Neonatal-perinatal medicine deals with the diseases and disorders of the newborn. Perinatal refers to the time just before and just after birth, while neonatal refers to the time after the baby is born. A neonatal-perinatal physician has special training, knowledge and skills to treat illness and premature birth of infants. The neonatal or perinatal physician specialist may be a pediatrician, and may consult with an obstetrician to help with a patient who has a higher-than-normal risk for pregnancy complications. The neonatal physician’s level of expertise is in patient care and improving the health of newborns.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Delaware has 26 practicing neonatal-perinatal medicine doctors. Broken out by city, neonatal-perinatal medicine doctor density in Georgetown is 1, in Hockessin is 1, in Middletown is 1, in Milford is 1, in Newark is 17, in Smyrna is 1, and in Wilmington is 8.

Delaware, located on the Atlantic Ocean, was the first state to ratify the constitution of the United States in 1787. Delaware’s population is 843,524, and its capital city is Dover. In Wilmington, visit the Grand Opera House or the Old Town Hall Museum built in 1798, or the Abbott’s Mill Nature Center in Milford. Drive to the Atlantic shore, or go bird-watching, fishing, hiking, biking, or canoeing in Delaware’s extensive park and trail systems. Dover is home to parks, historic museums, clubs, theater and dance, and offers bargain-hunting at tax-free outlet stores and antiques shops.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Delaware has a population of 843,524. Of this population, 189,940 are under the age of 18 and 111,761 are at or above the age of 65.