Neonatology & Developmental Biology

At UCLA Health, our neonatologists work closely with other specialists to deliver compassionate, customized treatment for critically ill and premature babies. Your baby receives leading-edge care from a team of experts.

UCLA Health excellence in neonatology

Specially trained neonatology experts at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital provide state-of-the-art treatment and support to newborns and infants. We specialize in helping premature and full-term babies who are critically ill. Our priority is providing your baby with the most highly skilled, individualized care in a compassionate, family-centered environment. When you come to us, you’ll find many advantages, including:

Renowned expertise: The neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center have been ranked among the top NICUs in the country by U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek.

As a major referral center for high-risk pregnancies and critically ill infants, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital leads the nation in specialty neonatal care. Our team members are nationally and internationally recognized for their expertise in:

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Complex care involving multiple specialties
Congenital heart disease
Neonatal nutrition
Neonatal surgery

Comprehensive support for premature babies: Our team is with your baby and family every step of the way. Even before your baby is born, our NICU team coordinates and plans with specialists to make sure your baby receives comprehensive care.

In the NICU, your baby receives round-the-clock treatment and support from our neonatology team. Before you take your baby home, our team of neonatologists and case managers will help you transition to outpatient care. Then, a team of health care professionals in our High Risk Infant Follow-Up (HRIF) Program follows your baby for up to three years. Your child will see developmental and behavioral pediatricians, dietitians and occupational, speech and physical therapists.

ECMO Center of Excellence: UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital is recognized as a Center of Excellence for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.

ECMO is a type of advanced life support for babies with life-threatening conditions, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, severe infections or cardiac problems. This high level of life support is available at just a handful of neonatal centers nationwide.

Multispecialty team: Neonatal specialists work closely with pediatric specialists, including pediatric surgeons, cardiologists and pulmonologists, to deliver expert care.

UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital has every type of pediatric specialist your baby may need. They also receive treatments and support from respiratory therapists, dietitians, social workers, and physical and occupational therapists while they are in the NICU. We come together to focus on your baby’s needs.

Specialized care for congenital heart disease: Our experts partner with pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, interventionalists and specialists in the UCLA Health Fetal Cardiology Program to treat babies with all types of congenital heart disease. Heart defects are usually diagnosed before birth or during infancy. We use sophisticated technology to evaluate and treat these heart conditions.

Prenatal care for complex conditions diagnosed during pregnancy: We partner with our UCLA Health colleagues in obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine to create a unique care plan for your baby. Our coordinated approach means we can address complex fetal conditions diagnosed during pregnancy.

We are one of the few hospitals in the country that offer the highest level of maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology care at the same location. This means you and your baby get seamless care from prenatal visits to the delivery room to the NICU. You, your baby and your doctors and care teams can remain close together.

Find Your Care

UCLA Health neonatologists are dedicated to delivering expert care to your baby and tailored support to your family. Call 310-825-0867 to connect with us.

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Our Areas of Care

From the NICU to extended follow-up care, your baby’s health journey may involve multiple doctors and health care professionals. Our experts create an individualized, coordinated and comprehensive plan for your child and are here for your family every step of the way. We support the life and well-being of your baby with expert neonatal clinical care, including:

Level IV NICU, with expertise in premature infants
Neurodevelopment and Early Movements Observation (NEMO) consultation
High Risk Infant Follow-Up (HRIF) Program
Advanced care for congenital heart disease
Neonatal surgery
Neonatal nutrition

Conditions We Treat

The dedicated professionals at UCLA Health care for babies with all kinds of conditions, from common to complex. We're qualified to treat life-threatening disorders that require immediate care, as well as conditions that occur along with other medical problems.

Some of the most common conditions we treat include:

Breathing problems: Breathing difficulties in newborns can be caused by underdeveloped lungs or damaged lung tissue. Common conditions include respiratory distress syndrome, lung hypoplasia, chylothorax and chronic lung disease.
Conditions requiring surgery: Some babies are born with a condition that requires surgery soon after birth. Our neonatal surgeons are skilled and prepared to handle issues such as gastroschisis, omphalocele, necrotizing enterocolitis or volvulus. We can also address conditions requiring head and neck surgery, urological surgery, neurosurgery or plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Congenital anomalies (congenital defects): Problems present at birth can affect the heart, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, genitals, urinary system, limbs or other parts of the body.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Some babies are born with an abnormal opening in the diaphragm, a muscle that separates the chest and abdomen. The stomach and intestines can push through this opening, making it hard for the baby to breathe.
Eye problems: Small babies may be diagnosed with eye problems such as retinopathy of prematurity. This condition is caused by abnormal blood vessels growing on the back of the eye (retina).
Genetic disorders: About one out of every 600 babies is born with a genetic difference that can affect their health. UCLA Health is designated by the state of California as a screening center for more than 80 genetic disorders.
Heart defects: Heart problems present at birth can affect the heart’s chambers, valves or blood vessels and how blood flows to the heart and the rest of the body. Common heart conditions in newborns include congenital heart defects and cardiac arrhythmias.
Infections: Babies can become infected with bacteria or viruses before, during or after birth. Common bacterial infections in newborns include group B streptococci, E. coli, syphilis and chlamydia. Common viral infections include cytomegalovirus, HIV, herpes simplex virus and hepatitis B. Certain infections can lead to a serious condition called neonatal sepsis.

