Late term preemie on monitor

boxtonmom1014

Hi there! My son was born 5lbs 4 oz via scheduled c/s (due to vasa previa) at 35w3d. I had steroid shots at 34w. He spent 9 days in the NICU due mostly to blood sugar and temp issues.

But he did come home on a monitor. He was borderline on his event study, mostly for slow heartrate alarms. Since we've been home, we've had a handful of 1-3 sec alarms, mostly for heartrate but 1 or 2 for apnea.

I'm just feeling kind of anxious. We also have a 2 year old who goes to school 2 days a week. They didn't really stress anything to us about RSV or visitors or anything. My pedi is pretty laid back about it all.

While I don't have any specific questions right now, I wanted to intro and any experience or words of wisdom would be helpful!

Mrs. Alice

My twins had monitors for almost 3 months at home.  I had gotten very used to recognizing when they had true episodes vs. false alarms.  Around their original EDD they had pretty much outgrown them but we kept the monitors around for a while longer just for peace of mind.  I would say look at the baby, not just the monitor.  His he breathing, pink, etc.?  Yes, then probably a false alarm, especially if it just lasts a few seconds.  We also had the monitor company come out every few weeks and download the data for a Dr. to review.

boxtonmom1014

Hi Mrs. Alice! We miss you around SSP.

ashleymarie512

Hello! Welcome and congrats on your little one

My DD is a 30-weeker, one week adjusted, and she came home on oxygen and a monitor. She rarely alarms and it's gone off more due to the leads moving from her stretching than anything. She only spelled like three times in the nine weeks she was in the NICU. Actually the monitor is off right now as we just had pics taken and she fell asleep so I'm not waking her just to put the belt on.

luvboston

Welcome, does your LO change color when the apnea occurs

boxtonmom1014

He doesn't change color. Most of his alarms have been for heartrate. Just one or two for apnea, and very short with no color change.

slh6363

My LO was also born at 35w 3d. I know there are certain requirements regarding the vaccine for RSV and I know we did not qualify, so maybe why they didn't mention it. I believe it was something along the lines of being born before 35 weeks, unless there are other issues of course, also attending a daycare with a certain number of children. But the hospital did stress to us before leaving about being extra careful during flu season and avoid going in public if possible.