📖 Definition
A hospital unit staffed by neonatologists and specialized nurses providing intensive medical care to premature infants and full-term newborns with serious illnesses. NICU levels range from I (basic) to IV (most advanced, with surgical capabilities). Common reasons for NICU admission include extreme prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal sepsis, and birth defects. Parents are encouraged to participate in care through kangaroo care and breastfeeding.