Fredericksburg Parent

8 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • July 2025 WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING There's no greater need for new parents than to know that they'll be in good hands if their newborn needs intensive care in the hours or days after birth. Generations of parents in the Fredericksburg region have depended on Mary Washington Hospital to give them the peace of mind that those needs will be met. Thanks to a $5 million donation from Joe and Mary Wilson—whose granddaughter was cared for in the Mary Washington Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) 22 years ago—the hospital recently opened a significant expansion of this Level III intensive-care facility. The inviting new NICU demonstrates Mary Washington Healthcare's continued response to the need to provide enhanced support for maternal and fetal health in the Fredericksburg region. sponsored material Peace of Mind for the Tiniest Patients Mary Washington Hospital's NICU Expansion Offers Comfort, Connection and Advanced Care A Growing Need to Support Mothers and Babies "The high-risk population in our community and surrounding area for moms expecting babies is at the highest it's ever been," said NICU Nurse Manager Nancy Young. "We are seeing more pre-eclampsia, more gestational diabetes. We are seeing just more complicated preg- nancies, and that tells us we may have more babies in need of neo- natal intensive care, whether it be for 24 hours, because of a delayed transition, or they're born premature at 22 weeks, and they're with us for 100 days." The new and expanded NICU facility doubles the square footage available in which to care for these tiniest patients. The new Joe and Mary Wilson NICU has 20 private rooms with a 5-bed open ward. This allows for a new level of comfort, as parents can enjoy privacy with their baby in a single private room. "We can really support that early bonding between parents and babies, in an environment that feels more like home," Young said. "The design for this unit is well thought out with the needs of the family in mind," said Dr. Arslan Arshad, a neonatologist with Mary Washington Healthcare and the medical director of the Wilson NICU. "We have a small pod where babies who are extremely sick can get the extra attention they need. Babies who are stable enough can be in their private rooms with their mother, extended family and siblings. We cater to the emotional needs of the family and giving them that opportunity of being a parent and celebrat- ing this occasion—it's an important part of how we built this unit." A pullout couch and recliner in the rooms enable caregivers to grab rest when needed in between consultations with NICU staff, who provide hands-on instruction to help parents learn to care for their fragile newborns. Brand-new, state-of-the-art equipment and décor that promotes calm and peace create a welcoming environment. Little touches like night lights in the rooms aim to make families feel at home. The new and expanded NICU facility doubles the square footage available in which to care for these tiniest patients.

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