You could give birth in a hospital that doesn't have a neonatal intensive care unit for sick newborns.

You may be able to plan your delivery in a hospital that offers special care for sick newborns.

They are designed for the sickest newborns: those with extremely low birth weights or, as with many children of drug abusers, those who suffer seizures, severe respiratory problems, congenital infections and withdrawal symptoms.

The transfer of sick newborns is risky.

Specifically, she states that women over 35 are "no more likely than younger women to have stillbirths or premature or sick newborns."

NETS provides a dedicated ambulance service for inter-hospital transport of sick newborns within the ACT and into surrounding New South Wales.

Under the arrangement, the 273-bed Yonkers hospital will refer very sick newborns and cardiac-surgery patients to the Medical Center, which Mr. Foy said has finally "clearly identified itself as a tertiary-care provider."

Carlton is the home of NETS (Victoria) which provides emergency transport of sick newborns between hospitals throughout Victoria and from Tasmania.

Late one night on the nursery for sick and premature newborns, the sole nurse on duty stepped away - and 26 babies, packed two and three to a bassinet, were on their own.

The number of pediatric patients has tripled since 1996 and the neonatal center now treats more than 700 sick newborns annually, performing more than 100 pediatric heart operations.