Tests and Treatments We Offer

We provide customized treatments based on your baby’s health and medical needs. Our team offers a wide range of medications, therapies, procedures and support to ensure every baby gets the care they deserve. We specialize in:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital has been recognized as an ECMO Center of Excellence by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). ECMO is advanced life support. It takes over the function of the heart and lungs when those organs don’t work properly.

We may use an ECMO machine to allow time for the heart and lungs to recover from surgery or infection, or while a baby waits for a heart transplant.

UCLA Health neonatologists have unparalleled experience using ECMO to treat babies with many different conditions. Established in 1998, our ECMO program has successfully treated newborns with pulmonary hypertension, severe pneumonia and the full spectrum of respiratory problems.

Neonatal respiratory support

We offer state-of-the-art respiratory therapies for babies born with damaged or undeveloped lungs. Our lifesaving treatments include:

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA): NAVA is a newer type of mechanical ventilation. It uses sensors that follow the nerve impulses in a baby’s breathing muscles and delivers breaths in time with the natural urge to breathe.
High-frequency jet ventilation: This technique delivers a fast pattern of small, frequent breaths. It may be useful in babies who need a lot of breathing support but have especially fragile lungs.
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation: This therapy is often used as an emergency rescue measure for babies in severe respiratory distress. Like jet ventilation, it uses small amounts of ventilation to avoid damaging the lungs.

Advanced diagnostic imaging

Our specialists use advanced imaging techniques to help diagnose problems in newborns. We offer:

MRI: An MRI is a painless, noninvasive imaging method that uses powerful magnets to help visualize details in the soft tissues of your baby's body. A cardiac MRI can detect structural problems in the heart, while an MR spectroscopy helps doctors visualize changes in the brain. Getting an MRI of your baby before birth helps us evaluate their condition and prepare to take care of them after birth.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: A PET scan helps doctors see how your baby's organs and tissues function in real time. Your baby receives an injection of a safe radioactive substance, which travels throughout their body. It's absorbed by areas in the body affected by disease.
Ultrasound: This test uses painless, high-frequency sound waves to show the body’s internal organs in real time.

Neonatal surgery

At UCLA Health, our experienced pediatric surgeons are skilled at performing delicate procedures on even the tiniest and sickest patients. Our team specializes in lifesaving surgeries just hours, days or weeks after a baby is born. If your baby needs a surgical procedure, you can trust UCLA Health to provide outstanding care using the latest techniques with unmatched expertise.

Neonatal kidney care

Kidney specialists (nephrologists) at UCLA Health provide world-class care for babies with a wide range of kidney disorders. We offer effective treatments and therapies, including dialysis. Dialysis uses a machine to remove waste from your baby’s blood.

Our nephrologists are nationally and internationally renowned. As leaders in neonatal and pediatric nephrology, we deliver family-centered care and groundbreaking research to our youngest patients.

Support and Resources

If your baby needs care in the NICU, you may face emotional, financial, physical and logistical challenges. Our team is here to guide and sustain your family as we help you navigate the process. Support groups and services we offer include:

NICU family support group

Families of babies currently in the NICU meet weekly to share their experiences, advice and resources with one another. UCLA Health team members, including case managers and social workers, can provide additional information and support.

Baby Basics class

This monthly class focuses on basic care of your baby. You also get information about transitioning from the hospital to home.

Outpatient breastfeeding support group

An experienced lactation consultant leads this weekly support group. You get information, tips and encouragement to help you continue nursing and find solutions to breastfeeding issues.

Early intervention support

Our team works with you to ensure you have the information you need to register your child for early intervention services, such as speech therapy and physical therapy. We connect you with the appropriate contacts through the state of California and help you navigate applications and appointments.

Meet Our Physicians

Your baby’s care is guided by dedicated and experienced neonatologists — board-certified medical doctors who specialize in caring for newborns.

We work closely with a team of specialists, including developmental and behavioral pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, neonatal nurse practitioners, occupational and physical therapists, respiratory therapists, lactation consultants and social workers.