Expert Care for Newborns
While no parent wants to imagine complications at birth, it is reassuring to know that expert care is available if a baby needs additional support. Each year, around 2,000 newborns are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC), which is home to one of the most experienced NICUs in the region.
Reasons for NICU Admission
Newborns may be admitted to the NICU for various reasons, such as:
- Premature birth
- Difficulties during delivery
- Medical concerns in the first few days of life
- Babies may be admitted directly from the delivery room or transferred from another facility through the Qatar Neonatal Transport Program.
Inside the NICU
WWRC’s NICU has recently expanded to include 112 cots and two isolation rooms for babies with infections. The unit spans two floors, providing different levels of care depending on the complexity of each baby's condition. This setup supports continuity of care, allowing newborns to stay in the same environment throughout their recovery and be cared for by the same medical team.
A Family-Centered Environment
The unit is designed to support family bonding, offering a calm and spacious environment where parents can stay close to their newborns during treatment and recovery.
Qatar Neonatal Transport Program
The Qatar Neonatal Transport Program is a 24/7 emergency service run by WWRC in collaboration with HMC’s Ambulance Service. It ensures that critically ill newborns—such as premature babies, multiples (twins, triplets, etc.), or those with serious medical conditions—can be safely transferred from other hospitals to WWRC for specialized care.
Each transport is managed by a trained team, including a physician, nurse, respiratory therapist, and ambulance crew, using advanced equipment to support the baby’s needs during transfer.
The Care Team
Parents are considered essential members of the care team from the moment their baby is admitted. Even if the newborn is very small or fragile, parental involvement—including touch, cuddles, and skin-to-skin contact—can support their baby’s well-being and recovery.
WWRC’s NICU team includes:
- Neonatal doctors and nurses
- Respiratory, occupational, and physical therapists
- Dietitians and lactation consultants
- Social workers, psychologists, and pharmacists
- Nurse educators, case managers, and family educators
- This multidisciplinary team follows a neonatal care model that prioritizes the baby’s physical, mental, and emotional development. The same care team will remain with the baby throughout their stay, ensuring personalized care and encouraging parents to be actively involved.
- To support families emotionally, a special NICU journal is provided to help parents track their thoughts, experiences, and their baby’s progress.
- Case managers also monitor the baby’s recovery closely to prevent delays in discharge and ensure a smooth transition home.
Breastfeeding Support
As a baby-friendly hospital, WWRC encourages and supports breastfeeding. Each NICU room includes a hospital-grade breast pump and a mini fridge to store expressed milk safely.
In addition, private breastfeeding rooms are available on both NICU floors for mothers who prefer a quieter space to feed or express milk. When breastfeeding or expressing milk is not possible, the NICU team will work closely with the family to provide alternative nutrition methods that meet the baby’s needs.
HUG Days
To support families further, WWRC hosts weekly “HUG Days” every Thursday. These are parent support sessions led by the NICU’s multidisciplinary team. Topics include:
- Breastfeeding and Kangaroo Care
- Handling and positioning techniques
- Bonding with the baby
- Coping during the NICU stay
- Preparing for discharge
- These sessions also offer a chance for parents to meet others in similar situations and ask questions in a supportive environment.
- Families are encouraged to speak to their bedside nurse or lactation consultant to learn more about HUG Days.
Discharge and Follow-Up Care
When the medical team determines that a baby is ready to go home, the family will meet with a physician, the primary nurse, and a case manager to discuss the discharge plan. This plan is recorded in the baby's electronic medical file.
Follow-up care may be scheduled at one of WWRC’s specialized pediatric clinics or other Hamad Medical Corporation facilities, depending on the baby’s needs.
Appointment details are provided by Nesm’ak, who will contact the family by phone and also send a reminder by text message.
Specialized Clinics for Follow-Up Care
Appointments may be scheduled at the following clinics:
- WWRC (Outpatient Clinic 3): Well Baby Clinic, Baby Therapy Group Sessions, Jaundice Clinic, Audiometry Clinic, Metabolic Clinic
- Rumailah Hospital: Neurodevelopmental Clinic, Spina Bifida Clinic, Feeding Clinic
- Sidra Medicine: Neurodevelopmental Clinic
- Hamad General Hospital: Ophthalmology Clinic, Retinopathy of Prematurity Clinic, Pediatric Surgery, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Genetics, Gastroenterology, Neurosurgery
- Bone and Joint Center: Orthopedic Clinic
