a baby is breathing – without the need for repeated blood tests.

The Panda heated bed is a special, open-sided heated bed for premature and newborn babies. It is used when a baby requires special medical care after birth. A heat lamp from above maintains the baby’s body temperature at a constant level, as newborns – particularly premature babies – can cool down quickly. At the same time, the open incubator allows the medical team to closely monitor and examine the baby at all times, and to provide immediate care or resuscitation if necessary. In addition, vital signs such as heart rate, breathing and oxygen saturation can be monitored. The Panda heated bed is often used directly in the delivery theatre. If necessary, the baby is safely transported in it to the neonatal unit, where monitoring and medical care continue.