There are restrictions for family and friends who may visit between 2:00pm to 7:30pm. We ask for a maximum of 2 at a cot space of which one should be a parent. No children under the age of 16 unless they are the sibling of the baby can visit.

Anyone who is feeling unwell must not visit. We ask for outside clothes to be taken off before entering the nursery and hung up on the hooks provided.

Whilst your baby is in Intensive Care we will do our best to offer you accommodation so that you can be close to your baby. The nursing team will let you know what is available.

The Neonatal Unit and Woodland Ward have a lounge for parents and siblings. You are welcome to make yourself a drink and help yourself to snacks and for when you are unable to cook there is a selection of frozen ready meals kindly donated by Sophie's Legacy.

We can provide a discount meal voucher that can be used at Feast restaurant which is on Level B Southampton General Hospital, please ask a member of the nursing team.

Other options

At Princess Anne Hospital:

Smith's Kitchen Level E PAH 08:30-16:00 Monday-Friday

Vending machine Level D

At Southampton General Hospital there are a selection of places to buy food:

Level C

M & S Simply Food - 7am - 9pm

M & S Cafe - 8am - 8pm

Costa Coffee - 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Subway - 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday

WHSmith - 6am-10pm Monday to Friday + Weekend 8am to 8pm

Level B

Feast Restaurant - 7.30am to 7.30pm every day

If your baby has not fully established breastfeeding and you introduce a bottle, you may find that they will struggle latching at the breast.

If you would like to find out about resuscitation training ask the nurse looking after your family.

Some parents will be told that they need resuscitation training before they can go home and this will be arranged by the team looking after your baby.

ICON offers advice and support for you and your new born.

Southampton Neonatal Unit is part of the Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal Network.

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Charity money has been used to improve facilities for babies and their Families including refurbishing parent areas. Fundraising has helped buy up to date and appropriate equipment for each baby.

Any donations are gratefully received, for more information email

Neonatalfamilycare@uhs.nhs.uk .

If you have a suggestion or preference for how your donation could be used please let us know.

Parents on the Neonatal Unit are provided with a meal discount voucher as well as ready meals and snacks.

How do I make up formula?

How do I keep my baby's bottles clean?

How do I pace feed?

This guide answers all these questions

You may have decided that you don't wish to breastfeed, but you may want to express a little colostrum to provide your baby with some of its benefits.

Please use your Golden Drop pack to help you collect and express colostrum.

Please ask a member of the nursing team to make a referral to check if this is available to you.

There are lots of different ways they can offer support to families on the unit, including:

Providing practical information and support

Emotional and psychological support

Financial guidance

Peer support

Advocacy support

The team will introduce themselves to your family following your arrival on the unit or you can ask the nurse caring for your family to refer you to the team.

Or call on 07827271166

Or email neonatalfamilycare@uhs.nhs.uk

• Intensive Care Unit (Level D)

• Woodland Ward Special Care Baby Unit (Level E)

• Transitional Care (Level F)

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You can access your baby's nursery by using the intercom system at the ward's entrance.

If Southampton is not your local hospital your baby will be transferred by SONet, our dedicated neonatal transport team closer to home when they are ready.

Very occasionally even if Southampton was your booking hospital, following delivery you and your baby may need transferring to another unit with the appropriate level of care due to cot availability.

We are currently undergoing an expansion to improve our services and are proud to have already opened Woodland Ward Special Care Baby Unit with outstanding facilities for families to stay with their babies.

We are doing our best to reduce the disruption to our services and will keep you updated with any changes or restrictions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time of disruption.

Nursery 1 02381206897

Nursery 2 02381208102

Nursery 3 02381208164

Nursery 4 02381208685

Woodland Ward Special Care Unit

Owl Nursery 02381206705

Rabbit Nursery 02381206774

Hedgehog Nursery 02381206778

Southampton General Hospital

Switchboard 02380777222

Donor milk is human breastmilk that has been voluntarily given by screened, healthy lactating people. The milk is collected, pasteurised, tested for safety, and then provided to babies who need it. Because it is real human milk, donor milk offers many of the protective and developmental benefits of breastmilk.

Research has shown that supplementation of donor breast milk alongside lactation support can increase breastfeeding rates upon discharge.

You will need to give your consent before your baby can receive donor breastmilk.

We can provide you with a pump to borrow at no cost for when you are away from the unit. Please return it once you no longer need it or if you are transferred or discharged.

Southampton neonatal unit is actively involved in research, both locally, nationally and internationally. We are supported by a dedicated multidisciplinary research team who may approach you and ask you to consider participating in a study. Our aim is to continually improve the care we deliver.

We can teach you how to safely feed your baby using their feeding tube. When you’re comfortable with the process and have completed your competency form, you’ll be able to do the tube feeds on your own.

You will be asked to sign a consent form and then click the link above to create a login.

You can call or text us on: 07920184353.

If we don't answer, please leave a message and we will get back to you.

The Southampton milk bank supplies donor breastmilk not only to University Hospital Southampton (UHS), but to multiple hospitals and trusts in the south of England. Donor breastmilk is used as an alternative to formula milk when parents are unable to produce enough milk immediately, including preterm babies or when a birthing person has a medical issue that limits feeding. The milk bank pasteurises the donated milk (to ensure safety), stores it, and delivers it to neonatal units. The delivery and collection of milk is supported by the charity SERV.   

If you would like more information on donating your milk please contact us on: 07795506279.

If we don't answer, please leave a message and we will get back to you.