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Home apnea monitor - infants

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Overview

Home apnea monitor - infants

Alternative Names:

Cardio-respiratory monitor for home use - infants; Apnea monitor for home use - infants

Information:

A home apnea monitor is a portable machine that can monitor the heart beat and breathing in a baby after discharge from the hospital. When the baby has a heart rate or breathing rate that is below the limits set on the monitor, an alarm sounds to notify the baby’s caregiver. These monitors are smaller and less complex than the monitors in the hospital.

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WHY IS A HOME MONITOR USED?

A home monitor is used in babies who are deemed well enough to go home, but still have minor problems from some combination of breathing (apnea) and heart rate drops (bradycardia). Examples of home monitor candidates include infants with persistent apnea or severe reflux, home oxygen or ventilator needs, and those with a family history of SIDS. Many people are fearful of SIDS, which is a poorly understood cause of “crib death.” While we do not know what causes SIDS, we do know that risk factors for SIDS include:

1. Sleeping on the stomach
2. Exposure to tobacco smoke
3. Using soft sleeping surfaces like a deep pillow

Also, a monitor often helps parents get over the anxiety of taking a formerly sick baby home from the NICU.

HOW IS A MONITOR PLACED?

Either stick on electrodes or a belt can be attached to the baby’s chest and / or stomach. A home nursing company usually trains parents in the use and care of the monitor. The home care company provides support for the monitor as well. The length of time the monitor is required depends on how the baby does with respect to the number of real alarms. The average length of home monitoring is about 2-3 months.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF A MONITOR?

Monitors are electrical instruments that can fail without power or due to some electrical problem. There is no risk to the baby in these cases. There may be some skin irritation from the stick-on electrodes, but this is usually mild.

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