Why do premature infants have apnea?
Premature infants have immature respiratory centers in the brain. Preemies normally have burst of big breaths followed by periods of shallow breathing or pauses. Apnea is most common when the baby is sleeping. What does a home monitor do? A home monitor is a warning device that will send off an alarm sound if it detects an apneic episode or a change in heart rate. It is not a life saving device. It merely acts to summon caregivers to the baby’s bedside to observe the infant and act accordingly. Which infants are candidates for a home monitor? After a thorough evaluation and observation in the hospital, your doctor will decide if an infants needs to be monitored at home. Typically monitored are those infants with: • Apneic episodes requiring stimulation or resuscitation. • Conditions such as prematurity, structural abnormalities of the airway or tracheotomies. • Some types of chronic lung or heart disease. Once apnea goes away, will it come back? Apnea of prematurity is a result of imma
