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Monitoring baby's breath
Sleeping infants sometimes stop breathing. It's an event called apnea -- Greek for "want of breath." Some adults, particularly seniors, stop breathing for more than 20 seconds at a time, but reflex actions jump-start the oxygen supply. In infants, the term apnea is often used as another name for SIDS -- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as "crib death." Although the exact cause of SIDS isn't known, it occurs when the child stops breathing and turns blue. If an infant is at risk for breathing irregularities, anxious parents may find some peace of mind with an apnea monitor. Attached to the sleeping child, a monitor senses when breathing stops for more than 10 seconds, then sounds an alarm. Parents using such monitors should be trained in infant CPR.
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Apnea Can Have Serious Consequences
Apnea is when you stop breathing for any length of time. It can be caused by the cessation of lung function or from obstruction by the reflux or regurgitation of stomach contents. People of all ages, from premature infants to the elderly, may experience apnea.
While apnea has recently been associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the connection between the two is controversial, and there is no agreement in the medical community as to whether or not they are really related.
- Apnea monitors sound an alarm when the wearer has stopped breathing for a certain length of time.
- The monitors have not been found to prevent instances of death from apnea. Despite this, many parents of children who have experienced sleep apnea feel that apnea monitors give them peace of mind and some feeling that they have control over this condition.
- Apnea monitors are very sensitive and can cause many false alarms. If you are experiencing frequent false alarms, take the monitor back. False alarms pose a danger because you can start ignoring them and you might accidentally ignore a real alarm.
- Apnea monitors have also been known to miss episodes of apnea. The presence of background noise can be mistaken for breathing.
Buy a Good Monitor
- An apnea monitor is a prescribed piece of equipment -- it is not sold at a pharmacy. Consult your healthcare provider about which brands to try and how to get in touch with manufacturers.
- For obvious reasons, choose the best quality monitor out there. Do extensive research and talk in depth with manufacturers. Try to buy as close to the manufacturer as possible. The more middlemen are involved, the less informed the seller is about your concerns.
- Make sure you are allowed a trial period. If the device is giving off too many false alarms or you don't feel it is working properly, you should be able to return it for a full refund.
- Apnea monitors are prone to electromagnetic interference from other devices in your home. There are new FDA guidelines for electromagnetic compatibility for most electronic medical devices. Make sure your monitor conforms to those standards.
- Make certain that the alarm used by your monitor is one that is capable of waking you up. Many people acclimate themselves to monotonous beeps and tones. Look for products that vibrate or let out a series of differently pitched beeps.
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What Is an Apnea Monitor?
- Apnea monitors are designed to alert parents or guardians if the infant, child, or individual wearing the monitor has stopped breathing for a certain length of time.
Things To Know About Apnea Monitors
- The most common type of apnea monitor passes a high-frequency current through electrodes wrapped around the chest. Alterations in breathing patterns would alter the electric current and trigger an alarm.
- Before you get an apnea monitor, get an apnea work-up. This is performed by a physician with the aid of sophisticated equipment. Breathing patterns are monitored, recorded and then analyzed. The monitor is fed this information and "learns" to recognize the "normal" breathing pattern. It will sound an alarm when the breathing pattern deviates from the one it has learned.
- Newer models are very safe. However, older models may, on rare occasions, pose a risk of electrocution or burning.
Apnea Monitors Require Medical Advice
- Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
- No monitor should ever be purchased, much less used, without the proper education and training from a healthcare professional.
- If you feel unable to monitor your infant's apnea, notify your healthcare provider immediately.
- If the unit appears to be malfunctioning, return it immediately.
How Do I Know if My Baby Has Stopped Breathing?
- Apnea is often indicated by the following symptoms:
- cessation of breathing
- cessation of crying
- blue skin
- limp body
- stiffness in the arms and legs
- If you suspect that your baby has stopped breathing, you must resuscitate the baby right away.
- Cessation of breathing for more than four minutes results in brain damage, and for more than 10 minutes, death.
What to Do if Your Baby Stops Breathing
- Call 911!
- Listen for breathing sounds.
- Then use your finger to clear the throat of any mucus, vomit, or refluxed stomach contents that may be obstructing the airway.
- Lay the infant down on a flat, rigid surface.
- Tilt the infant's head back, but not too far, as this may close off the airway.
- Instead of closing off the nose by pinching it, simply seal your mouth over the infant's nose and mouth.
- While resuscitating an infant is very similar to resuscitating an adult, the key is to be gentle.
- Give a gentle blow once every three seconds for a child and once every three seconds for an infant.
- Stop your breath when you feel the infant's chest begin to rise. (Avoid blowing too much air into the infant's lungs! Remember, your lungs have a much greater capacity than an infant's, so do not attempt to empty your entire lungs into an infant's or a small child's.)
- Remember to remove your mouth in order to get a fresh breath. You want to avoid recycling used-up air and blowing it back into the infant.
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Monitors Are Not Infallible
- Sleep apnea monitors are very sensitive -- they have to be in order to detect small changes in your infant's breathing patterns.
- Not only are they prone to false alarms, but they may also mistake background noise for normal breathing.
- Please keep in mind that babies have died while hooked up to working apnea monitors. Use of a monitor is not a foolproof method of preventing crib death.
- Purchase an apnea monitor that conforms to the electromagnetic computability (EMC) standards set by the FDA.
- The following is a list of mechanical devices that can interfere with the proper functioning of sleep apnea monitors:
- CB radios
- cellular phones
- radio and TV transmitters
- microwaves
- wireless computer links
- pagers
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. American Medical Association.The American Medical Association: Guide to your family's symptoms. New York: Random House 1992.
- 2. Fauci, Anthony S. et al. Eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed. New York: MacGraw Hill 1998.
- 3. Segen, Joseph, and Joseph Stauffer.The Patient's Guide to Medical Tests: Everything you need to know about the tests your doctor prescribes. New York: Facts on File 1998.
- 4. Zaret, Barry L. Et al. The Yale University School of Medicine Patient's Guide to Medical Tests. New York: Houghton Mifflin 1997.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
- 1. Williams, Rebecca D. "Keeping medical devices safe from electromagnetic interference". FDA Consumer; Vol. 29 5/1/1995.
- 2. Calhoun, Linda."Pharmacologic management of apnea of prematurity". Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing; 3/1/1996.
- 3. Shabkie, Eva."Breathing Easier: Helping kids with a life-threatening illness". Newsday; 2/10/1997.
- 4. Klass, Perri."Home is where the heart monitor is". Technology Review; Vol. 98 7/1/1995.
- 5. Borfitz, Deborah."Home is where the healthcare is". FDA Consumer; Vol. 22 4/1/1988.
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