Specialized Care for Newborns
Newborn Care
While you and your baby have been one for the past nine months, the moment your baby comes into this world, they are separate beings who need specialized newborn care. If your baby is healthy, he might need a little help latching on to be able to breastfeed or she might need to learn how to soothe herself to sleep. And if your baby is born early, or with a health condition or a birth defect, she may need to be in the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the care of specialists.
No matter whether your baby is healthy or needs extra care, you can rest assured that we have the experts on hand to make sure your baby gets what she needs to get off the the best start possible.
Breastfeeding Services
Many of our new mothers choose to breastfeed, but it doesn’t always come naturally. Sometimes baby and mom need some support and education to get the hang of things. We offer lactation support to all mothers who wish to breastfeed—even those whose babies are in the NICU, if possible. We offer breastfeeding instruction along with prenatal classes and our lactation consultants are available to provide support at your bedside after your baby arrives.
And once you and your newborn head home, we are here to answer your breastfeeding questions or concerns. We also offer breastfeeding support groups for new moms under the guidance of a maternity nurse, so you can share challenges and encouragement.
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pediatrics
Moshannon Valley Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - TyroneA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Download the Breastfeeding Brochure for helpful tips located in the resources section.
Services for Newborns with Special Needs
Whether your baby is premature, critically ill, or just needs a bit of extra care, our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, at Penn Highlands Dubois —the region’s only Level III NICU—can provide the highest level of care.
The 16-bed NICU has state-of-the art technology, equipment and tools that enable us to offer the best care we can to our community’s families and their babies. The unit is staffed with dedicated nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, speech pathologists, and social workers, all of whom have specialized training and certifications. They work alongside Dr. Mohamed Hassan, our full-time neonatologist and medical director to provide care.
In addition to our NICU, Penn Highlands offers board-certified expert perinatologists on staff. Perinatology is a subspecialty of obstetrics that focuses on the care of the fetus and complicated, high-risk pregnancies. Sometimes referred to as maternal-fetal health specialists, perinatologists are physicians who are focused on the medical, genetic, and surgical complications of pregnancy and the effects on both the mother and the unborn baby. At Penn Highlands, our perinatologists are available in the NICU for babies who require specialized care.
Where can I Learn More About Caring for My Newborn?
The nurses in our maternity unit and NICU are trained to provide specialized newborn care while you and your baby are in the hospital and to educate new moms and dads about follow-up care. You’ll also learn a lot about newborn care if you attend one of Penn Highlands’ prenatal classes, including infant safety, breastfeeding basics, and how to properly use a car seat.
Once you are ready to go home, you’ll want to be sure to have a pediatrician who can help care for your baby and provide the necessary vaccines, well-checks, and ongoing care they’ll need as they grow. Penn Highlands Health provides comprehensive pediatric care at eight locations throughout Central Pennsylvania so you can find a doctor who is close and convenient to your home.
