Neonatology is the specialty (or more precisely the subspecialty) of medicine that deals with the fetus and the newborn, before, during and until the first months after birth. She is interested in maintaining the health and development of the fetus, newborn and infant.

Neonatal care units welcome premature infants and infants born at term but with various pathologies. Let us quote:

• malformations, and in particular heart, intestinal or kidney malformations;
• developmental abnormalities;
• respiratory distress;
• or an infection.

There are factors known to increase the risk of a premature birth. Here are some of them:

• an abnormality of the uterus;
• multiple pregnancy;
• delayed growth of the fetus in the womb;
• local or systemic infections in the mother;
• le diabetes ;
• smoking4;
• the mother’s age, too young or too old;
• or a difficult family or social situation (5).

The neonatal doctor (or neonatal pediatrician) provides medical care for the newborn, from the delivery room until departure home. He works in a hospital environment within a neonatal unit or service, with childcare nurses and psychologists. In these structures, the monitoring and care of newborns is continuous.

The doctor may have to install different devices to ensure the best possible follow-up of the newborn. Let us quote:

• an infusion, to feed him and provide him with medicine;
• a gastric tube, to check the stomach contents and to deliver milk;
• a device that helps the baby to breathe thanks to a mask placed on his nose;
• or a device to monitor his heartbeat, respiratory movements, oxygen level and blood pressure.

If a newborn baby is placed in a neonatal ward, it is because he is more at risk than a baby staying in the maternity hospital or returning home quickly. The role of the doctor is to explain to the parents in a clear way the modalities, the possible difficulties or even the dangers associated with the gestures, examinations or interventions which he will have to perform.

In France

To be able to practice neonatal medicine, you must obtain a Diploma of Complementary Specialized Studies (DESC) in neonatology. This is a so-called type I DESC, lasting two years. To do this, you must first hold a DES (diploma of specialized studies) in pediatrics, namely the diploma that the student obtains at the end of the pediatric internship which lasts 4 years:

• after having completed 6 years of medical study;
• and after having passed the national classifying tests at the end of 6th year, which allow access to the boarding school.

Finally, to be able to practice and carry the title of doctor, the student must also defend a research thesis.

Note that with a DESC type I, the young doctor retains the title of specialist in the specialty of his DES.

In Quebec

After college studies, the student must:

• follow a doctorate in medicine, lasting 1 or 4 years (with or without a preparatory year for medicine for students admitted with a college or university training deemed insufficient in basic biological sciences);
• successfully complete 3 years of pediatrics (the pediatric residency lasting a total of 4 years);

 then subspecialize by following a residency in neonatal and perinatal medicine for 2 years. 

To find a doctor specializing in neonatology:

• in Quebec, you can consult the website of the association of pediatricians of Quebec (6);
• in France, via the website of the Ordre des médecins (7).