Constant Alarms

nblondheim · January 2014

Our twins arrived at 30 weeks 6 days and are now 32 weeks. Their NICU stay truly has been pretty uneventful for the most part. They started off with breathing help and both within a day or 2 were on only room air. They had lipids that have been stopped and tpn that has now been stopped. They are both taking 30 mls of breast milk every 3 hours and are both gaining weight. Therefore, it's been a pretty smooth ride until today. I, of course, have been warned that the NICU journey brings ups and downs. But being on the upside for so many days, I just got used to that! Our little boy was having constant alarms today that occurred like every minute. He is struggling with keeping his O2 levels up which caused him to desat and had a few apnea episodes. It was definitely something new and listening to the alarms go off all day long was stressful and hard! I would just watch and wait for him to correct himself which he typically does pretty fast. He was given some caffeine this evening which is supposed to help with this. It has gotten better but it's still occurring. I guess I am just venting and looking for a little support as this sort of threw me for a loop! It also probably doesn't help that my husband left today to go back to work. He is my rock!!!

Jenrn2203 · January 2014

All very common until they r older. Did they check for a heart murmur ?

Babymaxwell513 · January 2014

My son was born at 30 weeks and 5 days and he did great for the first 8 days and then he started desatting a lot as well.. They put him back on his nasal cannula and he did much better.. I know it's so hard to listen to it all day but the nurse told me to just look at him instead of the machines (I know easier said than done) but it did help a little! Good luck!

DrRx · January 2014

(((hugs))) I'm sorry that he's not doing as well. I hope that the caffeine helps. My daughter had to have caffeine daily until about a month and a half after we brought her home.

PurpleIris30 · January 2014

I think I heard those alarms for weeks after we were home. They were definitely scary at first, but you'll learn to be able to read your babies to know if there's any reason for concern.

My girls were born at 32. They were intubated at birth for the surfactants and by the next day were on room air with no breathing assistance. After a few days, they both started to have desats and had to go on a nasal cannula with some oxygen. We were told this was very normal after the initial big boost from the surfactants wears off. They didn't have any apnea issues but were preemptively given caffeine so it must have helped. Basically, this sounds very, very similar to our experience.

There will be some (hopefully very minor) bumps in the road. They and you will get through it but it can be scary when it's all new. Don't be surprised if they do need a little oxygen since they are only 32 weeks. My girls were a little stubborn about weaning off the last little whiff, but they are doing great now.

kobicou · January 2014

Hugs. The alarms are quite unnerving. My DD1 did that a lot and she needed the nasal cannula till she was 34w. Then she just learnt to breathe well without it. 32w is very early and he needs to rest up and focus on growing and feeding. From what you describe, the are doing phenomenally well for 32 weeks. Hang in there.

Kelly_12 · January 2014

Those bells can still give me nightmares. All the nurses said the same to us, you can't focus on them.
It's amazing and good news that he pulls himself out of it on his own at such a early age tho. My LO needed caffeine to stop the apneas as well. He was 34w and was on caffeine until a month after his due date. He came home on it.
Goodluck and hang in there, the alarm dinging will get better, you will start to get used to it a bit and know he is fine when it happens, and they will eventually get less frequent as well!

Brummy14 · January 2014

Amen to that being stressful and hard.

They told us to expect them to just grow out of the desats/bradys by around 36w gestation. That was exactly true for DD1 -- it took slightly longer for DD2 (her desats were exacerbated by severe reflux-induced congestion, so she had to work just that much harder). I still remember so vividly the number of times they had to take DD2 back from me during kangaroo time, since she always seemed to desat while I held her. And she dropped FAR -- we're talking saturation levels in the 30s on a very regular basis. No fun.

Hang in there -- they, too, will grow out of this. But, I totally get how helpless and impossible it is. ::hugs::

nblondheim · January 2014

Thank you for the advice, understanding, and sharing your stories!!! It really helps and I don't feel so alone!! I'm glad to report yesterday was a much better day and I needed it!! Thanks again!

jennybean80 · January 2014

Glad that your little man had a better day yesterday! It's hard dealing with the monitors going off, but it will get better. Sometimes they do so well for a while, but they are actually working so hard that they wear themselves out and then need a break (and some help) to get back to their normal! Hope the caffeine helps!! GL.

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