Graeme R. Polglase is a Neonatologist based at Wellington Rd, Clayton, VIC, Australia. He looks after newborn babies who need extra help right from birth, especially when things are unstable or changes quickly.
In the neonatal unit, care often means supporting breathing and circulation when a baby is struggling. This can include conditions like asphyxia at birth, infant respiratory distress, and problems linked to prematurity and low oxygen or cerebral hypoxia. Babies may also need help when there are signs of apnoea (pauses in breathing), pneumothorax, or longer breathing difficulties such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Some babies come in because growth started off poorly, like intrauterine growth restriction and placental insufficiency. These situations can make newborns more fragile, so monitoring and quick treatment matter. At times, there are also concerns with temperature and stability, including hypothermia, metabolic acidosis, and feeding-related illness such as necrotizing enterocolitis.
He also works with babies who have infection or inflammation, including pneumonia and encephalitis. In many cases, the goal is to keep the baby safe, treat what’s causing the problem, and support the body while it recovers.
There can be brain and nerve effects after a difficult start. This may involve intraventricular haemorrhage in newborns and longer-term risks such as cerebral palsy. Babies may need close follow-up and clear plans for what happens next, even after they leave intensive care.
Other issues he manages in newborns include high blood pressure and related complications, plus more serious emergencies where there may have been cardiac arrest. Sometimes babies need treatments while doctors also plan around longer care needs, including ongoing breathing support and follow-up for growth, development, and recovery.