Nine babies have been transferred to Dunedin this year, including three from the North Island.
Others came from Timaru, Christchurch, Greymouth and Blenheim.
Otago District Health Board women's, children's and public health manager Pip Stewart said two babies had been transferred from Dunedin to Christchurch, not because the Dunedin unit was full but because they needed neonatal surgery not available at Dunedin Hospital.
Occupancy levels in the Dunedin unit fluctuated, but it was "reasonably busy" most of the time.
Yesterday, 14 babies were in the unit, which can take up to 16.
Babies from Southland requiring intensive care also came to Dunedin Hospital, as the Southland District Health Board only had a secondary-level neonatal unit.
The six tertiary-level neonatal units around the country worked quite closely together, Ms Stewart said.
National Party list MP Katrina Shanks said just two cots were spare for neonatal intensive care around the country last weekend.
The shortage of beds was critical and had the potential to put mothers and their babies at risk, she said.
