NICU

American  

[en-ahy-see-yoo, nik-yoo] / ˈɛnˈaɪˈsiˈyu, ˈnɪkˌyu /

noun

1. neonatal intensive care unit: a specialized center in a hospital where intensive care is provided for newborn infants who are premature or have health problems.

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NICU British  

abbreviation

1. neonatal intensive care unit

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Etymology

Origin of NICU

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

He was back here as a chubby, chatty toddler, not the helpless baby in the NICU.

From The Wall Street Journal

“She is currently in the NICU, gaining strength every day. Mom and baby are both doing OK, but she will need to stay in the hospital until she is ready to come home.”

From Los Angeles Times

And in the NICU, the sickest babies wouldn’t even be able to breastfeed safely unless they could measure the exact amount of milk they were consuming.

From Los Angeles Times

Research has shown that added distance between a patient and obstetric care increases the likelihood the baby will be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.

From Salon

In recent years, more hospitals have trained volunteers to provide this service in the NICU, a nursery where specialists offer 24/7 care to at-risk newborns until their health stabilizes.

From Washington Times