Admission

NICU UnitIf you wish to have a second opinion or transfer your infant to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) at St. Louis Children's Hospital, you must first discuss this wish with your baby's doctor.  Your doctor can arrange for a transfer of your infant's care by calling the Children's Direct physician access line at 800.678.HELP (4357).

If you wish to see a neonatologist or other pediatric specialist before your infant is born, you or your doctor may contact the Fetal Care Center.  The Fetal Care Center provides care for unborn babies diagnosed with a medical condition.

A Fetal Care Center nurse coordinator will speak with you and coordinate any appointments, tests or tours of the NICU, if needed.  

Transport services

If your newborn needs to be transported to the St. Louis Children's Hospital NICU, your doctor will contact the NICU transport service at 800.678.HELP (4357).  Our specially-trained critical care transport team is available night or day to respond.  

Southern Illinois Perinatal Network (SIPN)

St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital are designated as a Level III Perinatal Center by the Illinois Department of Public Health. With this designation, we are participants in the Southern Illinois Perinatal Network.

Our goal is to provide the best possible care for high-risk patients through accurate medical diagnosis (before and during pregnancy), state-of-the-art medical management, and a coordinated multidisciplinary approach. As a part of the Southern Illinois Perinatal Network, a strong network of care providers, we are a resource for physicians, mothers and infants of Southern Illinois.

As a Level III designated member of the perinatal network, Washington University physicians and nurse managers from Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital:

  • Provide medical care for referred high-risk patients and their newborns.
  • Attend morbidity and mortality (M&M) meetings with physicians from referring hospitals in order to facilitate prenatal, antenatal and postpartal education and the treatment of high-risk perinatal women, as well as the high-risk neonate.
  • Meet quarterly with nurse managers from the Southern Illinois district for discussion and actions needed concerning education.