Moving from nicu to scbu

[Worriedgirl888]

Is there much difference? My baby was born at 26+2 and was moved to at nicu over an hour away and now 9 days later they are planning to move him today to scbu (at a different hospital near us which normally takes babies from 28 weeks gestation) I’m trying to be positive thinking this means he done so well he’s no longer intubated and is on lowest form of breathing help but I just can’t help thinking it’s too soon he’s so tiny and anything could happen. Genuinely thought he would stay where he was for at least a month.

It is scary but it's a good thing. I found the focus of each was different. However my boy was much older when he made it back to a local scbu. He started at Birmingham nicu where the focus was very much about him surviving. Once he stabilised and was off the ventilator but still on oxygen he was then moved to Worcester nicu (lower level) where the focus was still on keeping him alive but a bit more just monitoring and waiting for him to grow to a viable level. When he was bigger and out of an incubator tho still in and out of oxygen we were transferred to hereford scbu. He was 33 weeks gestation when we went there. There the focus was very much on working towards home. Looking at gaining weight and feeding etc.

Are you sure they’re moving him to a SCBU, or could it be a lower level NICU at the local hospital? Like pp my 25 weeker was moved from a high level NiCU back to the local hospital and a low level NICU, and then to SCBU next door. I’m a bit surprised that they’re moving him back before 28weeks but actually he’s 27+4 and stable so he’s doing fine, and they are probably giving you a day or two warning. Everyone I knew moved home soon after 28weeks if they had good weight and breathing and there were spaces. Actually, that is a reason to be ready at any time- I had to wait a week before my local hospital was quiet enough to take us. I found the actual change hard as I was 5weeks at the high level NICU but it was fine in the end. It was nice to only be around “stable” babies even though they were all still tiny, and less alarms going off. And then the next moves were only to different rooms. It also makes it much easier to get into a routine if you’re nearby.

Just reading the bliss pages on this www.bliss.org.uk/parents/in-hospital/about-neonatal-care/how-does-neonatal-care-work. Seems different hospitals call them different things. Our area has level 4 for 28 weeks. Wherever they move you to it will be able to cope briefly if, God forbid, your baby gets ill or goes downhill. My 25 weeker was emergency so born in a unit for 28weeks+ but they were able to ventilate her ok. You are past the worst and will be better off near home.

I have had 2 severely prem daughters and both needed to be reintubated multiple times in the first few weeks, as the tiniest thing tipped them into working too hard to breathe etc. I don't want to frighten you but it happened a lot and I was told it was common. Have you asked about contingency plans for if this happens?

NICU is a massive learning curve as each unit has their own approach and capabilities. If not too outing, do you know which unit you'd be moving to?

My DD wasn't prem but had issues at birth requiring a week in NICU. I found the step down to scbu hard initially that there were so fewer nurses around. In NICU it's 1:1 but in our scbu it was 1:4. We were expected to take on much more of the care ourselves, dressing, nappies, tube feeds etc (which was good but also a shock after having everything done for us). The attitude was different too. As pp said it's all about working towards going home. I didn't feel quite so coddled! But once we were through the first couple of days it was fine.

@Worriedgirl888 hiii! I just had my baby at 26+ 2 any advice? I'm literally in tears everyday !

Newbe123 I had my son at 28+3 weighing 1lb 10oz, if you want to chat I'm here.

@Newbee123 I’m also free to chat, had at 25 weeker 3 years ago, all good now.

There’s a great Facebook group called “parents of preemies support U.K.” where you will get loads of great advice and wisdom.

@peakotter hi how do I message you directly or can you message me ? Just need some advice or someone to talk to who has been through what I'm going through 😭

@Newbee123 I’ve sent you a message. You can find your Mumsnet inbox by clicking on the little person in the top right corner. Let me know if it doesn’t work

Different hospitals can call them different things. In my experience there's a few different levels between NICU and SCBU and some smaller hospital neonatal units also have care levels thay are higher than the lower dependency SCBU level.

Could you get clarification on the differences between your two settings?