However, they can still monitor a baby’s vital functions and warm them. While you may see lots of monitors, the incubator is open above the baby.īecause of this open air space, open incubators do not provide the same amount of control over humidity as closed incubators. The heat output is automatically controlled by the temperature of the baby’s skin. In an open incubator, a baby is placed on a flat surface with a radiant heat element either positioned above or offering heat from below. This is also sometimes called a radiant warmer. Each is designed slightly differently with different advantages and limitations. Three common incubator types are: the open incubator, the closed incubator, and the transport incubator. You may come across many different types of incubators. This means that not only does an incubator protect a baby, but it provides an ideal environment for medical professionals to monitor and treat an infant. delivering blood or medications through an IV.Incubators can be used in combination with medical procedures like:
This monitoring allows nurses and doctors to constantly track a baby’s health status.īeyond just offering information about a baby’s vitals, an incubator will also either be open on top or have portal holes on the sides that allow it to be used in combination with various medical procedures and interventions.
#Hospital incubator baby skin#
An incubator’s ability to control humidity also allows it to protect a baby’s skin from losing too much water and becoming brittle or cracking.Īn incubator can include equipment to track a range of things including a baby’s temperature and heart rate. In addition to climate control, an incubator offers protection from allergens, germs, excessive noises, and light levels that might cause harm. Without this specifically controlled environment, many infants could not survive, particularly those born a few months early. Unlike a simple bassinet, an incubator provides an environment that can be adjusted to provide the ideal temperature as well as the perfect amount of oxygen, humidity, and light. It can be easy to think of an incubator as just a bed for a sick baby, but it’s so much more than a place for sleeping.Īn incubator is designed to provide a safe, controlled space for infants to live while their vital organs develop.
If a baby needs to have surgery for a complication following their birth, they’ll need to be monitored and in a controlled, safe environment afterwards. breathing, and eating), benefiting from the extra oxygen and controlled environment an incubator offers. Low birth weightĮven if a baby is not premature, if they are extremely small, they may not be able to stay warm without the additional help an incubator offers.Īdditionally, very small babies may struggle with many of the same vital functions premature babies do (i.e. The incubator can also offer a safe womb-like environment where a baby can recover from the trauma. If a newborn baby has experienced trauma, they may require constant monitoring and additional medical supports. Newborn jaundice is common and can occur when babies have a high level of bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced during normal breakdown of red blood cells. Some incubators include special lights to help reduce jaundice, a yellowing of a baby’s skin and eyes. Many doctors will briefly incubate a baby if the mother had gestational diabetes, so that the baby can be kept nice and warm while they take time to monitor their blood sugars. Incubators also offer a protected space where it’s possible to monitor vitals 24/7 when your baby also needs multiple IVs for medication, fluids, etc. Incubators can reduce the chance of germs and additional infection while a little one heals from an illness. Newborns may also have immature, not fully developed lungs that require monitoring and extra oxygen.
This can lead to infections and an inability to breathe well. Sometimes babies will have fluid or meconium in their lungs. (Their eyes and ear drums may be so sensitive that normal light and sound would cause permanent damage to these organs.)Īlso, babies born extremely early will not have had the time to develop fat just under the skin and will need help to keep themselves warm and toasty. These can include: Premature birthīabies born prematurely may need additional time to develop their lungs and other vital organs. There are many reasons why a baby may need to be inside an incubator. It may help to think of them as a second womb designed to protect a baby and provide the optimal conditions for their development. They are used in combination with other equipment and procedures to ensure that babies needing extra support have the best possible environment and continual monitoring. Why would a baby need to be in an incubator?
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