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 Premature Babies: For more information on premature babies, see www.sapreemies.za.org Apnoea: For more information on Apnoea, see www.kidshealth.org Apnoea is a medical term that means a baby has stopped breathing. There are various types of apnoea, however only two types of apnoea are discussed here namely Apnoea of Prematurity and Apnoea of Infancy. Apnoea of prematurity is one of many common health problems in premature babies. Most doctors define apnoea of prematurity as a condition in which premature babies stop breathing for 20 seconds or longer. Apnoea is usually caused by immaturity in the area of the brain (arcuate nucleus) that controls and regulates breathing. Almost all babies born at 30 weeks or less will experience apnoea at some stage. During an apnoea spell, a baby stops breathing, the heart rate may decrease. Apnoea spells become less frequent with age. In the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), all premature babies are monitored for apnoea spells. Treating apnoea can be as simple as gently stimulating the infant to restart breathing. However, when apnoea occurs frequently, the infant may require medication and / or a special nasal device that blows a steady flow of air into the airways to keep them open. Although apnoea spells are usually resolved by the time most preemies go home, a few will continue to have apnoea spells. In these cases, if the doctor thinks it's necessary, the baby will be discharged from the NICU with an apnoea monitor. It is advisable that parents and other caregivers learn CPR. The family should work closely with the paediatrician. It can be very stressful to have a baby at home on an apnoea monitor. Some parents find themselves watching the monitor, afraid to leave the baby alone. This usually becomes easier with time. Your child's doctor will determine how long your baby wears the monitor, so be sure to talk to your child's doctor should you have any questions or concerns. There are numerous apnoea monitors on the market today. Unlike other breathing monitors, Snuza Halo is completely portable. This means that you can use the Snuza Halo wherever you take your baby, whether out to visit family or friends, to the shops, even when out on a picnic. Apnoea of Infancy occurs in children who are younger than 1 year old and who were born after a full-term pregnancy. Following a complete medical evaluation, if a cause of apnoea isn't found, it's often called apnoea of infancy and usually goes away on its own but if it doesn't cause any significant problems (such as low levels of oxygen in the blood), it may be considered part of the child's normal breathing pattern. Infants with apnoea can be observed at home with the help of a special monitor prescribed by a paediatrician. This monitor could assist in alarming parents and caregivers should an incident occur. Parents and caregivers should learn CPR before the child is sent home. If you suspect that your child has apnoea, call your child's doctor. Although prolonged pauses in breathing can be serious, after a doctor does a complete evaluation and makes a diagnosis, most cases of apnoea can be treated or managed with monitoring devices, medications or, as a last resort, surgery. SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) - Sudden & Silent SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year, and claims the lives of about 2,500 infants each year in the United States alone. A lack of answers is part of what makes SIDS so frightening. It remains unpredictable despite years of research. Even so, you can take steps to help reduce the risk of SIDS in your infant. As the name implies, SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant and is a frightening prospect because it can strike without warning, usually in a seemingly healthy infant. Most SIDS deaths are associated with sleep (hence the common reference to "cot death"), and infants who die of SIDS show no signs of suffering. When considering which babies could be most at risk, no single risk factor is likely to be sufficient to cause a SIDS death. Rather, several risk factors combined may contribute to cause an "at-risk" infant to die of SIDS. Numerous studies have found a higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their stomachs to sleep than among those sleeping on their backs. Since the recommendation, the rate of SIDS has dropped by over 40%. Still, SIDS remains the leading cause of death in young infants, so it's important to keep reminding parents about the necessity of placing babies on their backs to sleep. Also, infants who succumb to SIDS may have an abnormality in the part of the brain that assists and controls breathing during sleep. If a baby is breathing stale air and not getting enough oxygen, the brain usually triggers the baby to wake up and cry. However, a problem with the arcuate nucleus could deprive the baby of this involuntary reaction and put him or her at greater risk for SIDS. Consult with your baby's doctor to determine the best sleeping position for your baby, as infants with upper airway malformations, may need to sleep on their stomachs. Growing public awareness of SIDS and the steps to reduce infants' risk of sudden death will hopefully leave fewer parents searching for answers in the future. Also see: www.sids.org.uk Sleep Safe If you are concerned about your baby's sleep patterns, or the risk of SIDS, please speak with your child's doctor. It is recommended that parents take the following measures to prevent SIDS:
All parents and caregivers should learn CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Every parent should know how and when to administer CPR. When performed correctly, CPR can save a life by restoring breathing and circulation until advanced life support can be given by health care providers What Is CPR? CPR is a combination of rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) and chest compressions. If a baby isn't breathing or circulating blood adequately, CPR can restore circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Without oxygen, permanent brain damage or death can occur in less than 8 minutes. CPR may be necessary for children during many different emergencies, including accidents, near-drowning, suffocation, poisoning, smoke inhalation, electrocution injuries, and suspected sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It's strongly recommended that you learn the details of how to perform CPR by taking a course. If CPR is needed, using the correct technique will give your baby or child the best chance of recovery. When Is CPR Needed? CPR is most successful when administered as soon as possible, but you must first determine if it is necessary. It should only be performed when a baby isn't breathing thereby not circulating blood adequately. Taking a CPR Course CPR is a skill that must be practiced, it's wise to repeat a course at least every 2 years to maintain your skills. Repeating the course also allows you to learn about any new advances or discoveries in CPR techniques. Taking a CPR course could help you save your child's - or someone else's - life someday. For further information, please go to: |
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