Apnea of prematurity is a respiratory disorder in premature babies where shallow or nonexistent breathing occurs due to underdeveloped lungs and brain areas. It can cause bradycardia and oxygen starvation, but most babies recover with close monitoring. Treatments include artificial ventilation and gentle touch stimulation. Researchers study fetal development to improve management plans. Parents should seek high-quality NICU care and use apnea monitors at home.
Apnea of prematurity is a respiratory disorder seen in premature babies in which episodes of shallow or nonexistent breathing occur. The areas of the brain responsible for regulating breathing may not be fully formed, and the baby may also have underdeveloped lungs, leading to problems breathing autonomously. Commonly, the baby also experiences bradycardia, where the heart rate slows down. Apnea of prematurity is generally a temporary condition from which most babies recover, but they need close monitoring until they’re out of the danger zone.
Extremely premature babies often end up in a NICU or special care unit for monitoring because they have a hard time surviving on their own. Monitors are available and will sound an alarm when a baby stops breathing or has a slow heart rate. Depending on the case, doctors can address apnea of prematurity by providing artificial ventilation to babies who can’t breathe reliably on their own. For unventilated babies, often the gentle touch will stimulate the baby, raise awareness levels and cause them to start breathing again.
There are serious risks with apnea of prematurity. Periodic episodes of oxygen starvation can damage the brain, muscles and vital organs. If a baby stops breathing long enough, he could die. Treatments to regulate breathing and intervene promptly when the child stops breathing are key to managing this condition. When babies are in the hospital, nurses will closely monitor their breathing and heart rates so a doctor can see if they’re improving.
Approaches to managing this condition vary depending on a given facility’s policies and the gestational age of the baby at birth. Researchers study fetal development to learn more about how and when breathing reflexes develop, with the goal of creating more detailed plans for the management of newborns with the condition. Parents with high-risk pregnancies and concerns about an early delivery may wish to discuss temporarily moving to an area with a very high-quality NICU program so their babies can receive the best care.
When a child is more stable, the doctor may send them home. If you are still experiencing apnea of prematurity, your doctor will recommend an apnea monitor. This device will sound an alarm if the baby stops breathing so that parents can respond quickly to let the baby breathe again. Parents caring for a premature baby at home should alert their local emergency services so that if they call for help in the middle of the night, the supervisor will be aware of the situation and can provide early warning to paramedics and other first responders.
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