Apnea Monitor Question

kahleorourke

Hi guys,

I see there were a few posts about Apnea monitors on here today and it sounds like they're quite a handful. DD (born at 31 wks) is having her 12 hour test tonight to see if she's going to need a monitor when she goes home. I'm kind of hoping she doesn't need one but she's been having episodes so it's looking like it might be necessary. On one hand, I think it will be good as I won't have to constantly wonder if she's having trouble but on the other hand, having it for 2 months seems like such the pits for DD.

Can you tell me a little bit about your experiences with the monitors? How do you know if it's a false alarm or for real? Is 2 months really the standard time for having one? (my NICU says they give it to each of the necessary  babies for at least 2 months) Thanks.

mcdev

If you are discharged with an apnea monitor, you will be given a class to teach you how to use it properly.  (Including how to detect a false alarm)

Your child will need to have sticky leeds attached to her chest (probably like she has on now in the NICU) that will attach to the monitor.  Little lights on the front of the monitor will constantly blink to show that it is working.  If she has an apnea episode, a very loud alarm will sound and the light for breathing will stay solidly lit until you reset it.  If she has a low or high heartrate episode the alarm will sound and the light for heart will solidly light until you reset it. If the leeds come loose or fall off (annoying and happens frequently!!!), the alarm will sound and the light for loose leed will stay solidly lit until reset.  Just like in the NICU, your observations of your child's color, breathing, behavior, etc. is the best indication of whether or not there is a problem.  The apnea monitor comes in a little messenger bag type thing, supposedly making it easy to carry it around with your LO.  It's a parent's best gift and worst nightmare all in one.  Good luck!!

kahleorourke

Thanks, mcdev- that was really helpful. I appreciate it!

beachykeen1723

Honestly- the only time we have had false alarms is when I have accidently unplugged one of the leads. Cooper was on it all day for about a week, then after we saw his pulminologist we were given permission to only use it at night, so that might be why I'm not AS annoyed with it as everyone else. I'm hoping to get rid of it tomorow!

mek10976

DS came home on one because of his reflux.  The first few nights we were a little on edge with the monitor b/c we had been told that it is loud enough to wake the dead and we were up just waiting for it to go off.  It was really annoying, but once we were used to it, it was a nice little security blanket.  I don't really recall knowing the difference between false and true alarms.  The first 2 weeks the monitor seemed to go off several (7-10) times per day due to the reflux.  We took DS to the pulmonologist and he read the monitor and said none of the alarms were true.  He then adjusted DS's reflux meds and his alarm went off once in the remaining 4 weeks, so the doc took him off the monitor.

Heather1979

My LO had ZERO apneas the entire two weeks she was in the unit (aside from the day she decided to rip her leads off while dancing), and then suddenly they told us she needed the monitor, did no discussion/breakdown of why, etc. They shoved the monitor at us and we had a half hour training session.

False episodes for me were when it would beep, I'd go in the room, and she would be breathing while the machine is signaling that she's not. I recorded each and every single one of these false alarms, and its a good thing I did because the docs thought those were real episodes and wanted to extend the usage of the monitor.

We got rid of the monitor at 44 weeks GA, I would have signed an AMA if it were any longer, it felt like an insurance racket to me. We even needed a script to dc it just so theyd come to pick up the monitor.

My monitor was a POS, like many of the ones ladies on here had. I did have the luxury of unplugging mine when it went haywire and it would be silenced then. If I had one that still beeped continuously when unhooked I would have thrown it outside several times.

I was not comforted by the monitor in any way shape or form, I felt that if it went off while she was breathing saying she wasn't, what's to say it wasn't malfunctioning the opposite way too? KWIM?

courtina

we're the opposite.  my one LO who is still at the nicu has had horrible epsiodes during his whole stay.  for the past week, he's been a rockstar w no episodes.  techinically the rule is no bradys for 5 days = no monitor but i think he'll still get one due to his past history regardless of the sleep test.

i hate the idea of him having it for 5 wks minimum - when they read it.  but i know its a piece of mind due to his past history.  for me, i'd rather be safe than sorry god forbid.

arthist24

Pretty much everyone else covered what I was going to say.  My DS was on the monitor for 2 months and he did have some actual apnea episodes in the first weeks after we brought him home, so I was comforted by having the monitor there even though there were times when I wanted to smash it to pieces and it reduced me to tears with incessant false alarms. 

I was nervous when they took DS off of it, so I bought the Angel Care movement monitor to use at night and I sleep better knowing we have that. 

southphilly

We were told to only use the monitor at night (i.e. when we're not watching him) and it goes off very occasionally when he is shallow breathing.  I totally hated it, but I'm resigned to it now, and kind of even feel better knowing it's there.  gl!

kahleorourke

Thanks for sharing, everyone!