Haselton Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Contact Us
To contact Cottage Children's Medical Center, please call 805-879-4240, or ask your primary care provider for a referral.
Your baby’s birth is an exciting time, but if your baby needs special medical care, the Haselton Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is available. Last year, there were more than 260 infants who were cared for in our NICU.
The healthcare team will provide care tailored to meet the needs of your baby and make your baby’s stay in the NICU as comforting as possible. We hope to make you feel comfortable and confident about the care your baby is receiving. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Family Centered Care
At Cottage Children’s Medical Center, we embrace families as important members of our team. We highly encourage you to participate in the care of your baby as much as possible. It is our goal to prepare you for your baby’s homecoming.
For parents who live out of town, accommodations are available on an “as needed” and “as available” basis. Please ask your nurse or social services for more details.
We know that this is a new and difficult time. We want you to know that we are here for you and your baby and are willing to answer any questions you may have at any time.
NICU Patient
“The NICU nurses felt like family. They cared for my son like they would their own.” – Rachel, Sonny’s mother.
Features and Design
The most important feature for the new NICU location is that it is now on the same floor and adjacent to Brittingham Family Women’s Services, which includes the Birth Center and Mother-Infant Unit.
The unit is designed into three “pods” which can accommodate 6 infants in each pod. There are 22 patient beds in the new NICU, the same amount as the previous location.
The new NICU also has an isolation room, procedure room and a room with two beds to allow parents to “room in” or sleep in the same room as their baby prior to discharge. The patient bedside has curtains for privacy for skin to skin contact or breast feeding and pumping.
There are skylights in the corridor to allow more natural light. Large windows look out to a private patio which has a water feature and seating areas with tables to allow parents a chance to be outside to relieve stress.
Visitation
Patient Updates
A nurse is available to update you anytime day or night. Our phone number is 805-569-7522. To protect your privacy, information will only be given to parents. Other relatives and friends will be asked to contact the baby’s parents to obtain information.
We encourage parents to visit often and spend as much time at the bedside with your baby as possible. Your nurse will help you find the best way to interact with your baby. As you become actively involved in your baby’s care, you will build confidence in your ability to care for your baby.
Parent(s) are welcome in the NICU 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Parents may bring visitors over the age of 18
- Two people may be at the bedside at one time, one of which must be a parent or guardian. Additional guests can wait in the waiting room
- During the following times, only the baby’s parent(s) may be present: shift change (7-7:30 a.m. and 7-7:30 p.m.), daily rounds (10-11 a.m.), and quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily. These restrictions protect health information and provide a healing environment for patients.
- To respect the privacy of other patients, please remain at your baby’s bedside during your visit.
- With approval from the parent(s), up to four additional adults over the age of 18 may visit the baby without the presence of the parent(s). These visitors may enter the unit between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., except during shift change (7-7:30 a.m. and 7-7:30 p.m.), and during daily rounds (10-11 a.m.).
- Designated visitors may not change during the baby’s hospitalization. They may not bring additional visitors
- Baby’s sibling(s) over the age of 10 may visit with their parents. If a sibling under the age of 18 is visiting, they must be supervised by an adult. This is the only time there may be three individuals at the baby’s bedside.
We have a waiting room at the entrance to the Haselton Family NICU where additional family members and guests may wait. Children should be attended by an adult at all times while in the waiting room.
PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE NICU IF YOU:
- Are sick
- Have a fever 100.4° F or greater
- Have been exposed to a contagious disease
- Have received your chickenpox (varicella) vaccine or live influenza (flu) vaccine in the past 6 weeks
Parking
The Visitor Parking lot is located at the corner of Castillo and Pueblo, directly across the street from
the Virgil Elings Lobby. Parking can be validated in the Virgil Elings Lobby. Otherwise, it is $2.50 an hour to a maximum of $10 per day.
Street parking is available but is limited to 90 minutes and monitored closely.
Security
Upon arrival at the hospital, you must check in at the front lobby. You will be given a badge. When you arrive at the NICU, please identify yourself on the “airphone” at the entrance doors of the unit by stating your last name and your relationship to the baby.
Each newborn, parent and grandparent will be given corresponding identification bracelets. When visiting, bracelets of parents and grandparents will be verified with the identification bracelet of the infant.
