Neonatology teams generally limit their practice to babies born in the hospital but not released, or those transferred from other neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Once a mother and child are released from the hospital, most neonatalogy centers will refer any emergency care to a standard pediatric care unit.

Most expectant mothers with normal pregnancies would never encounter a neonatologist under most conditions, although one might be consulted by the birthing team if a complication should arise.

Neonatology specialists study such things as the effects of a mother's lifestyle or outside environment on the development of newborns. There are also medical conditions unique to newborns, such as asphyxia from the umbilical cord or a blood condition which causes mothers to form antibodies against their own child's blood type. Babies born to cocaine or alcohol-addicted mothers may also be brought directly to a neonatology center for further observation and treatment.