When planning to have a baby, few people consider the possibility of needing additional care or support after delivery. But the reality is that some babies are born premature or may have a serious health concern and require specialized care before they can go home. That’s where the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) comes in. At St. Joe’s, our Level 2B NICU is able to support pre-term infants as early as 32 weeks gestation.

“The babies we see require highly specialized care — our services are focused on providing an environment that will help them continue to grow,” said Alie Drabble, NICU Patient Care Manager. “With more than 700 babies admitted every year, we’re prepared to deliver the highest quality care to everyone who comes through our doors.”

Time can be of the essence with a newborn baby, which is why our NICU is located right beside our Family Birthing Centre; there’s seamless coordination of care and fast response and transport times when necessary. Everything in our NICU is designed to help prepare a family to go home, including our special care-by-parent room that allows new parents to simulate being at home taking care of their baby on their own, with our care team just steps away if they require any additional support.

Read the stories below to learn how our NICU team is constantly making improvements to provide even better care to our community — and to hear advice from moms who have experienced firsthand what it’s like to care for a premature baby.

Learn more about our NICU.