It often triggers bradycardia, which is a slow heartbeat.
First, apnea occurs and the baby will stop breathing.
Because the baby isnt breathing, blood oxygen levels will fall.
Verywell / Sisi Yu
The heart slows down in response to the low blood oxygen levels.
Apnea and bradycardia are often called the As and Bs or spells.
Oxygen Saturation
Oxygen saturation measures the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood.
In the hospital, pulse oximetry is used to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood.
When the blood does not have enough oxygen, it is calleddesaturation.
Apnea
Apnea means a period in which breathing stops.
In this case, the monitor will trip an alarm.
This is standard operating procedure in most neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
After a brief pause, they will simply start breathing on their own again.
Bradycardia
Bradycardia usually results from a baby having apnea.Bradycardia means a slower-than-normal heart rhythm.
Neonatal nurses are usually well-trained to deal with the As and Bs.
And without the full resources of the brains respiratory center, the lungs arent notified to take regular breaths.
Nearly half of babies that weigh less than 5 12 pounds are prone to have some apnea.
Apnea occurs because the process in the brain that tells the baby to breathe fails.
As a result, the baby stops breathing repeatedly, which is calledcentral sleep apnea.
Long-Term Effects
Doctors arent sure what the long-term effects of apnea and bradycardia are.
They know that bradycardia causes a temporary reduction in the brains blood and oxygen levels.
However, they cant say for certain that apnea and bradycardia cause the lower scores.
But the vast majority of infants will not be at risk and will not need monitors.
If the baby shows a change in colorby turning pale or bluea nurse may give the baby extra oxygen.
Medication can also be used to treat apnea (and bradycardia) of prematurity.
Caffeine is a relatively new treatment for apnea that has few side effects and has been largely successful.
The Best Position
Babies should be placed on their backs when theyre sleeping or in their cribs.
As a parent, you may wish to coordinate your visits to the NICU with feeding and assessment times.
And use an indoor voice if youre visiting while your baby is sleeping.
Fluctuations in incubator temperatures can also cause As and Bs.
So venture to maintain a stable temperature in the incubator by keeping incubator doors closed as much as possible.
When Will It Go Away?
The good news for parents?
However, some babies mature slower than others and may still experience an occasional event.
In this case, a home apnea monitoring system and/or pediatric medication may be necessary.
Remember, too, that your baby will be eating and drinking andgaining strengthwith each passing day.
Summary
Apnea and bradycardia are called the As and Bs because they usually occur together.
Apnea is a brief period of time (no longer than 20 seconds) when a babys breathing stops.
This state often triggers bradycardia, which is a low heart rate.
And without the complete resources of the brains respiratory center, the lungs arent told to take regular breaths.
Most premature babies outgrow the As and Bs by the time theyre ready to go home from the hospital.
These babies often demonstrate no lasting effects of the condition, either.
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