When you find out you’re expecting, creating a solid birth plan is among the many things you do to prepare for the big day. But, as prepared as you may be, labor and childbirth are often unpredictable and can come with serious health risks for both the mother and baby. When a baby is born premature, or in need of intensive care after birth, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is nothing short of a lifeline.
In support of the lifesaving care these units provide to the most fragile and sickest newborns, Kyte Baby makes monthly donations to NICUs all over the country through our Nominate-a-NICU program. This month, we are honored to name Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt as our July NICU. This NICU is well-known for being among the largest and best NICUs in the country, and was nominated by many members of our community for caring for their own babies.
About Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Located in Nashville, TN, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has a Level IV NICU that is ranked among the best in the nation. With specialists in medical and surgical care and pediatric anesthesiology, this 106-bed NICU is well-equipped to support the sickest of babies, no matter how serious or complex their condition. Monroe Carell provides highly specialized, family-centered care to 1,500 infants each year.
NICU Bridge to Home Program
Eligible families are able to choose Monroe Carell’s NICU Bridge to Home program, which allows them to leave the hospital about nine days sooner than others. From the comfort of their own home, these families participate in a remote monitoring platform and telehealth appointments where the NICU team provides expert neonatal advice and monitoring.
Specialized Care
The NICU at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt was one of the first hospital programs in the world to care specifically for preterm infants. Its Level IV rating reflects its exceptional capabilities and expertise in caring for its tiniest patients.
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The Mildred Stahlman Division of Neonatology at Monroe Carell is consistently ranked one of the top programs in the nation.
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The ECMO program at Monroe Carell gives long-term lung and/or heart support to over 60 infants and children per year.
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Using the most advanced fetal cardiac imaging technology and a collaborative approach to heart care, the fetal cardiology team at Monroe Carell ensures a smooth transition from prenatal diagnosis to childhood and beyond.
Words From the Kyte Community
“Serving a huge catchment area, this NICU continues to provide exceptional and compassionate care to not only the tiniest NICU babies, but also the sweet congenital cardiac disease babies prior to their surgeries. They are an incredible team of humans.”
-Kelsi M.
“The doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and staff guided us through our son’s unexpected arrival at 26 weeks. They were gracious, thorough, and extremely passionate with their work.”
-Daniela V.
“My baby was in the NICU for 5 weeks here, and the whole staff was incredible. We were in three different NICU sections during our time, and everyone was so attentive and caring.”
-Emily D.
“Although being in a NICU is hard, being here at Vanderbilt makes this season of life a bit easier. I'm always met with friendly faces and a staff that truly cares. Not only do they provide the best medical care for my complex baby, but they also care about me and my needs. Vanderbilt NICU acknowledges that this is a team effort between all medical staff, myself, our social workers, and even my other two small children. During this stressful time, I'm glad to still have peace of mind here at Vanderbilt.”
-Madi B.
“Our son was diagnosed with spina bifida at our 20-week anatomy scan. Just a week later, he decided he wanted to be born at 26 + 5. After an emergency c-section, he was stable and in the hands of this incredible NICU. My son is currently still here at 33-weeks old. The doctors, nurses, even the hospitality and nutrition workers have all made our stay as easy and as pleasant as possible. It’s been amazing how they make each day a blessing in what could be one of the scariest times of our life. I owe them my life for saving my high-risk baby.”
-Marissa W.
