Neonatology (Newborn Care)

At Children’s National Hospital, the Division of Neonatology provides the highest level of expert, compassionate care for your newborn baby. Our division possesses the top neonatologists in the country and has a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), administering the most advanced treatments to our tiniest patients.

Ranked Number One in the Nation for Neonatal (Newborn) Care

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Our commitment to excellence in caring for our patients and families is reflected in our neonatology program’s number one ranking U.S. News & World Report, which it has held for five years straight. We know that having a baby with complex conditions can be difficult for you and your family, and we’re here to support you through every step of your journey. Our neonatology team is uniquely qualified to treat your infant with the most innovative therapies available.

Our NICU has medical team and surgical teams who can take care of babies who have a condition at birth requiring surgery. Other special needs your baby may have will be addressed by our comprehensive team of pediatric subspecialists. The team is complemented by specialized nurses, social workers, respiratory therapists and dietitians. And the NICU is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment that can care for the most complex conditions.

Highlights of Our Program

• Level IV NICU. Children’s National has one of the only Level IV NICUs in the Washington, D.C., area, offering the highest level of care for premature and ill newborns. 
• High-risk prenatal care. Our Prenatal Pediatrics Institute specializes in high-risk pregnancies – diagnosing your baby in utero (in the womb) and providing a treatment plan for delivery and after birth.
• ECMO breathing therapy. In 1984, Children’s National became the first children’s hospital to offer extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which acts as an artificial set of heart and lungs for critically ill infants. Our program is now one of the largest in the country for infants and is designated as an ECMO Center of Excellence.
• Nutrition and feeding program. The experts in our Neonatal Nutrition Program work closely to evaluate your baby’s growth and nutrition during their hospital stay.
• Special monitoring for brain health. The Neonatal Neurology and Neurocritical Care Program offers patients access to neonatal neurologists who regularly monitor developmental progress and research brain injury prevention and management.
• Child development clinic. Our Child Development Clinic evaluates more than 1,500 children each year, ranging in age from birth to 4 years old. Our specialists will work with you to address developmental concerns.
• Specialized lung disease program. Our BPD Program focuses on infants who have chronic lung problems requiring long-term breathing support. This team is composed of specialists in neonatology, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric heart conditions caused by chronic lung disease (pulmonary hypertension). It is the only program of its kind in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

The Importance of a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

While most babies are born healthy, some newborns are premature or may have health problems, requiring care in a NICU. The American Academy of Pediatrics designates NICUs by the level of care available.

At Children’s National, our NICU is designated Level IV, providing the highest level of neonatal care for the more than 1,000 babies we see each year. The Children's National NICU is one of the only Level IV NICUs in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. While no one wants to think about their baby needing NICU care, it's important to know that this level of care is available nearby.

Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more about our Division of Neonatology, please call 202-476-5448. To reach the NICU manager with any comments or questions, email Tara Floyd.