Overnight stay for parents

We have six family rooms associated with the department. The rooms vary in size and function. If no family rooms are available, we will arrange alternative accommodation for the mother and, if applicable, the other parent as close to the department as possible. Due to the different functions of the rooms, there may be a need for room changes, and parents will have to switch rooms during their stay.

When staying in a family room, the mother is no longer considered a patient. This means the mother must be discharged from the maternity ward before she can move into the family room.

Many of our patients here in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have siblings who have eagerly awaited the arrival of a new family member. It can be very disappointing for the siblings when things don’t go as planned, and the parents end up staying in the hospital longer than expected, sometimes for months.

Therefore, we at the NICU try to accommodate siblings visiting and meeting their little brother or sister. It is also possible for siblings to sleep on the family room with the parents if desired. This can help with separation anxiety and ensure they still receive the attention they need.

Getting a new sibling can create a lot of jealousy, and we believe it is important to include them so they can both meet the baby and have some one-on-one time with the parents. We have a small play corner outside the incubator room, as well as the possibility to borrow a Nintendo Switch and Apple TV.

If siblings are coming to visit, it is important that they are completely healthy, as it is crucial to avoid spreading infections to our patient group. Children who attend daycare must change clothes and wash thoroughly before coming to the department. It is also important that children remain calm while in the incubator room, as many of our babies are sensitive to loud noises.

Unfortunately, only parents are entitled to receive meals while in the hospital. Therefore, if siblings will be sleeping in the department, parents must bring their own meals. However, there are refrigerators in the rooms for food storage, as well as microwaves and kettles available.

When you are assigned a room, you will need to make up the bed yourself. Bed linens and duvet should be changed once a week, or more frequently if needed. You will find new bedding in the cupboard in the hallway outside the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Each family room has a wardrobe with hangers and shelves where you can store clothes and other items. Please keep the room tidy and avoid placing things on the floor, as the floor is considered a dirty zone, and cleaning staff need the space to easily clean the floors.

Cleaning of the floors is done by the cleaning staff Monday through Saturday.

If you are staying for an extended period, you will be responsible for tasks such as dusting and cleaning the refrigerator.

Dirty laundry should be placed in laundry bags in the room (borrowed wool items should be returned to the department). Duvets go in a purple laundry bag (ask the staff).  When the laundry bag is full, please take it to the waste room. Trash is collected by cleaning staff six days a week, but on Sundays, you will need to take the trash to the waste room yourself. Empty bottles can be given to the department, or you can recycle them yourself.

Clothes should preferably be washed at home, but if you have a long journey, you can use the washing machine in the department. Ask a nurse for assistance in locating it.

Many people want to bring flowers to patients in the hospital, but due to infection risks and allergies, some departments are flower-free. Flowers, soil, and water may contain bacteria, so intensive care units do not allow flowers either in the department or in family rooms.

There are WC and showers available on the hallway outside Family Room 6, and WC outside Family Room 3.

Family Room 1 can use the WC and shower on the pediatric ward at night, as the doors to other rooms are locked during this time.

Both parents are entitled to meals while their child is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Parents will use the cafeteria on the 3rd floor of the children's department. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served there. Late-night snacks are placed in the refrigerator in the kitchenette outside the family rooms, at the same time as the evening snacks are served in the cafeteria.

We order dinner daily based on how many people need it. It is the parents' responsibility to sign up on the board located by the entrance to the department each day. Every morning around 9 AM, we place the dinner order and then cross out the previous day's dinner list, so parents can sign up for the next day. A dinner menu is posted every Sunday so parents can see the options for the week.

There is a small kitchenette outside Family Room 6, equipped with a microwave, coffee machine, refrigerator, and dishwasher. You are welcome to use the kitchenette, but you must keep it tidy, as there is no kitchen staff responsible for maintaining it. If you use the dishwasher, please ensure you start it and empty it afterward. Plates, glasses, cutlery, etc., must always be returned to the cafeteria.

Cafeteria on the 3rd floor:

• Breakfast: 08:00 – 09:30
• Lunch: 11:30 – 13:00
• Dinner: 14:15 – 15:45
• Evening snack: 18:30 – 19:30

Cafeteria on the 6th floor:

• Weekdays: 09:30 – 15:15
• Weekends and holidays: Closed

Narvesen Kiosk on the 1st floor:

• Weekdays: 06:30 – 21:00
• Saturday: 09:00 – 21:00
• Sunday: 10:00 – 21:00

Familiarize yourself with the emergency exits and the map posted in the family room.

In case of a fire alarm, immediately go to your child in the NICU so that we can account for everyone.

Open flames, such as candles, are not permitted in the room.

Most children will require monitoring of their heart rate and oxygen levels even while in the family room.

Each family room is equipped with a red pull cord that should only be used if previously agreed with the nurse.

In case of an emergency, bring your child quickly back to the NICU.

All visitors must be completely healthy and practice good hand hygiene.

There are no set visiting hours for the family rooms, but if visitors wish to enter the NICU to see the child, they must coordinate this with a nurse first.

Parents can use Wi-Fi by logging into guest.ihelse.net.

Apple TVs are available for loan to parents on the family rooms, but they must log out and return the devices before leaving the hospital.

Co-sleeping is not recommended in the family rooms, particularly with preterm infants, as the rooms are not designed for this purpose.

If you choose to co-sleep, ensure you follow these guidelines:

• The parent should not smoke or use snuff.
• The child should not be preterm.
• The parent should not be under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or sedative medications.
• The bed should be large with a firm mattress.
• The child must have their own small and light blanket or duvet (avoid pillows, etc.).
• Ensure the child cannot roll out or fall into a gap.
• The child must not sleep on their stomach on the parent's chest while they sleep, as this increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Source: Krybbedød - Landsforeningen uventet barnedød (LUB) (in Norwegian)

• Before leaving the family room, ensure the room is completely cleared of your belongings.
• Take off the bed linen and place it, along with any other dirty clothes, in the laundry bag.
• The protective mattress cover can remain on the bed, as this should not go into the laundry bag.
• Check that you have gathered your child’s items from the bed, including mementos like birth certificates and name bands.
• All knitted items, such as woolen blankets, socks, and hats, are yours to take home. Any non-knitted clothing should be returned to the NICU.
• Empty the fridge and ensure that any frozen breast milk is taken with you.
• Return any equipment, such as pump equipment, and return the room key to the NICU staff.

We hope your stay in the NICU is as comfortable as possible for both you and your child. Thank you for following the guidelines to maintain a safe and healthy environment!