Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital offers a Level II Special Care Nursery. The nursery provides care for babies born after 34 weeks of gestation who need to be watched closely or receive extra care following birth.

Located next to the regular nursery, this nursery has seven beds dedicated for babies who need some extra TLC. Specially trained nurses work in our special care nursery, helping little ones who may have difficulties in maintaining body temperature or to take oral feedings, who are moderately ill and may need medications or a little extra oxygen.

Our special care nursing team works closely with the families to ensure that mom (and dad) and baby are able to breastfeed if they choose to, and to bond through “kangaroo care”, or skin-to-skin contact between parent and baby.