Some babies who are born prematurely or with certain medical conditions need care beyond what we can provide at the mother’s bedside. For these babies, our Special Care Nursery is available. We work in partnership with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and are able to offer:

  • 24-hour newborn specialist care
  • Advanced medical equipment to accommodate the unique needs of sick and premature newborns
  • Medical and surgical pediatric sub-specialist care
  • Flexibility to accommodate twins, triplets and other patient and family needs

We cater to the comfort and bonding needs of babies and families. Each of our 12 baby care areas are private and spacious, including recliners to allow comfortable skin-to-skin contact between parents and babies.

Special Care Nursery team members

The SCN is staffed by a team of professionals from a variety of fields. Each of them has one goal: ensuring that the babies in our care receive the best treatment possible.

Neonatologists and Pediatric Specialists

The SCN team is directed by Brigham and Women’s neonatologists, who are pediatricians with advanced training in the care of sick and premature babies. They care for infants 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pediatric specialists in a wide range of subspecialties are available for consultation and treatment of patients in our SCN. Some of these subspecialties include:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Pulmonary (lung) disease

These specialists are available through Brigham and Women’s Hospital and when surgery is needed, by Mass General for Children at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Lactation Consultants

Our lactation consultants are registered nurses with advanced certification in breastfeeding. These experts can provide education, support, and problem-solving to help mothers who choose to breastfeed be successful in their efforts. Learn more about our lactation and breastfeeding services.

In addition, our SCN team includes:

  • Nurses with special training in the care of premature and sick babies
  • Respiratory therapists with experience caring for newborns
  • Physical and occupational therapists, who provide developmental assessment and treatment as needed for our patients
  • Registered dietitians with specialized training in neonatal nutrition
  • Social workers with specialized training in the unique needs of premature or sick infants and their families