Neonatal ward

Introduction to the Ward: The Neonatal Ward of Valiasr Hospital is located on the second floor, adjacent to the Women’s and Maternity Ward. This unit has commenced operations after completing its equipment setup and personnel recruitment. A nursing station is positioned at the entrance for optimal patient care and coordination.

Direct Contact Number: 32122356-025 and 32122355-025

Section Head: Dr. Mohsen Sharifati

Section Supervisor: Mrs. Zahra Khan Ahmadi

Medical Team
Neonatologists:

• Dr. Mohsen Sharifati
• Dr. Farhad Mahjourian
• Dr. Abdulhossein Poshtiban
• Dr. Noushin Madani
• Dr. Elham Ramazani

Ward Structure & Services
The Neonatal Ward consists of two main units:

1. Rooming-In – for healthy newborns who stay with their mothers.
2. Sickbaby Unit – for newborns requiring specialized care, including those with jaundice or respiratory distress.

This ward is exclusively for infants aged 1 to 20 days.

Services Offered:

•  Admission and care of healthy newborns
•  Vaccination in accordance with the national immunization schedule
•  Screening of hospitalized infants
•  Hearing tests
•  Breastfeeding education by a lactation consultant
•  Hygiene and newborn care training for mothers
•  24-hour support for breastfeeding concerns
•  On-call pediatric specialists available for consultations
•  A dedicated mothers’ room is available for mothers of hospitalized infants.

 Mothers’ Room Contact Number: 32122354-025

After initial care and admission, the Rooming-In plan is implemented, allowing mothers and newborns to stay together for better bonding and breastfeeding support.

Facilities & Equipment
This ward includes the following specialized rooms and equipment:

Neonatal Phototherapy Room:7 circular phototherapy devices

Neonatal Intensive Care & Treatment Area:

•  1 resuscitation bed
•  1 ventilator
•  6 incubators
•  3 warmers
•  1 electric breast pump
•  4 catheters
•  3 pulse oximeters
•  4 central suction devices
•  1 portable suction device
•  3 continuous monitoring devices
•  1 TCB (neonatal jaundice) device
•  1 syringe pump
•  7 serum pumps
•  1 refrigerator for storing breast milk
•  1 medical refrigerator
•  Medication trolley & pharmaceutical stock

Additionally, there is a breastfeeding room for mothers, as well as separate vaccination and hearing screening rooms located nearby.

Educational Support for Parents:

1.  Educational pamphlets on various neonatal conditions (jaundice, G6PD deficiency, premature birth, cleft palate, hypoglycemia) are available.
2.  Televisions in the mothers’ rooms are equipped with flash drives containing instructional breastfeeding videos.

Topics Covered in Parent Education:

• Importance of breastfeeding & nutrition
•  Umbilical cord care
•  Infant bathing & hygiene
•  Room temperature & appropriate infant clothing (recommended 24-26°C)
•  Screening tests & post-discharge check-ups
•  How to hold and feed the baby properly
•  Vaccination schedules & storing breast milk

If specific concerns arise, the attending physician provides direct education to parents. Before discharge, parents must sign the parental registration book, confirming that they have received necessary instructions.

Admission Process:

1.  Direct & Indirect Admissions: Infants can be admitted directly from the operating room/maternity ward or indirectly from other hospital sections.
2.  Sickbaby Unit Admissions: Infants requiring intensive care (e.g., respiratory distress, jaundice) are monitored and treated here.
3.  Neonatal Transfer & Initial Assessment:
   – Newborns are transferred to the neonatal ward via the catheterization area.
   – They are immediately placed under a warmer for stabilization.
   – Oral & nasal suctioning is performed.
   – A full medical examination and vital sign monitoring are conducted.
   – Weight & height measurements are recorded.
   – Vitamin K injection is administered.
   – The on-call neonatologist evaluates the baby and prescribes necessary medical interventions.
   – Mandatory tests & lung X-rays are performed for all Sickbaby admissions.
   – If the infant’s condition is critical, they are transferred to a NICU-equipped hospital using a portable incubator, accompanied by a nurse and anesthetic technician.

Routine Neonatal Assessment & Care:

•  Suctioning of oral & nasal secretions
•  Checking for esophageal atresia (nasogastric tube placement)
•  Height, weight & head circumference measurement
•  Vital sign monitoring every 6 hours
•  Immediate incubator transfer for respiratory distress cases
•  Neonatal identification bracelet check
•  Final transfer to mother for breastfeeding & parental care

Discharge Process:

•  Discharge Criteria: Infants who have completed treatment, fully recovered, and successfully breastfed are eligible for discharge.
•  Parental Education at Discharge Includes:
  
  – Dressing & bathing the baby
  – Umbilical cord care
  – Proper handling of the baby
  – Administering prescribed medications & vitamins
  – Scheduling follow-up visits (within 48 hours and at 1 month)
  – Newborn screening tests (ABR hearing test at 3 months, ultrasound at 1 month)
  – Vaccination continuation
  – Warning signs to monitor (jaundice, lethargy, fever, vomiting, respiratory issues, seizures, poor feeding)
•  Final Steps:
  – Parents receive an educational booklet and sign the educational registration book.
  – The father (or a designated family member) presents the discharge papers, after which the infant receives oral polio drops and is officially discharged.

Healthy Newborn Discharge: After a pediatric specialist’s evaluation, if the baby is healthy, discharge occurs after 24 hours.

Discharge Protocol for Healthy Newborns:

• Administration of oral polio drops
• Scheduling a follow-up visit in 48 hours
• Providing screening pamphlets & vaccination information
• Educating parents on jaundice monitoring & breastfeeding adequacy
• Verifying newborn’s identification bracelet before final handover
• Parental fingerprint & signature in the discharge registry
• Instructions for registering the baby at local health centers within 48 hours