A seemingly endless list of healthcare professionals is involved in providing newborn intensive care.

Neonatologists are pediatricians with several years of extra training in caring for newborn infants with illnesses and birth defects. They act as team leaders but rely heavily on the advice and experience of other members of the team. Nurses are the constant care providers of patients in the NICU. They perform frequent assessments, administer medications, feed, bathe, and perform a myriad of other activities at the bedside. The number of babies a nurse may be assigned ranges from one to four depending upon the severity of illness. For a description of these and other team members see below:

Lactation Consultant: A person who has substantial experience helping mothers pump their breasts to collect milk and assisting mothers in breastfeeding.

Neonatologist: A pediatrician who has completed at least three years of extra training in providing neonatal intensive care.

Neonatology Fellow: A pediatrician who is receiving special training in newborn intensive care in order to become a neonatologist.

Neonatal Nutritionist/Dietician: A person with education in nutrition who has additional training in providing nutrition to sick newborn infants.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP): A nurse who has received additional education in newborn intensive care (usually with a Master’s Degree in Nursing). NNPs can do many of the same tasks as physicians.

NICU Pharmacist: A pharmacist with special expertise in drugs for babies.

Resident: A doctor who is training to become a pediatrician.

Respiratory Therapist: A person with special training in the care of breathing disorders in babies. Respiratory therapists manage ventilators, oxygen administration, and may perform blood tests to determine a baby’s breathing status (blood gas).

Social Worker: A specialist who helps parents with non-medical issues such as accessing community services. Social workers also provide emotional support and counseling.

This article is an extract from our book: Caring for your newborn - How to enjoy the first 60 days as a new mom


By Dr Robert Dillard - Dr Dillard is the Professor of Pediatrics at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He is the Medical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Sara Lee Center for Women’s Health at Forsyth Medical Center.

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