Apnea of Prematurity - Associates in Newborn Medicine

Treating Apnea of PrematurityWhat treatment will my baby receive?Treatment depends on how often the baby stops breathingand for how long.• In general, healthy babies with a few periods of apneaper day often do not need treatment.– Gently touching the baby during periods of apnea canhelp get breathing back to normal.– Changing the baby’s position or feeding the baby moreslowly also may help.• Babies who have more frequent apnea may needtreatment to help them breathe.– Medicines like caffeine may be used.– Extra oxygen or air may be delivered using a smalltube in the nose.– In a few cases, the health care team may help thebaby’s breathing by using a mask and a bag or abreathing machine. This machine might be a CPAPor a ventilator.What will happen next?Many babies respond well to treatment for apnea ofprematurity; however, each baby is different. Talk to yourbaby's health care team. They can answer any questionsyou have about your baby.GlossaryAlveoli – tiny sacs in the lungsthat move oxygen from the airinto the bloodAnemia – low red blood cell countApnea – breathing stops for ashort period of timeBradycardia – decreasedheart rateCPAP (continuous positiveairway pressure) – a treatmentthat uses mild pressurized airto keep the lungs openReflux – stomach contents backup into throatSaturation – the amount ofoxygen in the blood. This isexpressed as a percentage ofthe total amount of oxygen thatthe blood can holdTrachea – windpipeVentilator – a machine that helpsthe baby breathe by moving air inand out of the lungsAsk the health care team whenyou have questions—they arethere to help.NOTES:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Signature: __________________________________________ Date:__________________ Time: ____________ © 2011 Ikaria, Inc. IMK111-01433 September 2011