Every day Keao and I try to go to the Kaiser Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to see our babies. I doesn’t sound like much, but since we do this every day I thought I’d give you a little insight as to what we have to do to see our babies.

NICU right this way

At Kaiser Moanalua the NICU is located on the fourth floor. When Keao gave birth she delivered on the sixth floor so every time we wanted to see our babies we had to go down two floors. That doesn’t seem like a lot and actually it isn’t that far considering now we have to come from Kaneohe (how I miss those days of only going two floors down).

One of the things I noticed when we first went to see our babies is how quiet it is. I mean there were crying babies from time to time, but by and large, the floor is surprisingly quiet. Of course, quiet must help the babies grow because there are signs everywhere reminding you to use your “inside” voice.

This is on the floor as you enter the area

These are all over the walls

While the pediatrics area is mostly open, the NICU is locked down. Because it’s so sensitive and the babies there need sterility (infections can be very serious) they take security very seriously. Parents are allowed to visit 24 hours a day, but other visitors must be accompanied by the parents just to make sure.

Do not cross the red line unless you are authorized to do so

In case you get past the red line, Keao will stop you

Once they deem you authorized to cross the red line, you need to scrub down your arms. Scrubbing down your arms entails using a pre-soaped sponge and scrubbing yourself from your finger tips to your elbows for two minutes. This part takes the longest time but it is the most critical. When Keao first gave birth I was visiting the NICU three or four times a day. Let me tell you, my arms were probably the cleanest they have ever been.

Here’s Keao getting ready for the cleaning

Scrub, scrub, scrub

Finally, when you’re all cleaned up you need to put on a freshly laundered gown. Again, this helps with anything that you may have on your clothes when you arrive.

Get your gowns here

You have a choice of short-sleeves or long-sleeves

Finally when you have completed all of the necessary precautions you can now enter the NICU and see your babies.

Shh, babies are growing in here

Here’s Keao all cleaned up modeling the stylish hospital gown