Special Care Nurseries are units offering additional assessment, one-on-one observation and treatment for newborns who have experienced unexpected difficulty during delivery or after birth, or are born up to 8 weeks premature. Neonatologists and maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and special neonatal intensive care nurses, provide these babies with special care and attention.

We provide a full range of services for newborns who:

• Require non-critical, specialized care and hospitalization due to various conditions, including:
  • Prematurity
  • Suspected infections
  • Respiratory problems
  • Need to be stabilized in preparation for a transfer to our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph.

Our Level 2B Special Care Nursery is located in the heart of our birthing area adjacent to the nurses’ station. We firmly believe in family-centered care and will do all we can to keep mom, dad and baby together as much as possible.


A baby’s time in Special Care will be only as long as deemed necessary and safe with the utmost in care and precaution. If the infant does not require constant monitoring or attention by licensed nursing staff, the infant is able to stay with the mother in her room for extended periods of time.

For more information

• Talk with your OB/GYN.
• Call Elmbrook Memorial’s Special Care Nursery at (262) 785-2214.