Multidisciplinary Care of Extremely Preterm Infants

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Resource handbook for NICU families

All 40 weeks of a pregnancy are important to the growth and development of a baby, including the last few weeks and days. If a baby is born earlier, that is considered a preterm or premature birth. Babies born before 28 weeks of pregnancy are considered extremely preterm.

When a baby is born extremely preterm, the organs have not had time to develop fully. This puts the baby at an exceedingly high risk of serious, long-term health issues and disabilities, making the care they receive moments after birth vital to their survival and long-term health.

At University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital, our neonatology team provides the most advanced care in the state for extremely premature and high-risk infants with complex medical and surgical conditions—giving them the best chance to grow and thrive.

With a state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and experienced, multidisciplinary teams of specialists in lung, heart, kidney, skin, and brain care, we provide care for the smallest and sickest patients.

Premier center for care of extremely preterm infants

Our neonatology team is internationally recognized for its dedication to providing the latest in neonatal services and support for extremely preterm infants. In fact, we have the highest survival rate in the nation for infants born at 22 –24 weeks (about 5 and a half months) gestation. In addition, we are consistently ranked as one of the best neonatology programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

We are also home to Iowa’s only Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which is the highest level recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Thís means we are better prepared to care for preterm babies and high-risk pregnancies than anywhere else in the state.

Additionally, we are home to the only accredited neonatal hemodynamics fellowship program in the nation. This first-of-its-kind fellowship program trains residents to monitor the heart and circulatory systems of our tiniest babies. It’s highly specialized care helping to improve their outcomes and provide safer, more accurate care.

Finally, we are also actively involved in research to further enhance the postprocedural care of these babies, and our program is the state referral center for interventional closure of the patent ductus arteriosus—a critical procedure for extremely preterm infants that helps underdeveloped blood vessels operate as they should.

Collaborative, expert care

One of the most unique aspects of our program is that, unlike most NICUs, we have multidisciplinary teams—such as neonatal hemodynamics, lung rehabilitation, and neurocritical care— dedicated to providing expert, consultative support to the care of these high-risk patients.

Our teams are made up of maternal-fetal medicine specialists, pediatric doctors, surgeons, nurses, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists, lab technicians, physical therapists, and more—all with extensive experience in caring for extremely preterm and premature infants.

Together, they provide the most advanced, comprehensive care to you and your baby, including specialized training you won’t find anywhere else in the state. Our program is inundated with visitors (physicians, nurses) who come to learn from us so they can enhance the care in their unit.

Neonatal and infant lung rehabilitation team

We are the only multidisciplinary team in the state that specializes in the lung health and rehabilitation of neonates and infants. Comprised of neonatal and pediatric intensive care specialists, and pediatric pulmonology physicians, our team offers:

The most advanced knowledge and expertise in high frequency ventilation and care for infants with pulmonary hypoplasia (incomplete development of the lungs) and lung injury.
Enhanced monitoring and follow up for neonates and infants with lung disease. This includes working with the neonatal hemodynamics team to improve lung health and manage complex cardiopulmonary issues associated with more severe lung disease.
Assistance in transitioning to chronic ventilation, if needed, and continued follow up care after discharge through our specialized outpatient pulmonary clinic.

Highest survival rates in the nation

Our survival rates for extremely preterm babies born are significantly higher than rates at other U.S. hospitals, placing UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital among the top neonatal intensive care providers anywhere.

62% survival rate at 22 weeks, if admitted to the NICU.
74% survival rate at 23 weeks.
86% survival rate at 24 weeks.
91% survival rate at 25 weeks.